This year, I spent one of the hottest weeks of the New York City summer unable to shower.
As a person withsensitive skin, my face reacts dramatically to most newly-introduced skin-care and several hair-care products.
What exactly are skin allergens?
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Common examples of allergens are poison ivy or nickel found in costume jewelry.
Personal-care andskin-care productsalso contain allergens such as fragrances and preservatives, which commonly cause reactions calledcontact dermatitis.
There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic.
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“The most significant challenge I hear patients report issleep disturbance.
If they are very itchy they are unable to sleep or wake up scratching.
This begins to affect their work performance and overall happiness,” she says.
An itch sounds minor, but has tremendous consequences for those who suffer chronically.
That’s the best case scenario and it happens a lot."
So, what is skin patch testing?
The skin is analyzed around 72 or 96 hours after patch placement to check for any positive reactions.
Since the patches need to closely adhere to the skin, exercise is also discouraged.
But I was determined to find my allergen(s), so I powered through it.
Doing this in any other season but high summer should be a pretty painless process.
Who’s a good candidate for patch testing?
Recurrent, itchy bumps, or rashes on the face or hands get the most positive patch test results.
It may turn out your eczema symptomsaren’t due to eczemaat all.
“Eczema isan umbrella termthat dermatologists diagnose all the time for itchy rashes, which include contact dermatitis.
She also notes that even a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, which is usually genetic, warrants it.
What happens after a patch test?
After my own 96 hours were up post-appointment, I went in for my reading.
“Almost 80 percent of cases of dermatitis are irritant not allergic.
“True allergy will show up wherever the allergen touches your body,” she adds.
For example, one patient’s patch test returned a strong positive for ethylenediamine, a more uncommon chemical.
She quizzed the patient about her work and hobbies, and found out she was a yoga instructor.
“It turned out it was the rubber in her makeup sponges.
What are the most common allergens in beauty products?
Fragrances, both synthetic and natural that include essential oils, can be allergy-inducing.
Linalool and limonene are two citrus-derived fragrance compounds that are common culprits.
Allergies to these ingredients aren’t always instant.
That’s because of a phenomenon called cumulative exposure, which is usually how ACD develops.
“It never happens the first time you touch something.
A very common example of that is the notorious Neosporin allergy.
Neosporin, a topical antibiotic, has become a product that some dermatologistshave condemned.
“Neomycin, the main active ingredient, is very highly sensitizing.
Read more about caring for skin conditions:
Now, watch a yoga instructor’s entire routine:
