Issues in food allergy and intolerance, coeliac disease, gut disorders, eczema, 'free from' and all allergies and sensitivities
There is a concoction of potentially hazardous chemicals on our shop shelves, many of which end up in our homes. A lot of them perform vital services — disinfecting our work surfaces, for example — and it would be difficult…
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PPD, or paraphenylenediamine, is a chemical used in most permanent hair dyes, especially the darker types. When mixed with an oxidiser (typically hydrogen peroxide) and applied, it penetrates shafts of hair and transforms into an oxidised form whose molecules are…
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One year ago today I self-published a book called Living with Methylisothiazolinone Allergy. Methylisothiazolinone, or MI for short, is a preservative used in cosmetics, detergents and ancillary cleaning products, and in other liquid products you have around the home, such…
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It was a while ago now, but not long after I wrote a post called Are Oats Good for Eczema? a reader wrote to me and pointed out that, if you have nickel allergy, oats can be a problem. As…
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Upsetting reports coming in from the US via FATE suggest that a young girl, Denise Saldate, has died after using a toothpaste containing milk protein, to which she was severely allergic. The cause in this sad case appears to have…
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The experience related in The Sun this week of a nut allergic student suffering a severe reaction after using a Nivea lip balm containing sweet almond oil should serve as a reminder that, if you have food allergies, the ingredients…
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Following my recent article on sulfite / sulphite sensitivity, it was pointed out to me that sulfites are also used in cosmetics. Given their role in colour preservation and to prevent oxidation in foods such as dried apricots, it’s not…
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There is no evidence to suggest that gluten in beauty products can penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream, and cause problems for people with coeliac disease. However, when wheat is found in skincare, it’s usually ‘broken down’ gluten — or…
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I’m often asked for recommendations for allergy-safe or hypoallergenic cosmetics. Many refer to ‘allergen free’ skincare but in practice little can be truly allergen free, given that almost all ingredients used in toiletries can — at least in theory, if…
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The subject of allergy-friendly face paint for kids regularly arises on social media, specifically nut free face paint, so here are the safe options that that I know about. Usual warnings apply: always double check with manufacturers (as suppliers and…
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