Irritants-Allergens

Seal of Acceptance: Product Directory - Fabrics

The National Eczema Association has awarded the Seal of Acceptance to the fabrics and garments listed.

Seal of Acceptance: Product Directory - Household Products

The product directory contains a listing of products which have received the NEA Seal of Acceptance™. Products eligible for the NEA Seal of Acceptance™ are those that have been created or intended for use by persons with eczema or severe sensitive skin conditions and that have satisfied the NEA Seal of Acceptance™ criteria.

Seal of Acceptance: Product Directory - Personal Care

The products listed have applied for and been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™.

Eyelid Eczema?

Q: How can I treat eyelid eczema?

Dyshidrotic Eczema?

My daughter, age 3½, has recurring blistering on the bottom of her left foot. We have been to two dermatologists and they believe she has dyshidrotic eczema. She has nothing on her hands or her right foot, just the left foot. She was given a steroid cream called Cutivate that seems to help when the eczema flares up, but I did not get any information on possible prevention or things I can do to help.

Peanut Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Peanut Allergy

NIH-Funded Clinical Study is One of the First to Evaluate Sublingual Immunotherapy as a Peanut Allergy Treatment

A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) can reduce the allergic response to peanut in adolescents and adults. SLIT is a treatment approach in which, under medical supervision, people place a small amount of allergen under the tongue to decrease their sensitivity to the allergen.

Food Allergies? Pesticides in Tap Water Might be to Blame

Food allergies are on the rise, affecting 15 million Americans. And according to a new study published in the December 2012 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), pesticides and tap water could be partially to blame.

The study reported that high levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.

“Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides can possibly weaken food

Hand Eczema

Q:  Aside from dry skin all over my body. The main place I get eczema is on my hands. When I have a flare up it seems to start with small (1-2 centimeter), clear-fluid, blister-type bubbles on my hands. The bubbles pop, the skin underneath is exposed, and the eczema starts. It takes about 7 to 10 days to heal—sometimes more, sometimes less. This depends on how much care I give it. That clear fluid blister that formed comes from something inside my body. Can you help me understand this? What is that clear fluid? I think it may be histamine. What causes it to come out on my hands?

Allergens that people are not aware of

Q:   What might be some surprising allergens that people are not aware of?

A:   Medications applied to skin that is already inflamed are frequent causes of contact allergy. Examples include hydrocortisone, neomycin, bee glue, vitamin E, and lanolin.

What is the Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD)?

Q:   What is the Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD)? And can I gain access to it without a physician?

A:   CARD and CAMP (Contact Allergen Management Program) are databases that can suggest personal care products free of specified allergens.
It is impossible for patients or physicians to accurately diagnosis allergic contact dermatitis to the specific components of items that touch the skin without patch testing. Therefore, access to these databases is restricted to patients who have undergone patch testing by a dermatologist.

What are allergens?

Q:  What are allergens, and what are the most common allergens that aggravate eczema?


A:  Allergens are any molecule in the environment that can penetrate skin and cause an inflammatory response. Most allergens cause a rash in only a small number of people, but some like poison ivy cause a rash in most people who have skin contact with it. Allergic contact dermatitis usually develops to small, non-protein molecules such as preservatives or metals. Atopic dermatitis patients can also develop contact dermatitis to plant proteins such as oat or dandelion.

What is the difference between atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis?

Q:  What is the difference between atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis?

A:  Atopic dermatitis appears early in life as chapped skin in areas that go through frequent wet-dry cycles (for example, the area around the mouth in babies) or in skin folds. Atopic dermatitis patients are susceptible to skin infections, which often make inflammation worse. Protein molecules, such as foods, or pollen or latex can penetrate broken and inflamed skin, and atopic patients are especially likely to develop an immune response to these types of allergens.

Allergic to Chloramine

Dear NEA Scratch Pad:

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. The photo shows the rashes on my back, and there were similar rashes on most of the rest of my body. Fortunately I discovered that the problem was chloramine, a mixture of ammonia and chlorine that is used to disinfect the tap water in many areas of the United States (including the San Francisco Bay area, where I live). After I stopped using our water, my skin cleared up completely. I’m sure there are folks with similar problems who are not aware of this chemical and are suffering as a result.

New Research Fuels Greater Understanding of Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis in Children and Adolescents

BOSTON (Aug. 16, 2012)  Information presented at American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting by Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, chief, division of pediatric and adolescent dermatology and professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.  Dr. Eichenfield is also a member of the National Eczema Association Scientific Advisory Committee.

OVERVIEW
For the millions of children and adolescents affected by chronic skin conditions such as atopic

NIAID Study Offers New Explanation of What Makes an Allergen an Allergen

Using bioinformatics to mine allergen databases and epidemiological studies, investigators at NIAID have uncovered new information on what makes people allergic to allergens. The NIAID team found that the differences between the structure of foreign proteins and the structure of self-proteins made the foreign ones allergenic. The results of their work appear online in the July 18th issue of PLoS ONE.

Background

Allergic diseases, such as asthma, food allergy, and seasonal allergies, affect millions of people in the United States and seem to be on the rise.

Prenatal Exposure to Common Household Chemical Linked to Eczema

Butyl benzyl phthalate is used in vinyl flooring, artificial leather
 
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Wednesday, June 27, 2012


WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to women who were exposed to the common household chemical butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) during pregnancy are at greater risk for childhood eczema, new research suggests.

BBzP is used in vinyl flooring, artificial leather and other materials, and can be released into the air, the researchers said.

"While hereditary factors, allergens and exposure to tobacco smoke are known to contribute to the condition, our study is the

Education Resource Center: Guide to Ingredients to Avoid

The Seal of Acceptance may be awarded to products that do not contain ingredients known to irritate eczema or sensitive skin. The following list of irritants and contact allergens is presented as a guide only, as there are other ingredient categories such as vehicle components, surfactants, chemical sun blocks, preservatives and natural ingredients (oils, plant and food products) that require specific review.

Everyday Skin Care: Maintaining Skin Integrity and Avoiding Inflammation

Excerpted from a presentation by Peter Lio, MD, at the 2010 National Eczema Association Patient Conference. Dr. Lio is Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and a Founding Director of the Eczema Care & Education Center.

Around the House: Tips for Managing Eczema this Spring

Indoor allergens and irritants can trigger atopic dermatitis. Taking some precautions around the home can help prevent flare-ups:

Parenting Children with Eczema: Beneath the Surface

Excerpted from a presentation by Joanna Hamilton, at the 2010 National Eczema Association Patient Conference. Mrs. Wyoming 2009, Joanna shares her experiences as a parent of children with eczema.

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