Recently in Skin Allergies Category

Allergic reactions to hair dyes are reaching new heights as more and more young people become preoccupied with altering their outward appearance, according to a recent study by the British Medical Journal this week.

The study highlights the harm that is being caused by the main agent in over two-thirds of all hair dyes on the market at present, para-phenylenediamine (PPD).

It has long been questioned whether the benefits of PPD outweigh the drawbacks, with the agent already banned in Germany, France and Sweden due to the problems it was causing.

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an important disease with high quality of life and economic impact. Patch testing is the procedure by which identification of the cause of ACD can be elicited. Proper performance of the test, from taking an appropriate patient history to placing the correct allergens to evaluating and educating the patient, is of utmost importance. The purpose of this article is to highlight common allergens encountered in our environment, to increase awareness for this important disease, and to underscore the importance of this testing modality. An early index of suspicion can lead to appropriate testing, diagnosis, avoidance, and cure.

Skin allergies can be caused by a myriad of different things ranging from environmental agents to ingredients found in personal care products like soaps, detergents, cosmetics, or even household products or pets.

It is still unknown why allergic reactions to products occur in some people but not others, although it is known that people who have allergies to certain agents are genetically predisposed, so if you find yourself itching like crazy at just the sight of a specific laundry detergent, you have at least one parent to thank.

Cosmetic manufactures are required to list the ingredients of the products they are marketing, according to Canada's legislation.

"It's going to be phased in over the next two years to allow cosmetics companies to use up current stock while designing new labels for the ingredients. It's going to allow the Canadian public to make more informed choices and avoid cosmetics containing ingredients which they may be sensitive to," announced a spokesperson for Health Canada.

"In addition, physicians will be able to refer to an ingredient by its one name for the purpose of treatment or incident reporting. Now absolutely everything that's in the product is going to have to be written on the label," the spokesperson explained.

Did you know that you could be sharing your bed with anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites? These microscopic organisms, which are related to spiders, live in many homes. Too small to see with the naked eye, dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments — eating dead skin cells and nesting in dust-collecting bedding, fabric, carpet and furnishings.

The residue that dust mites leave behind in the form of their feces and decaying bodies mixes with dust and becomes airborne. If you aren't allergic to dust mite residue, it's not harmful. But if you are, inhaling the residue can cause bothersome allergy symptoms, including wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose.

One treatment for dust mite allergy is avoidance — that is, taking measures to minimize the number of dust mites in your home. Your doctor may also recommend allergy medications or allergy injections.

Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (Sparc), the recently demerged research entity of domestic pharma major Sun Pharmaceutical, is all set to take its lead molecule for anti-allergic treatment to the phase-II trials (trials on patient) in the US.

The investigational new drug (IND) of Sparc has already received permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to enter the phase-II trials.

The phase-II trials will be conducted in the US directly by the company, using a leading local CRO (clinical research organisation). This will mark the first IND filing and phase-II studies in the US by an Indian company working independently, that’s without a partner.

What could be the reason for skin that's inflamed, itchy, dotted with bumps or blisters?

According to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, it could be contact dermatitis, caused by exposure to an allergen or simply something that irritates the skin.

Irritants can include soaps and detergents. Even plain water can irritate skin with frequent hand washing.