LIMONENE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Limonene Limonene isn’t just a top contact allergen itself; it is one of the substances that makes mango, lime, mint, compositae, and many fragrances allergens, too. d-limonene is naturally occurring in plants and spices (mostly the citruses but also peppermint and fir needles). If you have patch tested positive to d-limonene, look out for […]
COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Cocamidopropyl Betaine Cocamidopropyl betaine was the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Allergen of the Year in 2004. It is a common ingredient in cleansers, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hair coloring and styling products, toothpastes, mouth washes, and other cosmetics. A mistake that tends to be made is thinking that it is the “coco” (the coconut origin) […]
PUMICE (Volcanic Rock): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be cautious Pumice (Volcanic Rock) Pure pumice is not a top contact allergen and does not appear as such in patch test trays, but it can certainly cause contact irritations (especially when scrubbed on skin vigorously). Like dirt and mud, the volcanic rock could possibly be mixed with cobalt or […]
SUNLIGHT: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Sunlight If you are ever in a position where you might actually come into direct contact with the sun, there are got bigger problems to worry about. But sun LIGHT does shine directly our skins and while not a top contact allergen (it’s not something we can touch or apply onto our […]
TURPENTINE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Turpentine This pine-derived solvent is a mainstay for painters and hobbyists, and can be found in some cold remedies and liniments. While some reports consider turpentine more of a skin irritant than an actual contact allergen, cases of allergic contact dermatitis to it have been reported, it is a known cause of occupational contact […]
RUBBER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Rubber This top contact allergen is known to cause rashes, peeling, itching but also hyper- and hypo-pigmentations. Complicating things somewhat is that reactions to rubber can be due to the natural latex sap of the rubber tree or an allergy to the different chemicals used in the manufacturing of rubber such as: Thiuram Pigments […]
BASIL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … yet Basil There are some case studies of reactions to basil oil, and it is not currently listed in published lists of top common allergens. However, this heavenly herb is, along with mint and lavender, part of the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family of top contact allergens. We therefore suggest to use it […]
STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … maybe Stainless Steel Water Bottle Nickel has been the number one contact allergen for years, was the 2008 Allergen of the Year of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, and is everywhere. When we say that a stainless steel water bottle is probably not a contact allergen, we assume that it is a pretty plain, […]
COLORED TABLETS, PILLS, CAPSULES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Colored Tablets, Pills Capsules Many dyes and some colorants are on published lists of top contact allergens. Some foods and supplements use flavors for taste and coloring, and many flavors are allergens themselves or related to fragrance. If you’ve patch tested positive to dyes, colorants, flavors or fragrance, look for your medication in tablets, […]