>Disperse Blue 106 and 124 are used in the 100% acetate and 100% polyester blue, black, green and violet liners of women’s clothing (2). It is rare for men to react to the liner in their trousers, as the liner is usually white, grey or beige. The reaction to these dyes can cause a severe acute eczematous reaction in the affected areas and may become chronic. Rarely, there is sensitivity to flame-retardant materials added to clothing. Allergic contact dermatitis from the flame-retardants Tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate (13) and 2,3- dibromocresylglycidyl ether (14) has been reported. Chronic generalized dermatitis that was a reaction to the Basic Red 46 dye in flame-retardant clothing (15) has been reported. Many flame-retardant clothes are colored using basic dyes.<  http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Dermatitis/files/clothing.pdf

New technologies have been developed to protect against UV radiation or to enhance breathability. These new technologies applied to fabrics can also cause allergic reactions and rashes. Most people who have textile allergies react to synthetic materials most often, some people are allergic to wool. When people believe they are allergic to cotton or silk, their reaction is usually to dyes or finishes applied to these natural materials or with the synthetic materials with which the natural fibers are blended.

The term hypoallergenic is used widely, although no Food and Drug Administration–approved definition of hypoallergenic exists. A warning exists for hypo irritating cleansers, cosmetics, moisturizers, and protectants; however, no standard method exists to identify textile products that are used by individuals with susceptible skin (atopic dermatitis, facial skin of individuals with rosacea).

My advice is to read labels carefully, watch out for wrinkle-free, fire resistant, UV protection, soil repellant fabrics. Wash all new clothes three times in a perfume-free, dye-free detergent or soap and rinse two times. Do not wear heavily dyed clothing and stay away from synthetic clothing that comes in direct contact with your skin. Find an outfit or two that does not irritate your skin and designate those clothes for relaxing and exercising. During the work day, wear “safe” comfortable clothes under more irritating highly processed or colored clothes. I wear silk long underwear in white or cream under all my irritating sweaters and trousers. I get my silk underclothes from http://wintersilk.com They have a lot of styles to choose from, stay with the lighter colors to be safe.

• Wash your bedding every week, dust mites accumulate within your bedding and mattress. Your bedroom must be cleared of dust mites and dander  for a good nights sleep. Wash Stuffed animals, pillows, throws, small rugs and bedspreads. regularly. I hate to say this because I love them, but pets should not sleep in your bedroom if you have allergies.

• Always mop and vacuum floors, sweeping just stirs up dust. The vacuum cleaner is your friend if you have a vacuum with a HEPA filter or use a built-in whole house system that exhausts the dust out of the house. Everything must be vacuumed often, this means not only your carpets, but upholstered furniture as well. Don’t forget under the bed and the sofa, dust mites and pet dander tends to float under furniture.

• Bathrooms and kitchens  can be damp, run exhaust fans when taking baths or showers and make sure your plumbing is in good working order. Clean and disinfect areas that tend to grow mold.

• Bathe and brush your pets regularly, do this outside and wear a mask.

• If possible keep your outdoor shoes outside or in a mud room to avoid tracking allergens into the house.

• Never smoke in the house, when any of the residents have allergies. Even the clothes smokers wear can bring allergens into the home.

Have a heathy and allergy-free 2012!

There have been two deaths linked to neti Pot use in Louisiana.

A neti pot, is commonly used to irrigate sinuses. I use one and recommend them to everyone with sinus problems. You should follow the directions on the pot carefully. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued its warning following a second death this year caused by Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating amoeba.

A 51-year-old DeSoto Parish woman in Louisiana, died after using plain tap water in a neti pot to irrigate her sinuses and became infected by the deadly amoeba, which entered the body through her nose. In June, a 20-year-old St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana man died under the same circumstances.

“If you are irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses by using a neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution,” said Louisiana State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raoult Ratard. “Tap water is safe for drinking, but not for irrigating your nose. He also said, it’s also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry.

I recommend a neti pot to everyone with sinus problems, I have never heard of this problem with using tap water. The directions on all neti pots do says to use boiled or distilled water. I always thought that was for third world countries with badly treated water. I guess I will have to be more careful from now on.

Source: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/flu/neti-pot-deaths-linked-brain-eating-amoeba-tap-water

Dadd, does an excellent job of pointing out the trouble spots in your home and telling you how to find better and safer alternatives. She is a consultant, lecturer, and writer on healthy and green living, Dadd has appeared on Today, Geraldo at Large, and CNN, and has been featured on the cover of Natural Health magazine. I found this book on amazon.com

I appreciate your comments, please leave one directly below this blog entry.

