Dr. Adrian Morris of Surrey Allergy Clinic Tests and Treats allergies » Skin Allergy

Allergy to clothing dye

Dr. Adrian Morris — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:25:55 +0000

Although often suspected by many clients as being the cause for localized body rashes, we hardly ever come across anyone with a confirmed allergy to commercial pigment dyes in clothing. One is more likely to develop contact dermatitis from dyes and rubber found in leather footwear, paraphenylene diamine (PPD) in hair dye and latex elastic in underwear. Detergent residues left in clothing can also irritate eczema-prone skin, causing it to flare up, and animal fibers such as wool, silk, mohair and fur in clothing can cause allergies. Cotton is the least allergenic clothing fiber. Most non toxic commercial clothing dyes are quite harmless, but occasionally reactions can be attributed to a particular type of dispersal dye (Disperse Blue 106 and 124) and formaldehyde residues found in new clothing, however these are usually removed after a few washes. Sweating and tight fitting clothing increases the likelihood of a reaction in dermatitis prone people.

Reference: Clothing Dye Allergy

Patch testing for chemical dermatitis

Dr. Adrian Morris — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:52:03 +0000

Many people develop debilitating patches of dermatitis after contact with various common environmental chemicals and agent in cleaning materials. This type of reaction by the skin immune system results in a Type 4 delayed hypersensitivity reaction with rashing. A common contact allergy occuring in 20% of women is to the metal nickel found in clothing clips and studs, cheap costume jewellry and also wound adhesive dressings such as Elastoplast. Many building contractors will develop a chronic irritating and scaling painful dermatitis on contact with builders cement, while hair-dressers may develop skin allergies to hair dyes, high-lights and shampoos. Chemicals found in cosmetics, Lanolin in skin lotions, Balsum of Peru, detergents, soaps, shampoo, make up, perfume, fragrances and toiletries can cause severe contact dematitis on exposed areas such as the hands, scalp, face and skin with an itchy, dry swollen and scabby dermatitis. Even natural organic dyes in leather goods, glue, resins and hair products can cause localised foot and scalp dermatitis. While indoor plants such as primula, chrysanthemums and daisies, nail varnish and rubber boots can cause unexplained contact allergies. Antibiotic creams and local anaesthetic agents may become contact sensitisers on vulnerable skin. These chemical derived rashes take a few days to develop after initial irritant exposure, making the primary cause difficult to identify and so confound the diagnosis. By using specially prepared patch tests impregnanted with the culprit chemicals, the contact allegen cause can be identified. The TRUE test contains 24 patches of different common contact chemical allergens and we recommend these tests in our clinics. The patches are applied to the skin on the back for 2 days and are then removed and any allergic reaction can be clearly identified and the culprit allergen avoided in future. In a majority of dermatitis sufferers, it is detergents and soaps that remove natural grease and moisturisers from the skin resulting in dryness, iching and subsequently the skin breaks down and oozes. This is called a non-allergic irritant contact dermatitis and responds well to ointment based emollients such as emulsifying ointment.. Some delayed reactions to food such as cow’s milk, soy, hen’s egg and wheat can be identified by using patch tests containing these food allergens which are applied to the skin in Finn chambers for 48 hors and then read at 72 hours.

If you would like to book a Patch test with the Surrey Allergy Clinic; please telephone 01252 851789

For more iniformation on the TRUE test patch tests check out: http://www.truetest.com/commonallergens.aspx http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_test_(medicine))

Allergy to Henna tattoos

Dr. Adrian Morris — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:18:36 +0000

Summer is here, it’s time for a sunny break abroad and perhaps a temporary tattoo which is very fashionable. But beware, temporary Henna tattoos done on unsuspecting holiday makers in tourist resorts can have a disfiguring long-term and even dangerous result. The usually harmless Henna-plant tattoo chemicals are often illegally darkened by unscrupulous vendors adding a concentrated hair dye chemical called PPD (para phenylene diamine) or “Black Henna”. This dangerously concentrated hair dye chemical is highly sensitising when applied neat onto the skin and in 15% of people will lead to a delayed allergic reaction some days later (usually after returning home from their holiday). Tell-tale allergy signs include irritation and reddening of the tattooed skin, later resulting in a blistering and scarring contact dermatitis which in some cases can last many weeks. The long-term consequences are that once sensitised to PPD, you will have a life-long risk of reacting to other less concentrated-PPD containing hair colourings, black rubber products, sulphonamide antibiotics, local anaesthetics and even sunscreens containing PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). Therefore be extremely cautious about having any temporary Henna tattoos applied to your skin whilst on holiday.

Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henna

Skin germ makes eczema worse

Dr. Adrian Morris — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:37:36 +0000

The Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph) skin germ plays a pivotal role in aggravating moderate to severe atopic eczema especially in children. Eczema first occurs in infancy but may persist through childhood into adulthood. Many factors are implicated and certain and promote eczema such as our gene makeup (atopy), skin allergy (to dust mites, pet dander and food allergens). The common skin Staph bacterium carried by us on the skin seems to play an important role in triggering eczema exacerbations. While 10 and 40% of the general population carry the germ Staph on their skin, a whopping 90% of eczema sufferers have this germ on their skin. Studies reveal that 30% of moderate eczema sufferers are allergic to a bacterial endotoxin produced by the Staph, while in severe and difficult to control eczema, up to 68% of children will have an allergy to this germ. The Staph also seems to make established eczema more difficult to treat by increasing skin resistance to therapeutic steroid creams – they just don’t seem to work as well if there is a Staph infection present.

Studies show that systematically eradicating the Staph from the skin will make the eczema easier to control and ultimately clear. In an established infection, the eczema will spread rapidly appearing bright red, crusty, weepy and blistered. The Staph can also persist by being harboured in the nasal passages, under dirty finger nails and in moist skin creases. Fortunately most Staph will respond to antibiotic skin creams such as Mupirocin (Naseptin), Fusidic acid (Fucidin) as well as to antiseptic skin disinfectants such as povidine iodine (Betadine), hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and chlorhexidine (Hibitane). The beneficial effect of using sodium hypochlorite (found in bleech) and silver impregnated garments has not been proven. In established Staph infections presenting with Impetigo (skin honey crusts), Folliculitis (pimples and pustules) and Cellulitis (widespread skin surface infection), oral antibiotics such as Flucloxacillin, Erythromycin and Co-amoxyclav will effectively treat the skin infection (unless the superbug MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is present). Read more about managing eczema

Skin infection causes eczema

Dr. Adrian Morris — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:03:03 +0000

The Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph) skin germ plays a pivotal role in aggravating moderate to severe atopic eczema especially in children. Eczema first occurs in infancy but may persist through childhood into adulthood. Many factors have been implicated in causing and promoting eczema such as our gene makeup (atopy), skin allergy (to dust mites, pet dander and food allergens) and skin damage. The common skin Staph bacterium carried on our skin plays an important role in triggering eczema exacerbations. While 10 and 40% of the general population naturally carry Staph on their skin, a whopping 90% of eczema sufferers have this germ inhabiting their skin. Studies reveal that 30% of moderate eczema sufferers are actually allergic to a toxin produced by the Staph, while in severe or difficult to control eczema, up to 68% of sufferers will have an allergy to it. The Staph also seems to make established eczema more difficult to treat by increasing skin resistance to therapeutic steroid creams – they just don’t seem to work as well if there is a Staph infection present.

Studies show that systematically eradicating the Staph from the skin will make the eczema easier to control and ultimately clear. In an established infection, the eczema will spread rapidly appearing bright red, crusty, weepy and blistered. The Staph can also persist by being harboured in the nasal passages, under dirty finger nails and in moist skin creases. Fortunately most Staph will be eliminated by antibiotic skin creams such as Mupirocin (Naseptin) or Fusidic acid (Fucidin) as well as by antiseptic skin disinfectants such as povidine iodine (Betadine), hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and chlorhexidine (Hibitane). The beneficial effect of using sodium hypochlorite (found in bleech) and silver impregnated garments has not been proven. In more extensive Staph infections presenting with Impetigo (skin honey crusts), Folliculitis (pimples and pustules) and Cellulitis (widespread skin surface infection), oral antibiotics such as Flucloxacillin, Erythromycin and Co-amoxyclav will effectively treat the skin infection (unless the superbug MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is present).

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/120/Supplement_3/S122