Picture the Impact of fragrance on Eczema

The number one cause of adverse skin reactions to cosmetics and laundry products is fragrance. The skin reactions to fragrance chemicals can produce rashes, hives, dermatitis, or eczema.
Other symptoms can include watery eyes, nausea, sore throat, cough, and chest tightness.

Some fragrance materials, studies have shown, are absorbed by the skin and then broken down into materials that are stronger sensitizers than the original chemicals.

Confusion with Terms Used Products with labels that contain the words fragrance free or unscented do not guarantee they do not contain fragrance chemicals, they imply that they have no perceptible odor. A product labeled "unscented" may contain a masking fragrance. If fragrance is added to a product to mask or cover up the odor of other ingredients, it is not required to be put on the label.

A product must be marked "without perfume" to indicate no fragrance has been added. Even in this instance, it is best to read the label to look for plant extracts that are potential perfume sensitizers and cross-reactors.

Fragrance Skin Sensitizers A screening agent, called fragrance mix is used to pinpoint the cause of a large percentage of skin allergies. This fragrance mix contains eight known skin sensitizers. Most fragrances contain several of these known irritants.

[Alpha]-amyl cinnamic aldehyde is found in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, industrial products, and toothpaste.
Cinnamic alcohol is found in perfumed cosmetic products, deodorant, paper, laundry products, food flavoring, and toothpaste.
Cinnamic aldehyde, is found in toothpaste, bath oils, hair cosmetics, lipsticks, mouth washes, soaps, detergents, food flavoring, vermouths, bitters, and chewing gum. Studies have shown that cinnamic aldehyde binds with proteins in the skin to cause allergic reactions.
Eugenol is used in colognes, toilet waters, tonics, dressings, hair cosmetics, periodontal packing, dental impression material, aftershave, perfumes, hair cream, inhalants, antiseptics, and toothpaste.
Geraniol is used in perfumes, fragrance, lip salve, facial make up, and skin care products.
Hydroxycitronellal is used in perfumes and cosmetic products, fragrance, eye cream, and aftershave.
Isoeugenol, a clove scent, is used in perfumery and as fragrance in eye cosmetics and aftershaves.
Oak moss is found in perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, and scented products for men.

Picture a Fragrance by any other Name

Discover Why Fragrances Can Be Harmful
What Makes Up Fragrances?

Ninety-five percent of the chemicals used in fragrances are petroleum-based synthetic compounds. Listed here are some principal chemicals found in scented products and the health risks that can be involved, according to one or more hazardous waste lists.

Acetone can be found in cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, and nail enamel remover. When inhaled, it can cause mild central nervous system disturbances[/link] such as dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slurred speech, and drowsiness. It can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.

alpha-Pinene is used in bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorant, dishwashing liquid, and air freshener. It can be a moderate irritant to skin, eyes, and mucus membranes.

alpha-Terpineol is used in perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric softener, stick air freshener, Vaseline lotion, cologne, soap, hair spray, after shave, and roll-on deodorant. It can be highly irritating to mucus membranes and can also cause excitement, loss of muscular coordination, hypothermia, central nervous system and respiratory depression, and headache.

Benzyl Acetate can be found in perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stick air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hair spray, bleach, aftershave, and deodorant. The vapors from this chemical can be irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory passages.

Benzyl Alcohol can be found in perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, Vaseline lotion, deodorant, and fabric softener. It can be irritating to the upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and mucus membranes. It can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and drops in blood pressure.

Benzaldehyde can be found in perfume, cologne, hair spray, laundry bleach, deodorant, detergent, Vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, and dishwasher detergent. It may cause irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract. It may also cause nausea, abdominal pain, depression and contact dermatitis.

Camphor can be found in perfume, shaving cream, nail enamel, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, nail color, and stick air freshener. Since it is readily absorbed through body tissues, it can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. It is recommended to avoid inhalation of the vapors because it can cause dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles, and convulsions.

Ethanol is used in perfume, hair spray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, and paint and varnish remover. One of its symptoms can be fatigue and it can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory tract. It can also cause a central nervous system disorder.

Ethyl Acetate is often found in aftershave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, and dishwashing liquid. It can cause irritation of the eyes, mucus membranes, gums, and respiratory tract. Repeated or prolonged contact can cause drying and cracking of the skin.

g-Terpinene can be found in cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, and air freshener. It can cause asthma and central nervous system disorders.

Limonene is used in perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorant, nail color and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, aftershave, bleach, paint, and varnish remover. Its vapor can irritate the eyes, mucus membranes, and upper respiratory tract. It also can cause an allergic skin reaction.

