About Allergies: Could You Be Allergic to Your Deodorant?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies Most adults use deodorants and/or antiperspirants on a daily basis, and are found in just about everyone's medicine cabinet. Most deodorants and antiperspirants contain fragrances, which are known to cause contact dermatitis, resulting in itching, redness and flaking of the underarm areas. Other ingredients, such as propylene glycol, lanolin and parabens are other ingredients that can cause skin allergy reactions. Have you experienced an itchy rash after using a deodorant or antiperspirant? Not sure which product would be safe for you to use? Learn more about allergies to deodorants and antiperspirants, including how the diagnosis is made as well as the treatments that are available. Deodorant and Antiperspirant Allergy Deodorants and antiperspirants are cosmetic products that are used by the majority of adults in the United States. Deodorants and antiperspirants are available individually or as combination products. These cosmetics are typically applied daily to the underarms in the attempt to mask odors and prevent perspiration. Deodorants, which are classified as cosmetic agents by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have antimicrobial activities to reduce the growth of bacteria, as well as fragrances to mask any odors that are produced by the bacteria. Antiperspirants are classified as drugs by the FDA, and usually contain aluminum, which acts to reduce the production of sweat by the sweat glands. See More About:  contact dermatitis  patch testing  cosmetic allergy Cosmetic Allergy Cosmetic-induced contact dermatitis is common, since people may apply numerous chemicals to their skin, hair and scalp daily. Typically, the rash will occur on the skin where the cosmetic was applied, although sometimes the rash will occur on another part of the body (for example, reactions to nail polish may first cause an eyelid rash as a result of touching the eyelid). It's possible for an allergy to a substance to develop even after years of using the cosmetic without previous problems. See More About:  contact dermatitis causes  evaluation of contact dermatitis  sunscreen allergy Patch Testing for Chemical Allergy Patch testing is used to identify causes of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is an immunologic reaction to a particular substance; poison-oak (and poison-ivy and poison-sumac) is an example of such a reaction. Contact dermatitis is not a true allergy; therefore patch testing is performed in a very different way than allergy skin testing. Patch testing involves the placement of various chemicals onto the skin, usually held against the skin using a paper tape. The chemicals themselves are often contained within a small metal cup, usually smaller than a dime. Unlike allergy skin testing, patch testing does not involve the use of needles. See More About:  allergies  allergist  allergy testing Allergies Ads Allergies Allergies and Hives Allergies from Mold Allergies to Dust Deodorant Featured Articles Frequently Asked Questions Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies   More from About.com 2011's Cutest Winter Boots Snuggly snow boots are essential for women who live in cold climates, but still want to put their best foot forward. More> 10 Budget Work Essentials Figuring out how to pay for a fabulous work wardrobe can be a challenge. These 10 mix-and-max essentials are all under $50. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement