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 […]
CHEESE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Cheese As with milk and cream, cheese is not a top contact allergen. That said, its allergenicity can be more complicated. Food and skin allergies operate differently. Food allergies are determined by a prick, scratch, or blood test and involve type B cells. Skin allergies are determined by a patch test and type T […]
HYALURONIC ACID: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Hyaluronic Acid The great news is this wonder humectant (a substance that retains water) is not a top contact allergen and is actually usually well tolerated by the skin. The other news is … developing. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in our bodies, such as in the synovial fluid of joints, in […]
SLUGGING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Slugging If using a very pure, allergen-free, non-acnegenic petrolatum-based product like Boo-Boo Balm, slugging is not a top skin allergen and could be wonderful for very dry or barrier-damaged skin. This skincare trend went viral on social media fairly recently and was attributed to the Korean beauty universe but it has been […]
VEGAN (CLEAN, NATURAL) SKINCARE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Vegan Skincare The words “vegan skincare” would not appear on standard patch test trays as such but many products labeled “vegan” (along with products labeled “natural” or “organic”) contain lots of top contact allergens. If you have allergic contact dermatitis, it would be best to exercise caution. The bottom line is that terms like […]
COLLAGEN: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Collagen Neither the protein abundantly found in your body that gives skin its elasticity and strength nor the supplements derived from fish or cows (and other sources) is currently a top contact allergen. But supplements and collagen in skincare might also not be doing much for your skin. In topically-applied products, collagen […]
MINERAL OIL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Mineral Oil Not a top contact dermatitis (which is impressive considering how common it is in so many products), this oil is a favorite among dermatologists due to how safe, soothing, moisturizing, and occlusive (prevents water loss) it is and its usability on several parts of the body, including the mucosa of […]
GLUTATHIONE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Glutathione This “master antioxidant” is one of the most important and is found in every cell. Its efficacy when topically applied on skin has not been adequately studied. While it is not a top contact allergen, when using a product with glutathione as an ingredient, do be wary of other allergens that […]
BAGOONG (Fermented Shrimp Paste): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Bagoong This fermented shrimp paste (pronounced bah-goh-ong) is a local delicacy in the Philippines. While it’s mostly made with shrimp it can also be made with fish or krill. And while food allergies to shellfish are not uncommon, they’re actually less common as contact allergies. Food allergies (type B cells are involved) […]