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STEVIA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … yet Stevia Anecdotal reports of reactions to stevia — contact or IgE-mediated — are so rare that it is not normally included in standard patch test trays. Being a flowering plant from the Asteraceae (compositae) family, however, it would not be surprising for this increasingly popular sweetener to become a top […]
PLUSH TOY (Stuffed Animal): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Plush Toy (Stuffed Animal) “Teddy” may be your little one’s cuddliest pal but many plush toys are contact allergen-heavy. Topping the list are strong dyes, especially in toys with bright colors like this woeful turtle’s green, the purple of a certain singing dinosaur, and the bright red fur of a very popular muppet. Less […]
PPD (Paraphenylenediamine): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen PPD (Paraphenylenediamine) American Contact Dermatitis Society‘s Allergen of the Year in 2006, PPD or paraphenylenediamine is no joke, especially in hair dye, where it’s most known for causing trouble. This is not surprising considering how severe some reactions can be and how hard it is to find an alternative. PPD may be “just one ingredient” but […]
FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSHES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen … irritant & acnegen, too Facial Cleansing Brushes Popular for their surface exfoliation and deeper clean, facial cleansing brushes are not without risks to the skin. The gadgets themselves would not appear in published lists of top contact allergens but many of their materials would. Silicone bristles could be ok unless they’re rubberized silicone […]
DUST MITES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Dust Mites It’s not the bite of this arachnid that’s the main issue but its waste — more specifically, the membrane that surrounds the mite’s fecal pellets. The chitin in its hard exoskeleton is also an aeroallergen (airborne allergen). We come into contact with it when immature mites shed their exoskeletons. This means that […]
AIR CONDITIONER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but practice some care Air Conditioner “Air conditioner” does not appear on published lists of top contact allergens. That said, dry air from indoor cooling (and heating) can irritate skin and cold air is also an irritant. Note that these are irritants and not contact allergens. Irritant and allergic reactions are […]
COMPOSITAE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Compositae Compositae mix is a common contact allergen that’s a regular feature in patch test trays. The Compositae or Asteraceae group (Aster is “star” in Greek and refers to the shape of the flowers) includes daisies, sunflowers, feverfew (chrysanthemum), and asters, plus chamomile, arnica, and over 20,000 other herbs, vegetables, and plants. Of particular concern […]
EYEGLASSES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Eyeglasses Rubber in nose pads and nickel and gold elements in metal frames tend to be the biggest culprits in eyeglasses but some plastic ones can also have dyes (avoid dark colors and vibrant hues) and benzophenones. Wooden frames could be options but try to look for ones without paint or varnish and other […]
SEASHELLS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Seashells When handled straight from the beach or ocean, there are risks of skin unpleasantness such as reactions from algae, sand flea bites, or other environmental remnants. But seashells that have been out of the ocean for some time are not top contact allergens. Try not to purchase them or remove them […]
