BRUNO (We should talk about): Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Bruno Madrigal A lot of people feared Bruno because he was different and his powers were not well understood. He himself isn’t an allergen but his exclusion and exile exposed him to more than a few top contact allergens (poor Bruno on many levels). Living behind the walls means lots and lots […]

CARBA MIX (Rubber, Rubberized Handles): Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Carba Mix Carba chemicals are rubber accelerators. They are needed to make natural rubber latex suitable for manufacturing many rubber products and to make the vulcanization of rubber go faster. You can find carba mix in most rubber and rubberized things, including: travel mug handles; rubberized grips on weights, rackets and other gym or […]

LETTUCE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Lettuce This vegetable is so good for you (it’s hydrating and a great source of antioxidants and vitamins) that it should be a staple in your diet unless you patch test positive to it. Lettuce itself is not in published lists of top contact allergens, but the Compositae (Asteraceae) family it belongs to and […]

CHIPS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen … as a rule, but there are options! Chips There are so, so many snack chips and most contain a trifecta of top contact allergens: preservatives, food coloring, and flavoring (lots of flavors are related to fragrance). A patch test can confirm if you have a contact allergy to these ingredients. When eating or […]

BLUE, DISPERSE BLUE DYES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Disperse Blue Dyes These dyes are top contact allergens, and big ones. The American Contact Dermatitis Society named Disperse Blue Dyes Contact Allergen of the Year in 2000. You’ll tend to see these pop up on your patch test results as disperse blue 106 and disperse blue 124. Note that textile allergens are not in […]

BASKET: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Basket There are some caveats for sure, but generally speaking there are few to no top contact allergens in a simple basket with natural, untreated, and uncolored fibers that is woven by hand. Some of the top contact allergens to watch out for: Items with shine as that could suggest a resin […]

FLAVORING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Flavoring While there are some natural extracts like ginger root that are not top contact allergens, many flavors (natural or not) found in foods, beverages, and oral care products are. These include mint, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, Balsam of Peru — this last allergen has several components and cross reactants that should be avoided, too, […]

FOOD COLORING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Food Coloring While some foods that naturally have a beautiful coloring (like the purple yam ube or yellow turmeric) might be ok, many colorants added to foods are dyes and dyes are top contact allergens. For the most part, food and skin allergies are not the same. They involve different cells and systems — […]

BUTTERFLY, CATERPILLAR, MOTH: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Butterfly, Caterpillar, Moth These insects might not make it to a patch test tray but many of the things they come into contact with would — like flowers (their nectar is a primary food source) and plants. Plus, if you’re a butterfly enthusiast, chances are you’re spending time in gardens or other grassy, flower-filled […]