RUBBER FLIP-FLOPS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen. Rubber flip-flops, slippers, shoes…rubber is one of the top allergens and can also cause problems in rubberized plastic. If you think you might have contact dermatitis, ask your dermatologist for a patch test. References: Regularly published reports on the most common allergens by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group and European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (based on over 28,000 […]
JEANS: Allergen Or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Blue Jeans Blue jeans are a surprisingly common cause of contact dermatitis (and worse). The allergens are the indigo, blue colorants and/or other dyes as well as the “mordants” (chemicals related to metal) used to help the colorant bind to the fabric. The jeans’ cotton fabric isn’t necessarily a culprit, although, with all the chemicals, bleaches, and preservatives […]
WHITE CERAMIC CUP: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen. While some mugs can have rubberized plastic handles which can cause contact dermatitis, or metal parts with nickel, a plain white ceramic cup is not an allergen. Cobalt is a strong allergen and is present in pottery clay, which can cause contact dermatitis in pottery workers who handle and form the raw materials (in Management of […]
COCONUT OIL: Allergen Or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen. While there have been some reports of reactions to RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) coconut oils, there are no reported reactions to virgin coconut oil. The coconut itself is a drupe, not a nut. Click here to learn more about coconut oil, check out: Mythfoliation – Aw, Nuts! Wait…, Is Virgin Oil Comedogenic?, Coconut Or […]
YLANG-YLANG, GERANIUM: Allergen Or Not An Allergen?
Allergen. Both are on the published lists of the most common allergens. Many essential and aromatherapy oils contain natural ingredients that may smell and feel wonderful but are top allergens. This does not mean that you can’t use any of them…it means two things. First, if you have sensitive skin, opt or a non-allergen oil […]
VMV Lipsticks – Jess Arnaudin on Grace Belle
We made Jess Arnaudin’s top 5 lipstick picks in “The Lipstick Lowdown: Why Clean Beauty Matters” on Grace Belle! “Founded by a leading dermatologist specializing in contact dermatitis, VMV Hypoallergenics is the best choice for the uber-sensitive and anyone looking to entirely avoid all-types-of-fragrance. Every item is stringently patch tested…Plus, the addition of antioxidant green […]
WHITE COTTON TOWEL: Allergen Or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen. White Cotton Towel: While just rough textures in a towel can already be irritating to sensitive skin, pure, unbleached, un- or minimally-treated (such as with chlorine), un-dyed or white cotton is not an allergen. If you have sensitive skin, avoid the towel that’s blue, red, or brightly colored as it probably contains dyes, many of […]
How To Ouchlessly Apply Boo-Boo Balm On A Very Painful Wound
My weakness isn’t seeing the blood and gore of injuries; it’s watching people in pain, particularly my young children. Boo-Boo Balm is ouchless as it is, but putting pressure on a throbbing wound can be agony. With my mom (VMV’s founding dermatologist-dermatopathologist), we’ve perfected a pretty awesome ouchless first-aid technique. Follow those steps first (ice the wound […]
Try This Technique For Pain-Free First Aid!
By Laura “SLAM! 🙁 8yo’s finger got into a fight with a cabinet door and lost.” So went the caption of that photograph above when I posted it on Instagram. I took the photo after the ice packs had already reduced the pain significantly (my top, why-did-no-one-tell-me-about-this-when-I-was-a-kid tip below) because I wanted to know if my mom (dermatologist) thought I should to […]