FLUORIDES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be careful Fluorides Popular in toothpastes and other oral care products, found in some topical steroids, and added to tap water in some countries, fluoride (the ionic form of the chemical element fluorine) is not a top contact allergen. But fluorides (like chlorides) can be highly irritating or toxic at […]
PROBIOTICS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Probiotics These “good bugs” are the focus of a growing number of research studies — and rightfully so! After decades of antibiotic overuse, it turns out that our blanket killing of microbes may have done serious harm to the friendly bugs in our gut (and skin). This, in turn, may have had […]
UBE (Purple Yam): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Ube (Purple Yam) Originally from the Philippines where it is a staple in the local cuisine (especially in sweets), this Instagram-fave food is not a top contact allergen. As it’s basically a bright purple sweet potato, ube (pronounced “ooh-beh”) shares the sweet potato’s health benefits and is a great source of fiber, […]
BALSAM OF PERU: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Balsam of Peru Not actually from Peru but native to El Salvador (when it was first named, El Salvador was a Peruvian colony), Balsam of Peru makes such a regular appearance on published lists of top contact allergens that it is standard in the most elemental of patch test trays. Balsam of Peru is […]
ACETOPHENONE AZINE (in EVA foam in shin guards, footwear & sport gear): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Acetophenone Azine (in EVA foam in shin guards, footwear & sport gear) Meet the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Allergen of the Year for 2021: Acetophenone azine (AA)! AA is found in EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) foam and is a cause of allergic contact dermatitis — especially in children — from shin guards, bicycle seats, […]
RETINOIDS (Retinoic Acid, Retinol, Retinaldehyde, Retinyl Palmitate): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Retinoids These wonderful ingredients are gold standard mainstays in dermatology for good reason: they’re really effective! Retinoids are not top contact allergens but — as is the case with most effective active ingredients — they are irritants. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and have similar benefits but differ in strength, efficacy, […]
LIMONENE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Limonene Limonene isn’t just a top contact allergen itself; it is one of the substances that makes mango, lime, mint, compositae, and many fragrances allergens, too. d-limonene is naturally occurring in plants and spices (mostly the citruses but also peppermint and fir needles). If you have patch tested positive to d-limonene, look out for […]
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Cocamidopropyl Betaine Cocamidopropyl betaine was the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Allergen of the Year in 2004. It is a common ingredient in cleansers, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hair coloring and styling products, toothpastes, mouth washes, and other cosmetics. A mistake that tends to be made is thinking that it is the “coco” (the coconut origin) […]
PUMICE (Volcanic Rock): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be cautious Pumice (Volcanic Rock) Pure pumice is not a top contact allergen and does not appear as such in patch test trays, but it can certainly cause contact irritations (especially when scrubbed on skin vigorously). Like dirt and mud, the volcanic rock could possibly be mixed with cobalt or […]