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Material Allergy

Cellphones Can Cause Allergic Reactions in People With Nickel Allergies

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As reported by Anahad O’Connor in a recent health report in the New York Times, in people with nickel allergies, cellphones can cause an allergic reaction. In recent years, dermatologists have seen a small but growing number of people with itchy rashes along their jaw lines, face and ears which go away when cellphone use is discontinued. New York City Allergist, Dr. Clifford Bassett was contacted in reference to this news report.

Nationwide, nickel allergy afflicts about 3 percent of men and nearly 20 percent of women. Women are more likely to be affected because they are often sensitized to it by ear piercings and metal jewelry, said Dr. Clifford W. Bassett a New York City allergist and fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, who has treated the condition.  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL NY TIMES NEWS REPORT

Fox TV News Report: Experts Meet to Discuss Unusual Allergies – Including Cell Phone Allergies

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Fox TV News reports that doctors say nearly 22 percent of everyone tested for allergies react to chemicals in cosmetics- – mostly the fragrances and preservatives are the culprits. Dr. Clifford Bassett says, ‘skin allergies are on the rise, particularly cosmetics among other things and it’s important to get a simple investigation to find out if it affects you.’

Cell Phone Allergies? Talking endlessly on your cell phone can also cause problems because of the nickel in the phones. Dr. Bassett says, ‘they’re having the cell phone right up against the face and they may come in complaining of a skin rash.’ About 17 percent of women have allergies to nickel and about 3 percent of men.  Doctors suggest you use a blue tooth or a plastic cover on your phone. CLICK FOR FULL REPORT

CBS News Reports on Recent American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Conference

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CBS News Reports that from your cell phone to your makeup, even something as sweet as a kiss could trigger an allergic reaction.  The annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is happening this week in Phoenix. It’s calling attention to some unusual allergies and what people can do about it.

Allergy experts also say if you have itchy or puffy eyes, check your makeup; you may be allergic to it and not even know it. Doctors say nearly 22-percent of everyone tested for allergies react to chemicals in cosmetics — mostly the fragrances and preservatives are the culprits.

“Skin allergies are on the rise,” says Dr. Clifford Bassett. “Particularly cosmetics among other things, and it’s important to get a simple investigation to find out if it affects you.”  CLICK TO READ FULL REPORT

Keep Allergies At Bay This Holiday Season

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While many people report added stress during the holidays, doctors say the season can also uncover hidden allergies that would otherwise go unnoticed. NY1’s Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

Dana Conte is allergic to almost everything, including Christmas trees.

“My family has a tendency of getting live, real trees and I am in charge of decorations. So last year and I was not thinking, normally I usually put gloves on…didn’t think anything of wear the gloves because it was late at night. Wake up and from my forearm, my elbow straight down to the tips of my fingers was one big red blotch,” Conte said.

Seasonal triggers are often red flags. That’s why Bassett says this is another good time of the year to get checked for allergies.

“Indoor allergies can really fluctuate and build up during the holidays particulary a few years ago where you started to notice a trend where people would have fresh Christmas trees within five to six days, itchy eyes, irritate noses, scratchy throat cough,” Bassett said. “Or it can be things such as garlands, wreathes and other things and again during the holidays you have the fireplace going, you have the yule log, you also have scented products such as potpourri, fragrance candles, all these things can be irritants during the holidays.”

For Conte who works in the hospitality industry, party food and holiday meals can also be shaky territory.

“There have been times where I’ve gone to work. They’ve changed the recipe on the stuffing. I ate it and it was delicious. I’ll go home and I’ll have to use my epi-pen because there was peanut oil in the stuffing or they used it on the turkey baste or something,” Conte said.

Sometimes what you think might be food allergies could actually be food sensitivity. And with all of the eating and drinking going on this time of year, doctors say it might actually be a good time to start up a food journal to see what you may be reacting to.

“Studies indicate about one out of four people think they have a food allergy,” Bassett said. “The incidence of food allergy is a lot lower and the reason is because people may have a food intolerance such as lactose intolerance or other conditions, acid reflux that can cause irritation or problems and sometimes it can be easily confused with a food allergy.”

To determine whether or not you have a food allergy, Bassett says it’s still best to get tested. If you need it, you can always have an action plan in place for what to avoid or how to treat allergic reactions. That way you can spend less time in the doctor’s office, and more time celebrating the holidays.

Original article and video on NY 1

9 Everyday Reasons To Itch

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If you think you aren’t allergic to anything, try rubbing poison ivy on your bare skin.

Everyday items that can cause painful, allergic skin reactions.

While 99 percent of people will suffer the typical rash and itch, a few will escape the encounter with the natural botanical product unscathed, because they aren’t allergic to it.

But poison ivy is not like most other allergens. People who suffer from other skin allergies will also develop a rash from contact with the allergen, but they don’t have the vast majority of people who share in their discomfort. And those substances can range from metals such as nickel and chromium, to chemicals such as formaldehyde that can be found in everyday products.

