CAR: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Car Yet another thing that won’t fit on your patch test but yet another thing that’s riddled with top contact allergens! Knowing what they are — and, crucially, using your patch test results as a guide — can spare your skin a lot of problems. Some top contact allergens that are in common cars: […]
CLOVE: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Clove Clove oil is eugenol, which is extracted from cloves, and which is one of the allergens in the Fragrance Mix included standard patch test trays, definitely making it a top contact allergen. Where can you find clove oil Because it smells good and has antiseptic properties, clove oil is found in lots of […]
OAKMOSS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Oakmoss This woody, earthy fragrance from tree lichen is a favorite in men’s cologne and skincare, is part of Fragrance Mix in standard patch test trays, and is definitely a published top contact allergen. Moss is generally a contact allergen, too, but oakmoss (Evernia prunastri) is actually a lichen (a fungus-algae hybrid that grows […]
PARAFFIN WAX: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Paraffin Wax We’re talking cosmetic grade, lab-tested paraffin wax, of course, to ensure that it is hygienic and appropriate for use on the skin, but paraffin wax is really not a top contact allergen. So much so that, like mineral oil and petrolatum, paraffin wax is a favorite among dermatologists as a […]
INSECTICIDE, PESTICIDE, BUG SPRAY: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Insecticide, Pesticide, Bug Spray These products wouldn’t necessarily be listed as such on published allergen lists or appear like this on patch test trays, but lots of their ingredients would! Common allergens found in insecticides, pesticides, and bug spray include: balsam of Peru, benzophenones, formaldehyde, fragrance, isothiazolinone, pyrethrin, permethrin (avoid if you patch tested […]
GYM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Gyms, Yoga Studios, etc. You can’t patch test a gym so it’s never going to make it to published lists of top contact allergens but most gyms, yoga studios and other fitness environments are a minefield of top contact allergens. Read on to learn what they plus how you can avoid them so that […]
MERCURY: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen, possibly … and a poison Mercury As with lead, while a skin rash or generalized dermatitis is a symptom of mercury poisoning and while mercury is a top contact irritant, it is not listed in published lists of top causes of T-cell mediated contact dermatitis (this might possibly be because its use in cosmetics […]
BEETS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Beets, Beetroot This gorgeously hued tuber is a popular ingredient in homemade cosmetics and (yay!) is not a top contact allergen. If using it in homemade colored cosmetics, however, do make sure other allergens or irritants are not in the formulation. Subscribe to VMVinSKIN.com and our YouTube channel for more hypoallergenic tips […]
CORAL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Coral While there are case reports of coral dermatitis, contact dermatitis to corals is relatively rare. These marine invertebrates are in the same family as Cnidaria along with jellyfish and anemones. Similar to those other animals, some corals release toxins and histamines when they come in contact with a foreign body. Some […]