Contact allergy!

For several years, contact allergy is steadily increasing. Allergies to latex, cosmetics, perfumes, henna tattoos ... allergenic products abound. How to avoid unpleasant surprises?

A few days after using your favorite perfume, your skin is covered with buttons. Your beautiful henna tattoo has given way to a beautiful ... eczema Dealing with these new contact allergy?

Two allergic mechanisms
Two conditions of hypersensitivity include most cases of allergy. Immediate hypersensitivity is the most common. Delayed hypersensitivity is usually reserved for contact allergy.

-Immediate Hypersensitivity: At first exposure, the individual produces specific antibodies, IgE, which specifically recognize the allergen. Then, when a new contact, the substance will experience the power of these cells with IgE (mast cells) and stimulate them, causing the release of inflammatory factors and disturbances characteristic of allergy. Allergies to latex and cosmetics fall into this category;
 
-Delayed hypersensitivity: During a first exposure, the allergen through the skin and binds to cells called Langerhans cells. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where they "present" the allergen to other cells (CD4 + T lymphocytes). During the second contact with the allergen, the Langerhans cells migrate to become activated lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are flocking to the area of allergy and create market intradermal vesicular lesions, visible 48 to 72 hours after contact. The contact eczema, allergies depilatory wax and semi-permanent tattoos fall into this category.

Latex and cosmetics, that's the rub!
Extract from the sap of the tropical rubber tree, latex is found in household gloves, pacifiers, bathing caps, glue on envelopes or condoms and now causes many allergic reactions. Regardless of age, they primarily affect women and 10% of caregivers massive use of powdered latex gloves.

Generally mild, symptoms may sometimes have serious consequences. Of contact urticaria to the rhino-conjunctivitis, they may cause more serious feelings of suffocation, asthma or anaphylactic shock with loss of consciousness.

For caregivers, various safeguards are put in place. "The vinyl gloves to conduct examinations for non-sterile or handle food and rubber gloves to clean, latex gloves should be reserved for sterile operations. In addition, the latex used is less allergenic and dust responsible the spread of the allergen is dropped.

Allergies to cosmetic concern derived plants that can hide in a shower gel, lipstick or eyeliner. The best treatment depends on the avoidance of product. "This is not always enough for a second contact with the allergen, in another form, may cause anaphylactic shock. Thus, a person sensitized to sesame oil in a shower gel may be a severe shock after eating cakes appetizers with this same oil. A similar accident can be caused by avocado oil or some derivative of corn contained in both creams, eyeliners and certain foods (liver pate) ".

Faced with a rash-like reaction following the use of a cosmetic product, tell your doctor and keep the product in question that responsibility can be confirmed by tests in medical practice.

Perfumes, wax and tattooing, beware of surprises!
The perfume is present in detergents, toilet paper, hair care products, stationery, handkerchiefs ... the aroma was still a setback: the sharp increase in allergies to these compounds. Awareness is evidenced through the "fragrance mix, a mixture of fragrances used in allergy testing performed routinely in people with eczema. Their share rose from 5 to 11% in a decade. Faced with this phenomenon, scholars have drawn the attention of the European Commission asking that all the ingredients of perfumes found on the packaging. But this application is opposed to the veto of manufacturers who want to keep their secrets and trouble to include between 20 and 400 compounds for perfumes "haute couture". Find the culprit becomes a real puzzle.

Depilatory waxes can also cause allergies. "The term" hypoallergenic "does not really make sense. It only indicates that the manufacturer has made an effort to remove allergens assumed. The only useful information for patients with allergies, is a list of all ingredients employees ".

Latest beauty accessory in fashion, fake tattoos, henna, which can cause delayed allergies. Generally, the tattoo invites himself longer than expected. So it should disappear after a fortnight, it is replaced by a less decorative eczema ... The culprit is more easily identifiable, it is the paraphenylene diamine (PPD) contained in the product applied.

"Before making this type of tattoo, if one accepts the risk, it would be prudent to ask the name and address of manufacturer and lot number, useful information in cases of awareness."

Finally, the PPD is also present in some textile dyes, including jeans, and hair dye and can cause other eczema in sensitized individuals.