In the Winter many people think they have colds, when they actually have allergies. If cold-like symptoms last longer than a week or if your symptoms include itchy eyes, it is most likely is an allergy and not a cold. A good resource for more information about allergens in the home is one of my favorite books,  My House Is Killing Me!: The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma

A few things to try:

• Try over the counter allergy medicines that contain antihistamines like: Claritin, Actifed, Astelin, Clarinex, Benedryl, Zyrtec and Allegra. Some will make you drowsy, so it’s best to find the one that works for you. Benedryl works like a sleeping pill for me, Actifed makes me jumpy so I can’t sleep, I use Zyrtec or Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg Tablets .

• We all love our pets, getting rid of them would be the best solution, but keeping them entirely out of the bedrooms of allergic family members is very helpful.

• Use allergy sprays on your pets and brush them outside while wearing a mask. Special food additives for pets to keep down dander are also available. My daughter uses AllerPet on her two cats and it seems to help with her cat dander allergy. Allerpet Grooming Emollient, C for Cats and Allerpet?/D for dogs

• Wash your sheets, pillow cases and blankets at least once a week in hot water and dry in a dryer on hot. My 100% cotton fitted sheets tend to shrink with this kind of care, so I take them out when very slightly damp and stretch them over the mattress without other covers to dry throughly.

• Use zippered allergen-proof mattress, and pillow covers to control dust mites and bed bugs. Wash the zippered covers in hot water regularly.

• Use a mask over your nose and mouth when dusting and vacuuming.

• Hard surfaced floors are best to keep dust free, but if you refuse to give up your carpet and rugs, use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to filter out the allergens you are picking up so they don’t get blown right back into the air. I love my whole house Vac-u -Flo system, all that nasty air goes out into the garage, not back into the air we breathe.

• Vacuum all upholstered furniture and bedspreads that can’t be washed or run them through the fluff cycle of the dry to remove dust. I once heard that un-washable bedspreads and sofas harbor more dust mites and dander than any surface in the house. Think about it, hard surfaces get dusted regularly and rugs get vacuumed, but the huge surface of the bedspreads and sofa retains that same amount of dust week after week. Of course if you never make your bed it won’t be a problem

• Make sure you change the filter on your furnace frequently. Use high a high-efficiency HEPA filter if your furnace can use one.

• Lastly, I believe that the use of a net pot to clear the nasal passages of irritants works miracles. This type of device has been used for many years to irrigate and clean out nasal passages and sinuses. If your nose is completely blocked, the neti pot is NOT the best solution. Unblock your nose first. The neti pot will clear out irritants that are causing the swelling, but must be used on a mostly cleared nose. I use the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Saline Nasal Rinse. My daughter’s family swears by the New Neti Pot Nasal Wash / Sinus Irrigation . I think they all work on the same principle.

- Cleans mucus from the nose so medication is more effective.
- Cleans allergens and irritants from the nose reducing their impact.
- Removes bacteria and viruses from the nose reducing the frequency of infection.
- Decreases swelling in the nose and increases air flow.

Check out a few of  these past blogs of mine:

Help for those with dermatitis and eczema.  http://wp.me/pL8NX-7o

Causes of eczema and dermatitis and how to eliminate them http://wp.me/pL8NX-7f

How to Make Itchy Skin Go Away  http://wp.me/pL8NX-6O

Allergic to your clothes? Some helpful advice.  http://wp.me/pL8NX-6x

Atopic dermatitis Why it’s so hard to control  http://wp.me/pL8NX-4O

Removing “tagless” tags from clothing  http://wp.me/pL8NX-4p

Why do blue jeans turn my legs blue and make me itch?  http://wp.me/pL8NX-3F

Are your clothes causing an itchy rash?  http://wp.me/pL8NX-29

All Skin Allergy blog posts can be found on my Allergy Comfort Zone Website.  http://allergycomfortzone.com/skin-allergies.html

If you have any comments, please make them below.

Contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis are two different forms of eczema. Contact dermatitis is an external reaction that occurs when your skin comes in contact with something your are allergic to or a chemical that is irritating to your skin. This type of eczema is the easiest to figure out and correct.

Atopic dermatitis is the result of an internal reaction by your immune system to an irritant or allergen. When your immune system interacts with the trigger, and typically another component in your body such as irregular hormones, food allergies or stress-related toxins, the result is an eczema outbreak on your skin that is painful, swollen, and itchy. This rash can occur anywhere on your skin, not just at the spot where you contacted the allergen or irritant. Atopic dermatitis is the hardest type of eczema to eliminate, because it is hard to know what to look for, when two elements are involved.

The irritant may also be a common household chemical. Some of the more common chemical irritants are laundry detergent, fabric softeners, cleaning solvents, latex products, and nail varnish. However, you may eliminate all these things and still find you are breaking out. If that is the case, check many of the items you use on a regular basis, such as the synthetic fibers in your bedding, clothes, furnitures, rugs and your beauty products, to make sure they are not irritating your eczema. Also look for mold, mildew and pet dander in your environment which can serve as a trigger for allergies. Many people have a reaction to lime juice, hand sanitizers, antiperspirants, hair removal products, antibiotic ointments and even metal zippers and snaps (it’s the nickel).

