THIMEROSAL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Thimerosal Merthiolate, thiomersalatem, sodium ethylmercury salicylate — thimerosal. This organic mercury is a top contact allergen and had a long history of safety and efficacy as a preservative. But, due to concerns about exposure to mercury-containing ingredients, it is now less commonly found. Thimerosal used to be a staple antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal as […]
AIR CONDITIONER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but practice some care Air Conditioner “Air conditioner” does not appear on published lists of top contact allergens. That said, dry air from indoor cooling (and heating) can irritate skin and cold air is also an irritant. Note that these are irritants and not contact allergens. Irritant and allergic reactions are […]
WATER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but (surprise!) an irritant! Water Water is life. We all need it to survive and it makes up a lot of our bodies. It’s also cleansing and healing … and not a top contact allergen. In fact, it’s used to rinse off allergens that we come into contact with. But, as […]
COMPOSITAE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Compositae Compositae mix is a common contact allergen that’s a regular feature in patch test trays. The Compositae or Asteraceae group (Aster is “star” in Greek and refers to the shape of the flowers) includes daisies, sunflowers, feverfew (chrysanthemum), and asters, plus chamomile, arnica, and over 20,000 other herbs, vegetables, and plants. Of particular concern […]
EYEGLASSES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Eyeglasses Rubber in nose pads and nickel and gold elements in metal frames tend to be the biggest culprits in eyeglasses but some plastic ones can also have dyes (avoid dark colors and vibrant hues) and benzophenones. Wooden frames could be options but try to look for ones without paint or varnish and other […]
EARPHONES & HEADPHONES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Earphones & Headphones With video calls now commonplace, everyone needs a decent pair of earphones or headphones. If you’ve got contact dermatitis, they (like lots of digital equipment and office supplies) can be an allergen minefield. An updated patch test is your best friend. Some of the top contact allergens to watch out for […]
BEES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen … but perhaps not what you think Bees The glorious, vital, pollinating insect itself is not a top contact allergen. A bee sting is painful. For those with an IgE-mediated allergy to bee stings, they can be life threatening. But even an allergy to bee stings (Type 1 reaction) is not a contact skinallergy […]
SEASHELLS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Seashells When handled straight from the beach or ocean, there are risks of skin unpleasantness such as reactions from algae, sand flea bites, or other environmental remnants. But seashells that have been out of the ocean for some time are not top contact allergens. Try not to purchase them or remove them […]
PRESERVATIVES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Preservatives Found in everything from plastics to fabrics, household goods, vaping compounds, medications, nutritional supplements, hair care and styling products, and certainly skincare and cosmetics, preservatives play an important role in preventing the growth of fungi and bacteria and keeping these items from decomposing or growing mould when contaminated by a microbe. Preservatives are […]