FitSugar

Victoria's Secret Bras Causing Rashes?

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 PST

Victoria's Secret is to bras what Kleenex is to tissues. This company is well-known for its amazing lingerie, but recently there have been many complaints from women who wear its bras. They say they've worn Angel Secret Embrace Bras and Very Sexy Extreme Me Push-Up bras, and experienced itchy rashes, hives, and permanent scarring. One woman, Roberta Ritter, filed a lawsuit against Victoria's Secret, and when her lawyers purchased the same bra and sent it to a lab for testing, they found it contained formaldehyde. Many companies add this chemical to fabrics to make them crease resistant. Although Victoria's Secret said it never used formaldehyde in its products, it may have been added in the manufacturing process. This chemical is most likely the cause of the allergic skin reaction experienced by Roberta and dozens of other women.

For more information, check out this video clip from Good Morning America, of Diane Sawyer talking to reporter Andrea Canning on the details.

I know finding the right bra can be traumatic, but shouldn't be scarring. Have you experienced anything like this?

Allergic to Exercise?

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT

I've heard of allergies to nuts, or bees, or cats, but an allergy to exercise? Come on, that's just an excuse not to work out, right? Unfortunately there is such a thing as an allergy to exercise known as exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA). Although it's a pretty rare condition, it still exists for some unlucky few. A person with EIA may feel tired, itchy, or warm within the first few minutes of exercise, and then symptoms can quickly progress to swollen lips, eyes, and throat. Other symptoms can include hives, fainting, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes symptoms don't show up for up to four hours after exercising.

Only 1,000 cases of exercise-induced anaphylaxis have been documented since the 70s, and of those cases only one resulted in death. There's also a less severe and more common exercise- triggered allergy that 10 to 20 percent of the population will experience sometime during their lives. To find out what it is,

read more. Cholinergic urticaria, is a common type of heat rash, that many people may experience when they work out that is reddish, and may cause a burning or itchy sensation. This type of skin reaction can also be caused by a combination of both exercise and these triggers: sun exposure, certain foods, certain medications, alcohol, menstruation, cold weather, or getting emotionally worked up. If you think you may have symptoms that are triggered by exercise, definitely make an appointment with your doctor. Source

Black Friday Sales You Should Know About

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:50 PST

Calling all lovers of great deals and design! This year, I've rounded up Black Friday sales that will surely shake you out of your turkey comatose. So, get a head start on organizing your wish list shopping day by browsing these upcoming sales.

20x200

Enjoy savings on Thanksgiving and the day after! The Thanksgiving sale will offer a 20 percent discount on sports-themed prints (certain prints excluded). On November 25, save 20% on black color-category prints (certain prints excluded).

Velocity Art & Design

On November 25, shop 20 percent off all in stock items at the Velocity Art & Design store at 251 Yale Ave North in Seattle, WA. For cyber shoppers, enjoy 20 percent off all Offi products November 17-30: 15 percent off on Roh and Hiya lines until November 30; 15 percent off all Herman Miller products November 23 to December 13.

One Kings Lane

Beginning on November 25, One Kings Lane shoppers can partake in a special “Treasure Hunt” for elephant illustrations that will randomly appear throughout the website. Shoppers that find the elephant can enter to win one of several amazing prizes, including One Kings Lane E-Gift Cards and luxurious cashmere throws. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 One Kings Lane shopping spree and a virtual design consultation with One Kings Lane cofounder, Susan Feldman, focusing on one room in their home.

styleVISA

On November 25, get a head start on StyleVisa.com's November 28 sale by following the shop on Twitter for an exclusive 15 percent discount code. Shop early before the official sale kicks off on Monday and enjoy free shipping on all orders of $100 or more.

CB2

Donate 7 non-perishable food items in store for the CB2 Can Do Food Drive and receive 15% off. Cyber shoppers can donate $10 to Share Our Strength, save 15%, and get free shipping! Sale runs from Nov 10 – Nov 28 and applies to all items except FLOR™ tiles, the Geneva Sound System, pro-ject turntable and Grado sr80i Headphones.

Cost Plus World Market

On November 25, buy one, get one free for all games, toys, and tabletop frames
Get 50% off of all faux fur throws

Y Living

November 23-December 12 save 15% on Herman Miller, Magis and Mattiazzi.
November 25-December 12 save 15% on all Humanscale
November 25-December 9 save 15% on all Loll accessories
November 21-December 15 save 20% on all Cerno Lighting (will ship in time for the holidays)
Now through December 31 save 15% on select Artemide lights

Hive Modern

November 23-December 12 save 15% and get free shipping on all orders

Greenhouse Design Studio

November 25 save 20% on gift orders and receive free gift wrap

Chewing the Cud

November 25-28 save 30% off site-wide

Z Gallerie

November 23-28 save 20% off accessories (excluding sale items) and 10-15% off furniture. If you have a store nearby, the first 5 customers to check in at any of the fifty five store locations via foursquare will receive a $25 gift card for free!

Source

Zit Jewelry: It's Not For the Squeamish

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:40:49 PDT

If you really savor popping zits, so much so that you'd like to immortalize the activity in a piece of jewelry, artist Winona Johnson has just the thing. Her Pimple Popper Raw ring ($163) is handcrafted from sterling silver, copper, and enamel, topped off with a seed pearl. It also looks like a giant whitehead just begging to be exploded. The concept/verisimilitude are extremely high on ick factor, and I didn't want to assault everyone, so to see the pimple popper in all its glory, just keep reading.

DrSugar: Could I Be Allergic to Exercise?

