TAMPON: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Tampon While it’s possible to develop reactions while handling some tampons with your hands, contact dermatitis in this area would not tend to occur inside the vagina (the internal canal where tampons are inserted) but on the vulva (labia, clitoris, clitoral hood) from contact with external things like feminine washes, period pads, […]
SELF TANNER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Self Tanners While some products could be safer for sensitive skin, many self tanners tend to contain lots of published top contact allergens, including: Self tanners are definitely safer than tanning in the sun or in UV beds to prevent against skin cancer but be guided by your patch test results (there may be […]
XANTHAM GUM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Xantham Gum This popular stabilizer, emulsifier and thickener has been known to cause food allergies in some people but it is not published as a top contact (skin) allergen. Xantham gum is derived from sugar (from corn, wheat, soy, or dairy) which is then fermented by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris. Eating too […]
CHEWING GUM, BUBBLE GUM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Chewing Gum, Bubble Gum While you might not be touching gum a lot, there are frequently several ingredients that are top contact allergens in popular chewing and bubble gums. As with toothpaste and eating utensils, the contact can be enough to cause perioral dermatitis, contact dermatitis, irritations, and other skin concerns. Some top contact […]
INDIGO: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Indigo While disperse blue and many dyes are well known to cause contact dermatitis, and while some allergic reactions to it have been reported, natural indigo is not currently in published lists of top contact allergens. Indigo is also known as Indigo Carmine, Indigotine, and FD&C Blue No. 2. Another important thing […]
GLYCERYL STEARATE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Glyceryl Stearate Considering how common this ingredient is in cosmetics and personal care products, that it is not published as a top contact allergen speaks to its safety (the more common an ingredient is, the higher the likelihood of it becoming a contact allergen). Glyceryl stearate is from two other non-allergens glycerin […]
FACE TAPE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Face Tape Whether you’re face taping for the temporary face lift effect (very temporary) or for the style of it (it’s a classic technique among drag performers and celebrities), face tapes tend to have contact allergens that are published as some of the more common. Silicones tend to be fairly well tolerated but, as […]
TRIETHANOLAMINE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Triethanolamine This pH adjuster (a combination of monoethanolamine and diethanolamine) does tend to be in patch test trays and has been known to occasionally elicit allergic reactions but not enough to make it to published lists of top contact allergens. As usual, be guided by your patch test results as your reaction […]
FEMININE WASH, WIPE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Feminine Washes and Wipes Vaginal washes, douches, and wipes tend to be marketed to imply that there is something wrong about a woman’s vulva and vagina (there isn’t). These products therefore usually contain ingredients meant to mask or “correct” the area’s natural, inherent odor (lots of fragrance) or perceived uncleanliness (antibacterial ingredients). Besides being […]