CACAO, COCOA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen … but can cause allergic reactions Cacao, Cocoa It’s unlikely to see cacao (the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa), cocoa, or chocolate in a patch test tray and while there are case reports of allergic or systemic contact dermatitis to these substances, they are still relatively rare. The risk can be higher if […]

ANXIETY: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen … But Quite Bad for Skin Anxiety If anxiety could be put in a patch test, we bet it would make the top of published allergen lists quickly — it’s quite common (the World Health Organization calls “anxiety disorders … the world’s most common mental disorders”) and triggers lots and lots of […]

WILD YAM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Wild Yam Perhaps because Dioscorea villosa is still relatively new in skincare, it is not a top contact allergen (the more common an ingredient is, the higher the risk of it becoming a contact allergen). It also does not yet have many clinical studies to validate its claims. Wild yam contains a […]

ESTROGEN: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Estrogen This sex hormone is produced by our bodies and plays an important role in human reproductive systems. It can also be taken orally, via transdermal patch, gel, spray, cream, or injection. While there is a condition called estrogen dermatitis and some case reports of systemic contact dermatitis to orally taken estrogen, […]

BRACES, RETAINERS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Braces, Retainers Nickel in the metals is normally the top culprit (it has also consistently ranked number one in published lists of top contact allergens for decades and was the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Allergen of the Year in 2008). But there are other materials to look out for like glues, acrylics, and latex […]

SESQUITERPENE LACTONE, TERPENES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Sesquiterpene lactone (STL), Terpenes “Terpenes” is the broader term for the compounds responsible for the odor of most plants (they’re the primary constituents of essential oils, so many of which are top contact allergens). Sesquiterpene lactones are a class of terpenes and are standard inclusions in patch test trays. Contact dermatitis to these substances […]

CLOTHES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Clothes, Textiles No, not all clothes, but yes, enough clothes have top published contact allergens in them for us to call the category an allergen. If you’re noticing dryness, darkening, itching, redness, or other skin issues on areas that come into contact with your clothing — from underwear areas to your knees, elbows, abdomen, […]

SELF TANNER: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Self Tanners While some products could be safer for sensitive skin, many self tanners tend to contain lots of published top contact allergens, including: Self tanners are definitely safer than tanning in the sun or in UV beds to prevent against skin cancer but be guided by your patch test results (there may be […]

XANTHAM GUM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Xantham Gum This popular stabilizer, emulsifier and thickener has been known to cause food allergies in some people but it is not published as a top contact (skin) allergen. Xantham gum is derived from sugar (from corn, wheat, soy, or dairy) which is then fermented by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris. Eating too […]