Surprising Things You Could Be Allergic To
I’ve got a list of surprising everyday things that you could be allergic to - including makeup, jewelry, and blue jeans! Dr. Clifford Bassett is a skin allergy expert, and public education chairman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. One of his patients got hives whenever his father hugged him. It turned out that the boy was allergic to nuts – and daddy’s shaving cream contained nut oils. If your skin starts itching, here are a few other causes to consider:
- Makeup. Dr. Bassett says that women can use the same cosmetics for years, and suddenly develop an allergy like an itchy, flaky red rash on the eyelids from mascara or eyeliner. Or facial swelling caused by hair care products, or nail polish remover that gets rubbed on their face after a manicure.
- Your wedding ring. Nickel is used to make silver and gold stronger, but it can also cause itchy red welts. If you have multiple piercings, you have a higher risk for an allergic reaction because many studs are made from nickel. The fix: Wear jewelry that’s sterling silver, or at least 18 karat gold.
- Another source of nickel allergies: Your blue jeans! The buttons on blue jeans are often made from nickel. So, if you get a rash on your stomach, coat the back of the buttons with clear nail polish.
- Then there’s baby shampoo and baby wipes. Some people are allergic to formaldehyde, which is used in a lot of products to give them a longer shelf life. Many baby products also contain a preservative called quaternium-15, and either chemical can cause rashes on moms’ hands, and babies’ bottoms.
- Pool tables and blackjack tables. The heavy metals cobalt and chromium are used to dye felt green for pool and poker tables. In fact, the allergy is so common it’s got a name – blackjack dermatitis. The fix: Wear long sleeves at the gaming tables, and wear gloves when you make a bridge for your pool cue.
