Perfume intolerance

Perfume intolerance is a condition wherein people exhibit sensitivity or allergic reactions to ingredients in perfume. The most common allergic reactions to perfume or fragrances added to products is contact dermatitis,[1][2] though other symptoms may occur, including allergic conjunctivitis.[3]

The diagnosis of the causal allergen is made by patch testing with a mixture of fragrance ingredients, the fragrance mix. This gives a positive patch-test reaction in about 10% of tested patients with eczema, and the most recent estimates show that 1.7–4.1% of the general population are sensitized to ingredients of the fragrance mix.

Two studies show that inhalant-like allergies and sensitivity/intolerances are experienced by a subset of the US population, in the form of asthma and chemical sensitivities. Results aggregated from both surveys found that 30.5% of the general population[4] reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside.

Household products, such as soaps and detergents, perfume products, cosmetics, and other consumer goods, are estimated to use 2,500 different fragrance ingredients. Of those, approximately 100 different substances are known to elicit responses in at least some individuals. An estimated 1.7–4.1% of the general population shows a contact allergic response to a mix of common perfume ingredients.[5]

The diagnosis is made by patch testing with a mixture of fragrance ingredients, the fragrance mix. This gives a positive patch-test reaction in about 10% of tested patients with eczema, and the most recent estimates show that 1.7–4.1% of the general population are sensitized to ingredients of the fragrance mix.

Although products can be labeled "fragrance-free", many still contain lesser-known fragrance chemicals that consumers may not recognize.[6]

Cinnamaldehyde (cinnamic aldehyde) is a common fragrance allergen.[1][7]

References

  1. 1 2 Saiyasombati, Penpan (1995). Mathematical model for predicting percutaneous absorption of fragrance raw materials (PDF) (B.S. in Pharmacy). Chulalongkorn University. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011.
  2. Anne C. Steinemann. "Exposure Assessment: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions". University of Washington. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  3. "Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At". McKinley Health Center. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  4. Caress SM, Steinemann AC (2009). "Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population". J Environ Health. 71: 46–50. PMID 19326669.
  5. "Fragrance Contact Allergy: A Clinical Review". American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. Retrieved 11 Feb 2012. Fragrance ingredients are also one of the most frequent causes of contact allergic reactions.
  6. Scheinman PL (December 2001). "Exposing covert fragrance chemicals". Am. J. Contact Dermatitis. 12 (4): 225–8. doi:10.1053/ajcd.2001.28697. PMID 11753900.
  7. http://www.emeraldmaterials.com/epm/kalama/micms_doc_admin.display?p_customer=FISKALAMA&p_name=PRODBULL-CINNAMICALDEHYDE.PDF

Further reading

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