BASKET: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Basket There are some caveats for sure, but generally speaking there are few to no top contact allergens in a simple basket with natural, untreated, and uncolored fibers that is woven by hand. Some of the top contact allergens to watch out for: Items with shine as that could suggest a resin […]
FOOD COLORING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Food Coloring While some foods that naturally have a beautiful coloring (like the purple yam ube or yellow turmeric) might be ok, many colorants added to foods are dyes and dyes are top contact allergens. For the most part, food and skin allergies are not the same. They involve different cells and systems — […]
PLASTIC: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen … but be cautious Plastic This is an interesting call. As a rule, plastics contain lots of allergens like dyes, acrylates, benzophenones, resorcinol monobenzoate, isocyanate (in polyurethane foam, glue, resins), etc. and plastics are everywhere — yet reports of reactions to plastic items are rare. There are some case studies of allergic […]
BUTTERFLY, CATERPILLAR, MOTH: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Butterfly, Caterpillar, Moth These insects might not make it to a patch test tray but many of the things they come into contact with would — like flowers (their nectar is a primary food source) and plants. Plus, if you’re a butterfly enthusiast, chances are you’re spending time in gardens or other grassy, flower-filled […]
SHOES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Shoes So many types of footwear (sandals, pumps, boots, sneakers, water socks, etc.) have so many top contact allergens that most would be considered prime suspects behind skin problems on the feet. Some of the more common culprits include: Rubber (and therefore thiuram) Dyes and paraphenylenediamine (PPD) Leather Formaldehyde (in preservatives but also in […]
PEARL (Oyster): Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Pearl (Oyster) Harvesting pearls yourself might put your skin at risk of things that could irritate it, but otherwise, pearls are not a top contact allergen. If you have environmental or animal cruelty concerns, synthetic pearls could be an option. Just be wary of plastic ones that might have dyes or preservatives […]
HELMET, SAFETY HEAD GEAR: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Safety Helmet This important piece of equipment for biking, sports, construction, and certain occupations saves lives but can be a real challenge for skin. Some of the more problematic materials include: Rubber (and therefore thiuram), elastics, and latex Dyes bright colors as well as black or dark colors which may contain PPD Acetaophenone Azine […]
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 […]