ORANGE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Orange Delicious and packed with awesome vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, this fruit fave should definitely be in your diet unless you patch test positive for it. Many citruses, like lemon and lime, are common contact allergens. One allergen in citrus is d-limonene, which is the main component of the peel of all edible citrus […]
ISOBORNYL ACRYLATE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Isobornyl acrylate Acrylates have been creeping up contact allergen lists, and several regularly appear on published lists of common contact allergens. While not on standard patch test trays, there have been enough case studies reported on allergies to Isobornyl acrylate to make it 2019’s Allergen of the Year of the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Some general notes on […]
PROPYLENE GLYCOL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol is the American Contact Dermatitis Society‘s Allergen of the Year for 2018. It causes contact dermatitis and also systemic contact dermatitis, meaning if you have a skin allergy to propylene glycol, it may also cause a reaction if you inhale it or are exposed to it orally, in an injection, or through the […]
ARGAN OIL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Argan Oil There are published case studies of allergic contact dermatitis caused by argan oil but it is not yet on published lists of common allergens. This means that you should be able to enjoy this emollient. It may not have the clinical studies that virgin coconut oil does (check out this post comparing […]
SALICYLIC ACID: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Salicylic Acid This popular, well-studied keratolytic and micro-exfoliant is the only BHA (Beta-Hydroxy Acid) used in skin, and it is a staple, from acne to various scaly skin conditions. In acne, blackheads, and whiteheads, it works by deep-cleaning the follicles’ inner walls to prevent clogging. It also softens keratin, loosening scaly skin, […]
JOJOBA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Jojoba Jojoba oil and wax are popular ingredients from the seeds of the Jojoba shrub. Jojoba is lauded as an emollient that can soothe skin, clear pores, and unclog hair follicles, and is not on published lists of common contact allergens. As with all ingredients, however, keep in mind that allergens can be hidden in […]
LATEX: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Latex Not listed as “latex” on published lists of common contact allergens, latex is actually the milky sap of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Latex makes up the large majority of natural rubber, and rubber is an allergen. Exposure can be from contact with the skin, but also intravenously, through inhalation (from latex in […]
DYES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen…and Photo-Allergen! Dyes While some are safer than others, dyes are definitely on the published lists of most common contact allergens. These include disperse blue dyes (used in a variety of textiles and clothing), which were chosen as the very first Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society in 2000, and paraphenylenediamine or PPD (found in hair dye, cosmetics, […]
ARNICA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Arnica One of the oldest drug plants and still a favorite natural remedy for aches, pain, swelling, sore muscles and arthritis, arnica is a top contact allergen. The actual herb is toxic to the liver and can be fatal when eaten (the FDA classifies pure arnica as an unsafe herb), but homeopathic oral supplements […]