VITAMIN C: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Vitamin C Ascorbic acid (what exists in nature; sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate are more stable synthetic salts) does not appear on published lists on common contact allergens. This is reinforced by the fact that very few allergies have been reported (see de Groot in references below), despite vitamin C being found in so many products (from foods to cosmetics […]
ALCOHOL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen. This is a little tricky but let’s break it down: the most common alcohol (isopropyl, ethyl) used for disinfection is an irritant — and it is certainly drying —but it is not a common contact allergen. For more on the difference between irritant and allergic reactions, see It’s Complicated: Allergic Versus Irritant Reaction. Complicating things […]
Study Review: Coconut Oil, Monolaurin & Other Derivatives As Antivirals
The quick summary: There are multiple published clinical studies on the antimicrobial properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and its derivatives, and they’ve been around longer than you may think. We asked a leading dermatologist and dermatopathologist, Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell, who is a specialist in contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and its secondary infections — and whose […]
Another Disinfection Technique: Wash Your Hands, Use Monolaurin…and Virgin Coconut Oil Your Nose!
With new bugs and superbugs, we’re looking for more ways to prevent infection. Improving our nutrition and overall well being is important (which includes lessening stress and getting enough sleep). Another is increasing our probiotic intake. Some classic best practices include frequent and proper hand washing, upping your use of hand sanitizer, and wiping down surfaces with alcohol or bleach. But while alcohol isn’t an allergen, it […]
Allergic Versus Irritant Reaction: Not All Skin Reactions Are The Same
A reaction is a reaction…isn’t it? Yes, in that a skin reaction usually looks and feels “off.” No, in that a skin reaction can be irritant or allergic. Some substances can be irritants but not allergens (such as the iodine on the bottom right of the photo above) or allergens but not irritants (such as the lemongrass essential oil […]
Fall “Skin” Love In 4 Steps
As the leaves turn and fall, do your own shedding and renewal: Our post-summer skinfest begins with a royal residue-ridding to wash away summer’s big sweat soirée and flush out the greasy flotsam that strikes fear in every pore. In other words: here’s how to transition your skincare from summer to fall. Treat yourself to […]
Your Body Skin Deserves Your Love, Too!
You’re working so hard on your overall health: eating right, de-stressing, sleeping well, and exercising. Don’t forget your skin! Dermatologists will tell you that it’s not uncommon to see toned, glowing faces topping dry, lined, and spotted necks and chests. One tends to forget how often our hands are seen. Knees, elbows and thighs can look […]
Scared To Try Something New? Start With…Lipstick!
I’ve been wanting to be better at trying new things. But being “better” is a really vague statement so I thought I needed something specific that I could do regularly, that pushed me a little each day. I wanted to start with something small and simple…but not too small. If I wanted to be pushed, I […]
You Might Seriously Be Misunderstanding Cosmetics Ingredients — and Allergens!
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you or your child has eczema. Q: Many ingredients in cosmetics look similar. Is there a way to identify what type of ingredient a certain name suggests? For instance, are ‘glycerin’, ‘capric triglyceride’, ‘palm glycerides’, ‘caprylyl glycol’, ‘glycerylstearate SE’, ‘glyceryl laurate’, ‘glycol distearate’, ‘butylene glycol’, ‘glycerylcocoate’ related? A: Unfortunately, unless […]