Linalool can be found in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hair spray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, aftershave, and solid deodorant. It can attract bees, so if you are allergic to bee stings, stay away from products that contain it. The most abundant chemical in perfume and fragrance products, it is known to cause lethargy, depression, and life threatening respiratory effects.

Testing & ResearchMost fragrance chemicals are not tested for safety. The tests that have been conducted are those relating to skin sensitivities. Very little testing has been done on the respiratory effects of fragrance materials even though most are volatile organic compounds and respiratory exposure is significant.

If fragrance chemicals affect your health, the Health & Environment Resource Center recommends reporting adverse reactions to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For additional information on fragrances, please refer to the collected Internet links.

Safety Concerns Enter the Eczema Picture

Eczema Creams' Safety A Concern
February 12, 2005Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- Government scientists, concerned that two prescription creams used widely for a common skin condition may increase the risk of certain cancers, especially among children, will propose adding strong warnings to the product labels.A handful of cases of cancer have been reported among adults and children using the creams, sold under the brand names Elidel and Protopic, and animal and laboratory studies suggest the drugs could be to blame, according to a new Food and Drug Administration analysis."The evidence raises serious safety concerns in children regarding the potential for carcinogenicity in humans treated with these agents," wrote Jean Temeck of the FDA's division of pediatric drug development in a recommendation posted late Friday on the agency's website.The document was one of several posted in preparation for a meeting of an expert panel next week to assess the safety of the creams and recommend what action the agency should take.Protopic was approved in 2000 and Elidel in 2001 to treat eczema, a common, chronic skin condition that causes redness and itching. Before the new creams, the only treatment had been steroid creams and ointments, which can be used only for short periods and can have a variety of side effects.The new creams, which were seen as effective and much safer, quickly became popular. At least 5 million prescriptions have been written for the creams.The creams were approved for short-term or intermittent use by adults and children ages 2 and older, but both creams are believed to be widely used for longer periods and on babies.Both Novartis and Fujisawa Healthcare Inc., which makes Protopic, defended the safety of their products to the FDA."Elidel is an effective, steroid-free treatment for mild to moderate eczema and has a well-established safety profile," Novartis spokesman Tom Jones said in an e-mail.

Identifying Eczema

The best thing that can happen to you is to find the triggers for eczema and to remove them. If you can do this successfully – congratulations – you have cleared the eczema. Here are three proven methods that help you to succeed in your efforts to identify triggers:

Method 1: Patch Testing

Patch Testing involves deliberately putting potential triggers onto an unaffected area of skin, usually on the arm or the back. Each area of skin is marked with felt tip and covered with gauze and a plaster for 24 – 48 hours. A positive test produces an inflammatory reaction on the skin. Patch test are fairly simple and effective for many people, but there are drawbacks, such as:

Strong reaction with unbearable itching

Sensitization to new allergens

False negative results: the person is really allergic but the test does not show it, because it does not exactly mimic real live contact

Your should talk to your medical adviser to learn more about the detailed procedures for Patch Testing.

Keeping a Food diary

Method 2: Food Diary

Eczema may be triggered by an allergic reaction to particular food. Keeping a food diary may help you to spot links between eczema and your diet. If you can establish a link between certain food or food ingredients and the eczema, you have done a major step towards solving the skin problem.

Keep a good record of the additives (stabilizers, preservatives, etc.) in processed food. There is a possibility that you are allergic to such substances and not to the food itself. Try to indicate on a scale from 1 – 10 how the condition of the eczema is and add any comments if needed.
Date:
Fresh Food
Cooked Food
Processed Food
Eczema Condition
Ingredients
Additives

Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner

It is possible that the eczema clears within one week after you have stopped eating the food responsible for the skin reaction. However certain food, including dairy products, may take up to three weeks or even more before any improvement can be seen.

Dust Mites and Eczema

Method 3: Stay in an alpine region

House dust mite droppings are strongly linked to eczema. You can easily test whether you are allergic to house dust mite droppings by spending a long holiday in an alpine region. House dust mites are not able to survive above 1,600 m. If the eczema clears or improves during your stay in the mountains, you are allergic to house dust mite droppings.

It is most probably not feasible to live permanently in alpine region, but you could try to spend some of your annual holidays in the mountains.

For the rest of the year, you can only reduce your exposure to house dust mite droppings by:
damp-dusting (not dry-dust) and vacuuming the house at least once a week; concentrate mainly on the rooms you spend most time in.

Try to use a vacuum cleaner with special exhaust filters.

arranging furniture, ornaments, toys etc. in such a way to avoid dust-collecting areas which are difficult to clean,

washing sheets, blankets and duvets weekly at a temperature of at least 55º C to kill mites

hanging sheets, blankets and duvets outside to air whenever possible, giving furry toys a weekly stay in the freezer. The water in the mites freezes and kills them. You can wash them afterwards.