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 […]

DUST MITES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Dust Mites It’s not the bite of this arachnid that’s the main issue but its waste — more specifically, the membrane that surrounds the mite’s fecal pellets. The chitin in its hard exoskeleton is also an aeroallergen (airborne allergen). We come into contact with it when immature mites shed their exoskeletons. This means that […]

THIMEROSAL: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Thimerosal Merthiolate, thiomersalatem, sodium ethylmercury salicylate — thimerosal. This organic mercury is a top contact allergen and had a long history of safety and efficacy as a preservative. But, due to concerns about exposure to mercury-containing ingredients, it is now less commonly found. Thimerosal used to be a staple antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal as […]

PRESERVATIVES: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Allergen Preservatives Found in everything from plastics to fabrics, household goods, vaping compounds, medications, nutritional supplements, hair care and styling products, and certainly skincare and cosmetics, preservatives play an important role in preventing the growth of fungi and bacteria and keeping these items from decomposing or growing mould when contaminated by a microbe. Preservatives are […]

Awkward Questions You Actually Should Ask Your Dermatologist

Intimidated by your doctor? You shouldn’t be. You’re putting your care in the hands of an expert and have a right to know more about them. Keep it light and friendly (an aggressive interrogation never set the stage for a pleasant relationship) but do ask questions! Here are some suggestions. 🎓 “I’d love to learn […]

UBE (Purple Yam): Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Ube (Purple Yam) Originally from the Philippines where it is a staple in the local cuisine (especially in sweets), this Instagram-fave food is not a top contact allergen. As it’s basically a bright purple sweet potato, ube (pronounced “ooh-beh”) shares the sweet potato’s health benefits and is a great source of fiber, […]

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (SARS-CoV-2) Please note that this page is a summary of what we currently know about novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and skin concerns. As of the time of this writing, skin lesions were beginning to be described in COVID-19. Avoiding rashes and other skin problems from the irritants and contact allergens described below is important as they may be mistaken […]

COCONUT FLOUR: Allergen or Not An Allergen?

Not An Allergen Coconut Flour Like so many things from the coconut — its oil, jam, sugar, meat, and monolaurin — coconut flour is not a top contact allergen. Made from dried coconut meat derived from copra (more processed) or virgin coconut meat, coconut flour is a great alternative to rye or wheat flour, which are common causes of protein […]