Some allergens in your foods can contribute to your atopic dermatitis. Foods like peanuts, strawberries, food coloring, cow milk, eggs, soy, tree nuts, wheat and other food additives are known to cause internal and external eczema.

Here are a few tips for avoiding skin irritation:

1. Read labels. Know exactly which chemicals are in the product you’re using. Try to avoid products that contain ingredients you’ve had a reaction to in the past. Follow directions on the label so you know you’re using the cleaning product safely.

2. Go alternative. “Green” cleaners won’t necessarily prevent dermatitis, but they are generally gentler on the skin, not to mention on the environment. Look for cleaning products labeled “fragrance and dye-free” or “all natural,” or try an old-fashion cleaner like baking soda.

Bottom line: Be your own detective. You are the best one to narrow down and eliminate irritants in your surrounds. Why spend the money on allergy patch testing when you can do a more accurate elimination trial on your own using products you already have.

If you have any comments or suggests please comment below.

Besides the usually symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes, many people develop seasonal dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is simply your body’s reaction to something touching your skin. A skin allergy can be mild, like a slight rash or It can be more pronounced, with itchy bumps or blisters. Allergic reactions are caused by our body’s natural immune system, the body’s system of white blood cells and antibodies that fight off infection.

In people with allergies, the immune system over reacts to things that aren’t really dangerous. Their immune systems react to certain foods, plants like poison ivy, pollens in the air, metals like nickel, or ingredients in makeup, detergent or shampoo. Nobody knows exactly why this happens, but there seems to be a genetic connection, because allergies tend to run in families.

A rash can be caused by:

• Irritants in the air
• Nickel, often found in inexpensive plated jewelry or white gold jewelry
• Preservatives, including formaldehyde and quaternium 15, which are found in some cosmetics, paints, and household cleaners
• Fragrances in shampoos, detergents, lotions and anti-aging products
• Latex or other materials in rubber gloves
• Cobalt chloride, found in some deodorants. I use Almay hypoallergenic Fragrance-Free Antiperspirant & Deodorant
• Fabric dyes, especially those used on synthetic fabrics.
• Poison (plants or chemicals in cleaning products)
• Certain foods

What to do:

• Many dermatologists will tell you to use-low dose steroid creams. They are fine for very short-term use, like for poison Ivy. I would stay away from them for extended use. I used steroid creams for many years and have permanently damaged the skin on my arms and upper legs. My skin is now thinner and crepey in those areas.

• Avoiding the irritant is the best course of action. Always shower and wash your hair before going to bed. to remove any air-borne allergens from your skin that would transfer to your bedding. Wash your clothes after coming in contact with the allergen. Use a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent, with a double rinse.

• Check labels carefully for ingredients you are allergic to. Be careful of cheap jewelry and white gold jewelry that might contain nickel.

• I also like to use over-the -counter antihistamine tablets, such as an allergy medicines. Consumer Reports recommends: Loratadine 10 mg tablets, Loratadine dissolving 10 mg tablets, Loratadine liquid 10 mg or Alavert dissolving 10 mg tablet. These all contain the same best-selling prescription drug as Claritin (in 2002  loratadine became generic). Antihistamine medicines block histamine from interacting with your skin and nasal tissues.

If you have any other hints please share them with us in the comments below.

Even today as an adult, I always wash all my new clothes three times with dye-free and fragrance-free detergent and double rinse before wearing. Some highly processed fabrics and very dark textile dyes still make me break out in rashes after this 3-wash treatment. Synthetic fabrics are colored with dyes that tend to irritate skin more than the dyes used for natural fabrics.

If clothes are labeled as wrinkle-free or stain-resistant, be very hesitant to purchase them if you or your child has sensitive skin. Your clothing may be processed with formaldehyde.  Many people are allergic to formaldehyde . It takes many, many washings for these finishes to “wear” off. The clothes will look old and worn out before you can even safely wear them.

I always recommend wearing dye-free thin 100% cotton or 100% silk long underwear or t-shirts under suspect clothing. http://cottonique.com has some great cotton things for adults and children. I also recommend http://wintersilk.com for silk long underwear for children and adults.

If you have problems with allergy to the labels printed on the garments. Try my trick of using Wintergreen Oil. Brush it on the tagless label and let it sit for about 10 minutes. then use a tooth-brush to remove the loosened and dissolved bits of the  tagless tag. Then wash the garment as usual. Wintergreen oil is non-toxic when used for removing labels in this manner. This method has worked successfully for me and many others on many types of printed labels.

