Perfume allergy? - Allergies Message Board

batesS · 02-22-2004, 08:32 AM

Whenever I use perfume, eiter spray or lotion on my body but especialy on my neck area I get this terrible burning feeling and an itchy rash which will last for about a week even with washing it directly all away. My nose will get stuffed up too. I get it with all sorts of perfumes, is there an alternative?
I get about the same rash too if I wear a golden necklace. My neck and upper part of chest becomes red and start to itch. Am I both allergic to perfume and gold?

Micheline · 02-22-2004, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batesS

Whenever I use perfume, eiter spray or lotion on my body but especialy on my neck area I get this terrible burning feeling and an itchy rash which will last for about a week even with washing it directly all away. My nose will get stuffed up too. I get it with all sorts of perfumes, is there an alternative?
I get about the same rash too if I wear a golden necklace. My neck and upper part of chest becomes red and start to itch. Am I both allergic to perfume and gold?

My worst nightmare is perfume as allergies specially when I go out in public and the people use perfume, my asthma is out of control…. I use Dove unscented and I discovered lately Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser mild and non-irritating for sensitive skin…. Good luck from Micheline from Canada

02-23-2004, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batesS

Whenever I use perfume, eiter spray or lotion on my body but especialy on my neck area I get this terrible burning feeling and an itchy rash which will last for about a week even with washing it directly all away. My nose will get stuffed up too. I get it with all sorts of perfumes, is there an alternative?
I get about the same rash too if I wear a golden necklace. My neck and upper part of chest becomes red and start to itch. Am I both allergic to perfume and gold?

You may have a nickel allergy (nickel salt allergy). Some costume jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, rings etc), coins, eyeglass frames, wrist watch strap, pant button & zipper, some daily supplements may contain nickel, kitchen hardware; knobs (the list goes on) contains nickel and can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Do yourself a favor and don't wear that necklace anymore.

I have a reaction to fragrances…Scented laundry detergents, soaps etc & develop contact dermatitis, so I use Dove for sensitive skin which does not upset my skin. I miss using scented soaps, but don’t miss the reaction. Some fragrances give me a headache, right down to scented candles. Once you have that sensitivity, it does not get better or go away with time, you have to avoid the offending agent.

Some flavorings in toothpaste can cause a reaction. Google dermatology cites for "Fragrance Mix". Components to perfumes and lotions can cause allergic dermatitis.

Burning of the throat is often a symptom of an allergic reaction so it would be a good idea to get this checked out. Allergic reactions can get worse over time. The reactions you are having sound like & may very well stem from a true allergy or chemical sensitivity. I would suggest alternatives, but being that you have not been tested, I'd be concerned you would have a reaction to a suggested alternative for fragrance...Some oil extracts can trigger an allergic reaction like that of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg. I have trouble with nutmeg.

Excerpt;
[…Be wary of products that are labeled "fragrance free" or "unscented" as these terms may not necessarily mean they do not contain fragrance chemicals, they just imply the product has no perceptible odor. These products may possibly contain a masking fragrance that is used to cover up the odor of other ingredients. Alert your doctor or dentist to the fact that you have an allergy to fragrance mix. If you are highly sensitive, your doctor may also recommend a special diet that eliminates foods to which these allergens or related allergens are added as flavoring. A dermatologist may have further specific advice, particularly if you are highly sensitive to fragrance mix...]

Pure vanilla extract contains alcohol & evaporates quickly. Olive oil “infused” with pure vanilla bean. A dab will do ya…A person may smell like a cookie, but I could think of worse lol

Oil does not evaporate as quickly so the “aroma” has more staying power. Avoid this if you are sensitive to vanilla.

Cornstarch is one powder I know won’t upset my skin. It feels just like baby powder but has no scent. It is cost affective and available in the baking isle of the supermarket.
Good Luck

Crossbow · 02-23-2004, 11:23 AM

I would bet you're allergic to the fixatives in perfume. You could try an oil-based one. They have them at stores like The Body Shop. You can try samples and see if it works.

I'm allergic to all metals too. Even pure gold. If I want to wear a necklace it has to be a pendant on a cord of some kind, or my neck breaks out in tiny blisters. Or I can wear a metal necklace over a turtleneck. Nothing I've tried for the rash helps. I just moisturize it and wait for it to go away.

brothers_keeper · 02-23-2004, 11:38 AM

I have severe reactions to perfumes. I can't even walk near the perfume isle in a store. If I am around a person wearing it I get sick. The same goes for strong Herb smells like Rosemary. I can't dry herbs inside the house -- they make me feel really sick/dizzy/naseaous.

I found over the years that vanilla (as suggested), in olive oil, makes a wonderful perfume, and studies suggest that men react positively to this particular smell!

I also found over the years, that SOME men's colognes don't bother me.
A naturopath once told me they put things into women's perfumes/colognes/beauty products that they don't put into some
men's stuff. OLD SPICE is ok, as is Stetson for men.

Drinking lots of water daily will help you keep your system clean.

ALSO: I CAN HEAD OFF AN ALLERGIC REACTION BY TAKING ONE OF THOSE SINGLE-INGREDIENT "ALLERGY TABS" THAT YOU CAN GET OVER-THE-COUNTER. The ones I take are bright pink. SO if I know I am going into a perfume-candle store/library/fabric store/book store/moldy place, I take one 1/2 before. You can also take 1/2 to 1 pill if you are in the middle of an allergic reaction, and it will help a LOT. We went to the Univ Hosp last week, and the mold in that building was out of this world. I started reacting about 30 minutes (burning throat/eyes/headache), took a pill, and the reaction stopped.

good luck.