RAZOR: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Razor While “razor” isn’t something you’ll see on your patch test results, there’s a pretty good chance you might see nickel, which has been the number one contact allergen for decades. Nickel was also the 2008 Allergen of the Year of the American Contact Dermatitis Society and is tough to avoid completely because almost all metals have […]
GARDEN, GARDENING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Garden, Gardening You won’t see these words on a patch test but gardens and gardening involve lots and lots of top contact allergens. The main ones include: Other allergens you might get exposed to such as insects and pollen can be IgE-mediated allergens. While they might not necessarily be skin allergens (unless you also […]
Pro Tip: Layer Your Moisturizers!
Very dry skin? Psoriasis? Eczema? MOB it! MOB = Moisturizer-Oil-Balm. The best dermatologist’s tip for really, really dry skin. Skin can get so dry that it cracks. Besides being really uncomfortable, this is inviting to microbes that can penetrate, cause infections, worsen itching and dryness, and complicate management. Applying moisturizers in strategic layers is an […]
Perimenopause and Skin
With more and more research (finally!) into perimenopause and menopause, women are learning ways to relieve a wider range of symptoms and stay healthier, longer. First: What’s What? Menopause is defined as not menstruating for one year and the time thereafter. Perimenopause lasts years, even decades, often starting at age 47 but sometimes as early […]
Bad Body Odor (Bromhidrosis)
Bad Smell This perceived “bad smell” mostly occurs in the axillary or underarm area (if it is apocrine bromhidrosis). It can also be from other parts of the body (eccrine bromhidrosis). Apocrine and eccrine refer to the two types of (sweat) glands that we have. Don’t (Just) Sweat the Sweat Sweat does play a role but it’s […]
Top 10 Allergens To Avoid
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you or your child has eczema. What are some of the most common irritants and allergens to avoid? Marcie: Can you list for us some common irritants? It’ll also be great […]
DOLLS (“BARBIE,” etc.): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen (“Barbie”) Dolls First, the movie “Barbie” is empowering, important, pretty awesome, and NOT a top contact allergen (among other things, no contact!) Second, “dolls” wouldn’t appear on a patch test tray but many of the components commonly found in typical dolls and accessories would. Enough so that, while there are exceptions (see below), we’re […]
GLYCERIN: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Glycerin The classic humectant glycerin (also called glycerol) is naturally occurring and can come from animal or plant fats (the glycerin VMV Hypoallergenics uses is plant derived, usually from coconut oil) and it is not published as a top contact allergen. That it is not a contact allergen is especially impressive considering […]
BATHROOM FIXTURES (Faucets, Shower Knobs, Towel Rods, Flush Buttons, Grab Bars): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Bathroom Fixtures: Faucets, Shower Knobs, Towel Rods, Flush Buttons, Grab Bars The main contact allergens in bathroom fixtures are nickel, potassium dichromate, and cobalt. Nickel has been the number one contact allergen for many years and is present in most metal objects. Very high-quality metals such as high-end stainless steel reduce the risk of a […]