VANILLA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Vanilla This yummy, ancient spice (it was used by the Aztecs) is part of the Orchidaceae family. It can be found in lots of skincare and perfumes, in everything from essential oils to flavored toothpaste, lip balm, shampoo, conditioner, aromatherapy, skin cream, makeup, baby products, and more. The top contact allergen Balsam of Peru […]

FRAGRANCE MIX: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Fragrance Mix The American Contact Dermatitis Society named Fragrance the Allergen Of The Year of 2007 … and there are so many that they’re in groups (Fragrance Mix I and Fragrance Mix II) that are standard in patch test trays! If you’ve patch tested positive to either fragrance mix, it can be difficult to […]

BALSAM OF PERU: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Balsam of Peru Not actually from Peru but native to El Salvador (when it was first named, El Salvador was a Peruvian colony), Balsam of Peru makes such a regular appearance on published lists of top contact allergens that it is standard in the most elemental of patch test trays. Balsam of Peru is […]