[1] Nickel: Nickel is a metal found in many products, especially those plated with a chrome-nickel alloy or those made of stainless steel, of which nickel is one of the components. Many earrings not made of gold contain nickel and cause dermatitis in people allergic to it. The metal buttons on jeans and belt and watchband buckles also contain nickel and can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Since perspiration dissolves a small quantity of the nickel found in various products, these reactions are more common in summer.
[2] Rubber: Rubber is a frequent cause of allergic reactions. An allergy to rubber appears as an itching red rash which can manifest itself a few minutes after contact with an article containing rubber. Most of these reactions occur in people who use rubber gloves, among them doctors and nurses who wear gloves made of latex. People who have been diagnosed as allergic to rubber and to rubber-bearing products are advised to wear vinyl gloves instead, since these to not produce allergic reactions.
[3] Hair Dyes: Some people are sensitive to hair dyes. A common cause is the pheraphenylan diamine, one of the ingredients found in hair dyes.
[4] Chromates: Chromates are substances common in cement, shoe leather, matches, paints and some anti-rust preparations. Welders, construction workers and shoe makers are readily exposed to chromates and can develop allergies to products containing them.
[5] Cosmetics: The wide range of cosmetic products that can be bought today enables us to beautify our hair and nails. Remember, however, that these products can cause unwanted side effects such as allergic dermatitis, increased sensitivity to the sun, lesions resembling acne, etc., which should be diagnosed early to prevent continued damage to the skin.
The most common cause of cosmetic allergy is caused by the fragrances present in cosmetic products. More than five thousand such fragrances are in use today and are found not only in cosmetics which are applied or sprayed onto the skin but in other common household items such as toilet paper, paper towels, soaps, detergents and fabric softeners.
Some of the fragrances, especially those used in men's after shave lotions until a few years ago, cause increased facial skin sensitivity to the sun, which can lead to hard-to-cure chronic skin inflammations or to brown splotches on the skin. Allergy tests can determine the exact cause of this sensitivity.
Preservatives are found in the overwhelming majority of cosmetic products. Their role is to prevent bacteria and fungi from contaminating the product. These preservatives often cause rashes and are the second most common cause of allergic reactions to cosmetics.
A small number of side effects has been noted as a result of the use, welcome as it is, of sun blocks. These allergic reactions appear as local redness or itching. They used to be caused by an ingredient called PABA, which is no longer used in such preparations; today they are caused by sun blocks containing oxybenzone.
[6] Toothpaste - There have been infrequent reported cases of skin irritations caused by toothpaste. In these few cases, sensitivity to toothpaste or mouthwash appears as an itchy red area around the lips. In a few cases allergic reactions to the fluoride in toothpaste have caused lesions resembling the pustules of acne around the lips.
[7] Shaving creams and after shave lotions can cause irritations or allergies, chiefly because of the fragrances they contain. One of the most common such fragrances in use during the nineteen sixties and seventies was called "musk ambrette," and caused severe skin inflammations which worsened upon exposure to the sun.
Certain cosmetic products contain hypoallergenic ingredients which cause fewer allergic reactions than ordinary cosmetic products. Although the chance of developing an allergic reaction to one of these substances is relatively small, they are not perfect and do cause such reactions in some of the people who use them.
More information on Skin allergies can be found on:
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