MILK & CREAM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Milk & Cream This is a complicated answer. Food and skin allergies operate differently. Food allergies are determined by a prick, scratch, or blood test and involve type B cells. Skin allergies are determined by a patch test and type T cells are involved. It is not always so straightforward: some studies report that epicutaneous patch tests can miss […]
BAKING SODA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Baking Soda This pantry staple is regularly used in baking as well as lots of household and health needs. It is not a top contact allergen and can be beneficial for the skin. For example, it’s a common remedy to soothe dry skin, insect bites, and “swimmer’s itch” (cercarial dermatitis), and as an alternative to fluoride-free toothpaste […]
KOMBUCHA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Kombucha In its original, basic form, this powerhouse probiotic made with fermented green or black tea with sugar, bacteria, and yeast is not a top contact allergen. However, be wary of mass produced, pre-packaged kombucha that might also contain artificial flavors (many of which are contact allergens and/or related to fragrance) or food […]
VAPING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Vaping Smoking isn’t good for your skin, lungs, or anything else. Once touted as the safer alternative, vaping or using e-cigarettes has turned out to be as dangerous, with some additional health risks. For skin in particular, both the e-liquids (or “vape juice”) and vaping device contain several top contact allergens. E-liquids normally contain propylene glycol as […]
BOREDOM & STRESS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Boredom & Stress Neither boredom nor stress is in patch test trays and neither is a top contact allergen. Both can lead to inflammation, however. Boredom can encourage unhealthy choices — eating junk food (which does mean lots of allergen exposure), spending all day on the couch (ditto) bingeing on our favorite shows, staying up later […]
BOOZE (LIQUOR): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Booze (Liquor) Liquor — whisky, bourbon, vodka, gin, tequila, rum and their cousins — are not top contact allergens. Some people can have a type B-cell allergy to alcohol (normally determined by a prick test) and if you do, don’t drink it. But this type of allergy operates differently from a skin contact allergy […]
COUCH POTATO-ing: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Being a Couch Potato We have yet to come across “couch potato” in a patch test tray and we’re believers in the occasional let-it-all-go-the-couch-is-my-home-for-a-few-days-don’t-judge-me-or-my-unshowered-self indulgence. It can be a form of de-stressing. Stress is inflammatory. Ergo, if being a couch potato helps you de-stress, it is good. As with many things, however, this is […]
EXERCISE MAT: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Exercise Mat Yoga mats, pilates mats, fitness mats, and rubber mats in gyms are important to keep you safe when working out. But most are made of or contain rubber, which is a top contact allergen. Where you find rubber, you tend to find other allergens like thiuram. Some thicker mats also contain foam, where latex becomes an additional […]
PUPPY: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Puppy Dogs experience contact dermatitis. And some people are allergic to dogs, usually from their dander…but not even their dander, really. The culprit is usually from the animal’s sebaceous glands and saliva, which is then transferred onto its dander during grooming. This allergy isn’t the same as a contact allergy, and pet allergens are not common skin […]