STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … maybe Stainless Steel Water Bottle Nickel has been the number one contact allergen for years, was the 2008 Allergen of the Year of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, and is everywhere. When we say that a stainless steel water bottle is probably not a contact allergen, we assume that it is a pretty plain, […]
COLORED TABLETS, PILLS, CAPSULES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Colored Tablets, Pills Capsules Many dyes and some colorants are on published lists of top contact allergens. Some foods and supplements use flavors for taste and coloring, and many flavors are allergens themselves or related to fragrance. If you’ve patch tested positive to dyes, colorants, flavors or fragrance, look for your medication in tablets, […]
NON-STICK PAN: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen…but a manageable one! Non-Stick Pan Many non-stick frying pans or other cooking pans are made up of several substances that are allergens. The concern isn’t so much the “non-stick” part of it. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon) is not a top contact allergen. It is sometimes recommended as a coating for metal medical devices or […]
PHENOXYETHANOL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Phenoxyethanol A popular preservative and stabilizer found in lots of products — from lots of hair styling products to various cosmetics, insect repellent, medicines, ultrasound gels, sunscreens, perfume, antiseptics, pet care and more — phenoxyethanol is on published lists of top contact allergens. If you’ve patch tested positive to phenoxyethanol, look out for it […]
GINGER ROOT EXTRACT (Flavor): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Ginger Root Extract (flavor) An ancient spice and folk medicine whose popularity has never waned, ginger is touted for its flavor and anti-inflammatory goodness the world over. Considering how popular it has been for eons, the fact that it is not on published lists of top contact allergens and has but one […]
BOOKS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen (but heads up!) Books Books are life and we love, love, love them. Most classic books — matte white or uncolored paper, plain text — tend not to have many top contact allergens. But there are definitely some things to watch out for. Vibrantly colored covers or papers contain inks and dyes, […]
CARDAMOM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Cardamom This delicious spice (Elettaria cardamomum) is made up of essential oils that include terpinyl acetate, terpineol, terpene terpinene, sabinene, and cineole. Terpinene and terpineol, in particular, are top contact allergens which can be found in compositae (feverfew, chamomile) and mint. Cardamom is well known to cause both localized contact dermatitis (such as on […]
PLANTS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Plants Plants are wonderful, necessary, life-giving, happiness, and all good things. They are food and medicine and oxygen … and many, many, many of them are top contact allergens. We’re not even talking about typical no-no’s like poison ivy or poisonous plants. Skin reactions to plants are so common that there’s a general term […]
COVID-19 VACCINES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Covid-19 Vaccines As of the time of this writing and the information available, none of the Covid-19 vaccines are known contact allergens or contain multiple contact allergens in their ingredients. Even if they were, the chances of a skin reaction would be unlikely as the vaccines are injected, not applied topically on […]