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 […]
EARPHONES & HEADPHONES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Earphones & Headphones With video calls now commonplace, everyone needs a decent pair of earphones or headphones. If you’ve got contact dermatitis, they (like lots of digital equipment and office supplies) can be an allergen minefield. An updated patch test is your best friend. Some of the top contact allergens to watch out for […]
KNITTING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but barely Knitting The potential contact allergens that could be involved in this popular craft are numerous … Formaldehydes in the preservation of wool and wooden knitting needles Nickel in metal knitting needles Dyes and acrylates in yarn … but because there do seem to be lots of safer alternatives that […]
PROBIOTICS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Probiotics These “good bugs” are the focus of a growing number of research studies — and rightfully so! After decades of antibiotic overuse, it turns out that our blanket killing of microbes may have done serious harm to the friendly bugs in our gut (and skin). This, in turn, may have had […]
RETINOIDS (Retinoic Acid, Retinol, Retinaldehyde, Retinyl Palmitate): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Retinoids These wonderful ingredients are gold standard mainstays in dermatology for good reason: they’re really effective! Retinoids are not top contact allergens but — as is the case with most effective active ingredients — they are irritants. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and have similar benefits but differ in strength, efficacy, […]
PUMICE (Volcanic Rock): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be cautious Pumice (Volcanic Rock) Pure pumice is not a top contact allergen and does not appear as such in patch test trays, but it can certainly cause contact irritations (especially when scrubbed on skin vigorously). Like dirt and mud, the volcanic rock could possibly be mixed with cobalt or […]
ACRYLATES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Acrylates Named 2012’s Contact Allergen of the Year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society, acrylates are interesting because, a little like clay and ceramics, they are strong irritants and allergens when wet (or in their powder or paste form) but tend to be fine when hardened. Polymerization is the process that causes acrylates to […]
FEMININE HYGIENE, SANITARY (PERIOD) PADS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Sanitary (Period) Pads People have different preferences when it comes to period care but sanitary napkins can be a bit of a minefield for those with sensitive skin because most have several top contact allergens. A common cause of contact dermatitis of the vulva (vulvitis) or buttocks is fragrance — especially because of the […]
BASIL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … yet Basil There are some case studies of reactions to basil oil, and it is not currently listed in published lists of top common allergens. However, this heavenly herb is, along with mint and lavender, part of the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family of top contact allergens. We therefore suggest to use it […]