WEIGHTS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Weights There are a few points of contact that are of concern with weights: smaller dumbbells often have a rubberized exterior that tends to be brightly colored. Heavier weights and weight machines tend to use stainless steel bars which have nickel (the number one contact allergen). While some of these bars may be made of […]
DISHWASHING SOAP: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Dishwashing Soap These detergents and soaps cause more than half of the skin problems — including occupational hand dermatitis — in kitchen staff and homemakers, with new cases of occupational hand dermatitis doubling that of other industries each year. Prolonged exposure to water alone (plus certain foods) can cause irritant and allergic reactions, but dishwashing […]
VINEGAR: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Vinegar Acetic acid is another household staple that was traditionally used as an inexpensive wound cleaner. It is also sometimes used (diluted) in a gentle compress to dry up blisters from allergic contact dermatitis or to help manage atopic dermatitis. The topmost skin barrier layer is the stratum corneum. It has an […]
TOILET PAPER, TISSUE, PAPER TOWEL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Toilet Paper, Tissue, Paper Towels Considering how much these products are used by billions of people every day, and considering how many common contact allergens go into toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels, it is surprising that there are relatively few incidents of contact dermatitis attributed to them. The top contact allergens and their cross reactants […]
OFFICE SUPPLIES & COMPUTER ACCESSORIES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Office Supplies & Computer Accessories If you have allergic skin, the typical work desk can be a bit of a contact allergen minefield… Nickel So common that it’s rare for any metal not to have some nickel in it, this allergen has been the number one contact allergen for many years. Some good news: in very high-quality metals, […]
MILK & CREAM: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Milk & Cream This is a complicated answer. Food and skin allergies operate differently. Food allergies are determined by a prick, scratch, or blood test and involve type B cells. Skin allergies are determined by a patch test and type T cells are involved. It is not always so straightforward: some studies report that epicutaneous patch tests can miss […]
BAKING SODA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Baking Soda This pantry staple is regularly used in baking as well as lots of household and health needs. It is not a top contact allergen and can be beneficial for the skin. For example, it’s a common remedy to soothe dry skin, insect bites, and “swimmer’s itch” (cercarial dermatitis), and as an alternative to fluoride-free toothpaste […]
KOMBUCHA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Kombucha In its original, basic form, this powerhouse probiotic made with fermented green or black tea with sugar, bacteria, and yeast is not a top contact allergen. However, be wary of mass produced, pre-packaged kombucha that might also contain artificial flavors (many of which are contact allergens and/or related to fragrance) or food […]
VAPING: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Allergen Vaping Smoking isn’t good for your skin, lungs, or anything else. Once touted as the safer alternative, vaping or using e-cigarettes has turned out to be as dangerous, with some additional health risks. For skin in particular, both the e-liquids (or “vape juice”) and vaping device contain several top contact allergens. E-liquids normally contain propylene glycol as […]