Please leave a comment below if you have more hints. If you would like to learn more about skin allergies and how you can make them easier to live with visit my Allergy Comfort Zone web site. http://allergycomfortzone.com/skin-allergies.html

Food additive aren’t absolutely necessary in most foods. Most have no added nutrients for our bodies to use. I feel they are dangerous and unnecessary in foods and can cause health problems as well as allergic reactions. The FDA currently maintains a list of ingredients called “Everything Added to Food in the United States” (EAFUS), which features more than 3,000 items and counting. Thankfully, most EAFUS ingredients are benign, but a few of them do have potentially harmful effects.  It’s a mystery to me and most everyone else, why so many are legal.

Caramel Coloring

When made from only from sugar, it’s relatively safe. If it is produced with ammonia it gives off 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, chemicals that have been linked to cancer in mice.  Unfortunately, companies aren’t required to disclose whether their coloring is made with ammonia or sugar.

 Olestra

Used in foods as a fat replacement. Warning labels are no longer required  to notify customers about the risk of “loose stools.”Olestra also appears to interfere with the body’s ability to absorb some crucial nutrients like beta-carotene and lycopene.

Potassium Bromate

Potassium bromate causes thyroid and kidney tumors in rats, and it’s banned from food use in many countries, but not the U.S.

Saccharin (Sweet’N Low)

Studies have linked saccharin to bladder tumors in rats, and in 1977, the FDA required warning labels on all saccharin-containing foods. In 2000, the FDA changed its stance and allowed saccharin to be sold without warning labels. But that doesn’t mean it’s entirely safe. A 2008 Purdue study found that replacing sugar with saccharin in rats’ diets actually made them gain more weight.

(BHA) (BHT)

The Department of Health and Human Services says BHA is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” yet the FDA allows it to be used anyway. BHT is considered less dangerous, but in animal research, it too has resulted in cancer.

Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Partially hydrogenated fats are the principle sources of trans fat in the American diet, and a Harvard study estimated that trans fat causes 70,000 heart attacks every year. This fat became very popular during the cholesterol scare in the late 70′s and early 80′s. Food manufacturers at that time scrabbled to label products “Cholesterol Free” even if that meant adding trans fats that are worse than eating the cholesterol that was naturally contained in foods. This is a food additive to avoid.

Sulfites

Humans have used sulfites to keep food fresh for thousands of years, but some people—especially asthma sufferers—experience breathing difficulties when exposed. Sulfites have been used for centuries, mainly as food additives, but can also occur naturally in foods such as fermented beverages and wines.

Azodicarbonamide

This chemical is used most frequently in the production of industrial foam plastic, and although the FDA has approved its use for food in the States. The United Kingdom has labeled it a potential cause of asthma.

Carrageenan

Seaweed is actually good for you, but carrageenan is a mere seaweed byproduct. Through animal studies, it has been linked to cancer, colon trouble, and ulcers. It isn’t certain that carrageenan harms humans, but avoiding it is clearly the safer option.

Aspartame (Equal)

Over the past 30 years, the FDA has received thousands of consumer complaints due mostly to neurological symptoms such as headaches dizziness, memory loss, and, in rare cases, epileptic seizures. Many studies have shown the sweetener to be completely harmless, while other have linked the additive to cancer. Why take a chance when other sweeteners like Stevia are safer.

 Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

After forty years of scrutiny, research has yet to reach a definitive verdict on MSG. Studies have shown that injecting the amino acid into mice causes brain-cell damage, but the FDA believes these results are not typical for humans. Still, the administration fields complaints every year for nausea, headaches, chest pains, and weakness. It could be that the results are limited to people with acute MSG sensitivity (read: allergy), so the FDA continues to allow manufacturers to use it. If you are allergic to MSG it is a very serious problem.

Nitrates and nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites have a tendency to fuse with amino acids to become carcinogenic nitrosamines. Ironically, the processed meats into which nitrates are commonly added are rich with amino acids, making nitrosamine formation very likely. In addition to concerns about cancer, increased nitrate and nitrite intake has been linked to deaths in Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s patients. Despite the risks, the valuable use of nitrates and nitrites as inhibitors of botulism warrant their acceptance as food additives in the eyes of the FDA.

Blue #2

A study published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest showed that the ingestion of Blue #2 led to increases in tumor development in the brain and mammary glands in lab rats. The FDA dismissed these findings, citing a variety of nebulous weaknesses in the study’s methods. The bottom line: whether or not artificial dyes are harmful, the foods they appear in are the most heavily processed, nutritionally bankrupt foods in the supermarket.

 Paraben

It’s been documented that parabens act as mild estrogens, and according to the Environmental Working Group, they can disrupt the natural balance of hormones in your body. In a Japanese study, male rats fed propyl paraben daily for four weeks suffered lower sperm and testosterone production, and other studies have found parabens present in breast cancer tissues.

Check your food labels carefully, some of the above food additives may be causing you problems and should be limited in your diet.