A variety of substances can be allergy culprits, and these allergens can affect you even if you don’t inhale or eat them.

Dr. Clifford Bassett, the chair of public education for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, recalled one young boy who had hives, the source of which turned out to be a his father’s moisturizer and shaving cream, which contained nuts. It aggravated the boy’s nut allergy when the two embraced.

“It’s not just what you put in your mouth, but it may also be contact,” he said, noting that allergens can be found in products one would never expect. “You need to be a label detective.”

Of course, not all skin itches are due to allergies.

For example, some people think they are allergic to Ivory soap, which is supposed to be moisturizing but can give some a rash. That is likely dry skin, not an allergy, said Dr. Sharon Jacob, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of California at San Diego.

“It actually tends to be fairly drying for the skin,” she said, noting that she recommends that patients with eczema and dermatitis avoid that brand of soap.

“Like we might say with a medication, it’s more of a side effect,” said Jacob.

While allergists test patients for foods they eat and allergens they may inhale, dermatologists are often the ones who look at contact allergies.

As opposed to the testing often done by allergists, which involves pricking patients’ skin, dermatologists typically conduct a patch test, in which a patch containing the allergen is stuck to the skin for 48 hours and checked again after 72 hours to test for contact allergies.

“We’re not testing for foods and those types of things,” explained Dr. Bryan E. Anderson, an associate professor of dermatology at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He said this separate test can confuse patients who think they have been already tested for all of their allergies.

Get Your Questions Answered at the ABCNews.com OnCall+ Allergy Center

While only a dermatologist can tell you if you have a contact allergy, see if you should ask about one of these nine culprits.

Original Article on ABCnews.com

Allergic to Love

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Whether it is kissing casually after greeting someone or kissing more intimately, kissing can trigger a possible allergic reaction if you are sensitive to a food or even a cosmetic or skin allergen.

Let’s start at the beginning. How does this happen? First one needs to be sensitive to the allergen at hand (a food allergy to nuts for example).  One of the more common food allergens in adults, adolescents and children are peanuts and nuts.  Recent studies have looked at how long it generally takes for an allergen such as peanut to be transmitted via oral and mouth contact to another individual.  It may take as much as 4 hours for the speck of peanut to finish being passed to another person or mouth!

Another occurrence may be seen by contact to a specific skin allergen (preservative, fragrance in a cosmetic used on or around the mouth and face).  If you have a localized contact allergy to a specific skin allergen it may, although rarely, be transmitted to another individual who may have an allergic contact allergy to this substance.  I had a patient who developed hives after exposure to her husband’s shaving cream that incidentally was loaded with nut oils.  Let’s look at more intimate way a person might be allergic to love.

Many couples utilize a latex condom which can provoke a localized or generalized allergic reaction if you are sensitive to latex rubber.  A woman can even develop an allergic reaction to her partner’s sperm containing seminal fluid, inducing localized swelling, hives, and itchiness after lovemaking; fortunately this is a rare problem.  The tipoff that you may be allergic to your partner’s seminal fluid is resolution of all symptoms with the use of a condom.

And lastly, if you have sensitive skin, strong colognes, fragrances, scented cosmetics and facial products may irritate you after contact with any of those just mentioned.  The irritation may present similar to those of eczema or rosacea.  Sunlight may even make these symptoms worse for those who are “photosensitive” and therefore might develop a sunburn-like rash as a result of a combination of exposure to sun and the aforementioned products.   In many cases unscented skin care products may be beneficial if you have sensitive skin.

If you have allergies, specifically those to a variety of common foods (including peanuts and other nuts) use caution before your next kiss!

Latex Allergy 101

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Ever since the early ‘70s, we have been on the universal precautions bandwagon.

First, we introduced latex gloves in the healthcare setting in doctors’ offices and in hospitals.

Next, individuals who prepare and serve food in restaurants, cafeterias, etc. also started using latex rubber gloves.  So what are the chances you can develop an allergic reaction to latex rubber?

The majority of those affected develop only localized symptoms such as skin irritation and burning, itchiness, redness and/or swelling of the hands or those areas exposed to the latex.  Next, are those unlucky allergic people who may have reactions that are more serious and progressive.  Higher-risk areas include the dentist’s office, operating room or emergency department and gynecologists’ offices ― just to name a few.  So get a medical identification card and/or bracelet to inform of your latex allergy!

So where else do we see allergic reactions to latex rubber?

What am I seeing in my office?  Just the other day, a restaurant owner who supervises food preparation (personally) was exposed to foods and products served by staff who wear latex rubber gloves. When tested, we learned she had become allergic to latex rubber and had two potentially life-threatening reactions as a result of exposure in her own restaurant.

If you are allergic to latex, be aware you may also react to the following foods: Bananas, avocados, chestnuts, apples, carrots, celery, papayas, kiwi, melons, potatoes and tomatoes.

Finally, defense being your best option, click here for a consumer-friendly list of products that may contain latex rubber.