BENZOYL PEROXIDE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Benzoyl Peroxide This popular anti-acne medication is not on published lists of top contact allergens and there are relatively few case reports of allergic contact dermatitis to it. Benzoyl peroxide can be an irritant, however (why so many people find products containing it drying). Update: Benzoic acid is a derivative of benzoyl […]
LETTUCE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Lettuce This vegetable is so good for you (it’s hydrating and a great source of antioxidants and vitamins) that it should be a staple in your diet unless you patch test positive to it. Lettuce itself is not in published lists of top contact allergens, but the Compositae (Asteraceae) family it belongs to and […]
CHIPS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen … as a rule, but there are options! Chips There are so, so many snack chips and most contain a trifecta of top contact allergens: preservatives, food coloring, and flavoring (lots of flavors are related to fragrance). A patch test can confirm if you have a contact allergy to these ingredients. When eating or […]
BLUE, DISPERSE BLUE DYES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Disperse Blue Dyes These dyes are top contact allergens, and big ones. The American Contact Dermatitis Society named Disperse Blue Dyes Contact Allergen of the Year in 2000. You’ll tend to see these pop up on your patch test results as disperse blue 106 and disperse blue 124. Note that textile allergens are not in […]
BASKET: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Basket There are some caveats for sure, but generally speaking there are few to no top contact allergens in a simple basket with natural, untreated, and uncolored fibers that is woven by hand. Some of the top contact allergens to watch out for: Items with shine as that could suggest a resin […]
FLAVORING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Flavoring While there are some natural extracts like ginger root that are not top contact allergens, many flavors (natural or not) found in foods, beverages, and oral care products are. These include mint, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, Balsam of Peru — this last allergen has several components and cross reactants that should be avoided, too, […]
FOOD COLORING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Food Coloring While some foods that naturally have a beautiful coloring (like the purple yam ube or yellow turmeric) might be ok, many colorants added to foods are dyes and dyes are top contact allergens. For the most part, food and skin allergies are not the same. They involve different cells and systems — […]
PLASTIC: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be cautious Plastic This is an interesting call. As a rule, plastics contain lots of allergens like dyes, acrylates, benzophenones, resorcinol monobenzoate, isocyanate (in polyurethane foam, glue, resins), etc. and plastics are everywhere — yet reports of reactions to plastic items are rare. There are some case studies of allergic […]
BUTTERFLY, CATERPILLAR, MOTH: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Butterfly, Caterpillar, Moth These insects might not make it to a patch test tray but many of the things they come into contact with would — like flowers (their nectar is a primary food source) and plants. Plus, if you’re a butterfly enthusiast, chances are you’re spending time in gardens or other grassy, flower-filled […]