Tag Archive for: formaldehyde allergy

Formaldehyde exposure

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On Formaldehyde exposure …formaldehyde is an important irritant and allergen.  Irritants disrupt the skin and permit increased absorption of allergens…  “Formaldehyde is the simplest of the aldehydes (HCHO). It is a gas at room temperature. It is obtainable in crystalline form or as a liquid. … There are two major sources of formaldehyde: direct commercial manufacture and indirect production. Commercial formaldehyde is used mainly in the synthesis of disinfectants, cosmetics, deodorants, paper, dyes, photographic materials, textiles, inks, wood products, synthetic resins, preservatives, leather, fertilizers, and insecticides. Indirect production of formaldehyde may occur through the photochemical oxidation of airborne hydrocarbons from vehicle exhausts, the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons in fuels, and other sources. Other sources in the atmosphere include cigarette smoking levels over 0.2 ppm have been observed and anaerobic decomposition of methane by microbes.”

…

“Studies to evaluate formaldehyde sensitivity have been done by several investigators over the past 80 years, starting in 1909. In the 1909 study, subjects developed stomach or intestinal pains, headaches, and itchy rashes on the chest and thigh after drinking milk that contained formaldehyde.”  Formaldehyde exposure has been studied for more than 80 years!!!

“The concentration of formaldehyde for inhalation provocation testing in our studies was <0.2 ppm. This is lower than the perceptible odor level of 1 ppm noted by NIOSH.”  Formaldehyde exposure needs to be further studied!

“In 1981, the Committee on Toxicology of the National Research Council estimated that as much as 10% of the total United States population may be hypersensitive to the irritant effects of formaldehyde.”  Formaldehyde exposure and the clinical effects from this need to be documented!

The above quotes are from the article from Pan et al.  for more information please read:

Yaqin Pan et al.  Formaldehyde Sensitivity  Clinical Ecology VI(3):79-84  http://www.aehf.com/articles/A44.htm

 

This week the Dermatitis Academy has led out a campaign for awareness on formaldehyde allergy.  Please visit our dedicated formaldehyde allergy page:https://www.dermatitisacademy.com/formaldehyde/

A day in the life of a patch tester – Teens and padded bras – Formaldehyde

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When you look into the eyes of a saddened 14 yo girl who’s dermatitis for the last 7 months has been so severe that we can’t see her nipples from her areola — your heart just breaks.  You just have to find the answer and we did – patch testing revealed PTBFR in the foam of her bra…
The question is – what do you do?  Cotton bras!!!  But the teen says to me – I need padding – My ‘Macgyver-work around” cotton nursing pads sewn into a cotton bra!  
Herro EM1, Friedlander SF, Jacob SE.Bra-associated allergic contact dermatitis: p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin as the culprit.  Pediatr Dermatol. 2012 Jul-Aug;29(4):540-1. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2011.01533.x. Epub 2011 Oct 20.

“P-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin (PTBPFR) is recognized as a significant source of allergic contact dermatitis in adults and children in association with athletic gear, shoes, and neoprene. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of allergic contact dermatitis with PTBPFR associated with padded foam bras.”

Access the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22011272

“I can’t find a bra – my underwear make me itch!” – living with formaldehyde allergy

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At the final patch test reading visit, once a positive reaction has been found, clinical relevance to the current dermatitis must be determined… then safe alternatives found… a challenge for the formaldehyde allergic person is clothing (textiles)…

Back in 2008, Dr. Andrew Scheman (Director of the Contact Allergen Management Program for the ACDS) led out a partnership initiative to form a collaborative [namely the American Contact Alternatives Group -ACAG]  which would work to find and share safe alternatives with each other and our patients, resulting in this manuscript:

Scheman A1, Jacob S, Zirwas M, Warshaw E, Nedorost S, Katta R, Cook J, Castanedo-Tardan MP.  Contact Allergy: alternatives for the 2007 North American contact dermatitis group (NACDG) Standard Screening Tray.  Dis Mon. 2008 Jan-Feb;54(1-2):7-156.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18215657

Since then, the ACAG collaborative has continued to work together and share with each other resources we find…

Here is a resource from CottoniqueTM:

“Each country has its own manufacturing standards for acceptable levels for formaldehyde resins. A low indicator of formaldehyde releasing resin would be 75 ppm which is the Japanese standard, the US standard is somewhere near 300ppm, quite a difference.

Fabrics safe to wear: 100% silk, 100% linen (if it wrinkles easy), 100% polyester, 100% acrylic, 100% nylon, spandex, flannel (soft), wool (may cause irritation) and denim.

Do not wear these fabrics: Permanent press, wrinkle resistant, color-fast, stain-resistant, blends (including rayon, polyester-cotton), corduroy or shrink-proof wool.

It is suggested that you read the labels in your existing clothing and separate them in your closet so you will know what’s safe to wear. Always opt for loose fitting clothing since friction and perspiration can cause the condition to flare. Read the labels in any new clothing before you purchase. Clothes made in Japan are the safest and companies that sell clothes in Japan also have to meet the Japanese standard.

Companies that meet the Japanese standard: GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Liz Claiborne, Eddie Bauer, Cuddle Duds and Levi Strauss. There may be others but these were on the list from the American Contact Dermatitis Society.”

Blog from Cottonique [https://www.cottonique.com/blogs/blog/2424702-the-contact-dermatitis-and-clothing-connection]  https://www.cottonique.com

 

The Dermatitis AcademyTM has no financial or relevant relationship with CottoniqueTM, nor certifies their wares.