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Allergies in Every Day Products

Writer's picture: Diane ViallDiane Viall

Updated: Sep 7, 2023

Allergies can ruin peoples lives, read on and find out how you can be helped.


Every day more and more people suffer from allergies. It can be from pollen causing hayfever, foods that cause potentially life threatning allergies, pets, animals and even bed bugs. In this blog I've concentrated on the allergens that exist in our skincare products, soaps, perfumes, washing powder, clothes softners etc.


Not only found in perfumes, skincare and cosmetics, limonene and linalool are often used in washing up liquid, cleaners, washing powders, softeners and pet products as they give the wonderful citrussy, fresh smell we all seem to love and associate with cleanliness.s.ls, fragrance oils or aroma chemicals but do you realise these wonderful smells can in fact harm your skin if you have an allergic reaction to them.


Making yourvown perfume
Skin allergies

It doesn't matter if your product contains manmade fragrances or natural essential oils you can still have a skin reaction like redness or dermatitis. Once you know what ingredient or ingredients you are sensitive to they can be avoided but so often we have no idea. There is a governing body the INFRA - International Fragrance Association that 'polices' allergies in skincare products and perfumes and product labels should always show these, however with perfumes you never see this label.


The two main contact allergies that seem to be a problem are Limonene and Linalool.


Terpenes


Aromatic compounds are found in many plants, these are called terpenes and can be present in cannabis, pine, lavender, rosemary as well as fresh orange and lemon peel. Terpenes, comprising of over 30,000 compounds are the primary constituents of essential oils. The fragrance of most plants is due to a combination of terpenes and it's thought these protect the plants from grazing animals or infections germs as well as attracting pollinators.



Orange and Lemon peel
Limonene and Linalool

Perfumes often contain citrusy notes of lemon, orange, bergamot or grapefruit giving a light, fresh, summery note. Skincare such as cleansers, body lotion and moisturisers often contain lemon as it's well known for it's cleansing, anti bacterial, fresh properties.



Lavender essential oils
Limonene and Linalool

Lavender essential oil is another very popular aroma for both perfumes, skincare and skin conditions, giving a fresh floral note to the product and contains both linalool and limonene.


Limonene and Linalool


Lemon, orange and lavender are not usually the cause of allergies, it's the components that make up these items that are allergenic. As the product is used on the skin the linalool and limonene oxidizes in the air and can cause irritation, redness and even contact dermatitis, it can be mild or very extreme in some cases.


Not only found in perfumes, skincare and cosmetics, limone and linalool are often used in washing up liquid, cleaners, washing powders, softeners and pet products as they give the wonderful citrussy, fresh smell we all seem to love and associate with cleanliness.


Pinene, Eugenol, Geranoil


Although not so high on the allergenic list these three components of essential oils and fragrance oils are also known to cause skin irritation, redness and contact dermatits or other skin complaints.


If you think you are allergic to a product look at the label, by law the allergen list must be shown, but remember you could be allergic to any of the ingredients in the product. The only way to be sure is to go to your doctors and ask for a patch test to be done.


Happy reading, I hope this blog might help you realise why you are having a reaction to a product.


Diane xx



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