DrSugar — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:42:42 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's tackling a reader suffering from an allergic reaction to exercise.

Dear Dr. Sugar,
I work out regularly, but I have had a sort of reaction during my last two intense cardio workouts. My face turns bright red; I wheeze slightly, cough, and my eyes and nose itch. I have to stop and rest, but the symptoms go away after about 30 minutes. The symptoms seem to be similar to a food allergy, however I work out first thing in the morning and only have coffee before starting. What could be the cause of this reaction and how can I avoid it?
- Not Seeking a Workout Excuse, I Swear

Thank you for asking such an interesting question! Your symptoms that are brought on by exercise are actually quite concerning (especially the respiratory symptoms - cough and wheezing). I am glad that you stop and rest when these symptoms appear, as they could be a sign of possible allergic reaction to exercise. Yes, that's right, although rare, some people have an allergic response to exercise or physical exertion and their symptoms can range from a hives-like rash to a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Allergic symptoms from physical exertion are called "exercise-induced anaphylaxis," according to Medscape. The most common symptoms present with this condition are itching, hives, angioedema (swelling of the eyes, lips, throat, hands, or feet), flushing, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chest tightness, passing out (syncope), profuse sweating, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), and choking, throat constriction, or hoarseness of the voice. Symptoms may occur at any stage of exercise, and stopping the exercise typically resolves the symptoms. However, Medscape does note that some people continue to have serious symptoms even after they stop exercising.

Learn more about an exercise-induced allergic reaction after the break!

Inside the New Menlo Park Facebook Office (and How to Get the Look)

Shelterpop — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:58:27 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

Peek inside the new Facebook office and see how you can re-create the modern, electric-hued look at home.

When we heard Facebook moved to new, fancier digs, we had all sorts of visions. Would it be all decked out in blue, the site's signature color? Would there be concept furniture like "Like" button-shaped chairs and giant white boards with "What's on your mind?" written at the top?

Not quite. Instead it's thoroughly modern, exceedingly bright (we counted at least four different oranges) and surprisingly easy to copy if you want the Facebook spirit in your home. Minus, of course, the 57 acres that the Menlo Park facility sits on.

The front of the building matched the inside - lots of geometric shapes and bold hues . . .

Orange and yellow get (slightly) toned down by grays and light wood.

A plush chair gives employees a place to relax . . . but no napping! Check out that very straight back.

Industrial, modern pieces in cold gray. Hey Facebookers, where's the pop of brights in here?

Keep reading to find out where to source this look!

Why It's Better Going Raw With Honey

Heather Dale — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:30:19 PDT

Dr.Oz calls it "liquid gold," touting its many healing properties. The substance I'm referring to is raw honey - honey in its purest form. Raw honey isn't filtered, strained, or heated above natural hive temperatures (usually 115 degrees Fahrenheit), a process used in conventional honey that can destroy beneficial enzymes, nutrients, and antioxidants.

One of the major benefits of raw honey is that it's nature's own multivitamin. Vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and even antioxidant-rich vitamin C are found in raw honey. It also contains minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, and phosphate.

Check out more reasons why raw honey is amazing.

DrSugar Answers: What to Do About Red Face After Exercise

DrSugar — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 03:47:31 PST

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear Dr. Sugar,
I still have to take PE in school this year and next, and I turn beet red. It's really embarrassing; no one else seems to get as red as I do. It makes me sad to be teased about it . . . Is there any way to get less red?
-FitSugar reader

We all worry about red faces (blushing, rashes, acne, etc.), but when it comes to exercise and a red face, there really shouldn’t be too much worry, as it typically represents your body’s normal reaction to the physical demands of exercise! I suffer from a seriously red face after vigorous exercise, and sometimes it lasts for hours after I’ve cooled down! Most of my fair-skinned family reacts the same way, and we’ve learned to just accept it. To learn more about exercise and a red face, keep reading!

5 Things: EpiPens

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:50:09 PDT

I have a friend who is allergic to peanuts, so she carries an EpiPen wherever she goes. When people catch a glimpse of the injection, it prompts inevitable Pulp Fiction jokes, but there's nothing fun about having to use an EpiPen.

Commonly known by its brand name, this epinephrine autoinjection is used to treat anaphylaxis, a sudden and severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Certain foods, such as eggs and peanuts, can cause an anaphylactic reaction, as can bee stings and certain medications, particularly penicillin. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include hives, swelling, and itching that gives way to shortness of breath, chest tightness, and increased or irregular heartbeat.

For five essential facts about this allergy-kit essential,

Cocoa Crisis: Allergic to Chocolate?

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:00:25 PDT

Last week, a friend invited me over for dinner to meet her new guy, and I brought some of my refreshing chocolate sorbet. When I arrived all smiles and ready to ask a million questions as any good friend would, I couldn't believe what I found out - this new beau could not have cocoa. That's right - allergic to chocolate! After hearing that, I was the one asking him a million questions.

Apparently, chocolate allergies are pretty rare. Since chocolate is made up of several ingredients including cocoa, milk, nuts, and soy lecithin, allergies can be triggered not only by cocoa, but also by one of these other ingredients. So if you do meet someone who has an allergy to chocolate, they're most likely allergic to one of these foods as well.

Symptoms of a chocolate allergy include headaches, heartburn, hives, or difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a person can go into anaphylactic shock from eating this sweet treat. It's pretty serious, and the only way to avoid issues is to pass on the triple chocolate mousse, Hershey's Kisses, and cocoa gelato.

This is so sad to me, since I am such a lover of all things chocolate. Tell me, do you know anyone with a chocolate allergy?