FitSugar

Should Perfume Be Altered to Reduce Allergens?

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:52 -0700

Did you know that the perfume industry has a reigning watchdog? I didn't. It's called the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), and its latest set of regulations will require many perfume makers to change their scents.

According to the IFRA, new standards are "a necessary evil" to protect individuals with severe skin allergies. Those in the perfume industry aren't buying the explanation. They think that the regulations are strict and unnecessary, citing that perfume allergies are generally mild. People with a perfume allergy might disagree, though. Common symptoms include itchy eyes, skin rashes, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.

Under the new rules, fragrance houses will have to cut back on their use of allergens - like jasmine and other aromas - in perfume recipes. It's unknown how many classic scents will have to be altered as a result.

What do you think about this?

Pillow Talk

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Is your pillow over 2 years old? If yes, you might be sleeping with a veritable zoo of mold, bacteria and dust mites. Not exactly the kind of pillow talk you want to engage in, is it?

That fluffy bit of comfort on which you rest your head every night can be a hotbed for germs, and might contain even more germs than your bathroom. Yick! Pillows absorb germs from our skin and the air and since we rarely clean or replace our bedroom pillows, bacterias and molds are free to reproduce unhampered. This can become quite a problem if you have allergies to dust mites or mold since you are placing your head in the hot zone for 8 hours a night.

Experts suggest that you replace your pillow every 2 years. Since that can be a costly endeavor, you can try pillow protectors instead since they can prevent dust mites from breeding in your bedding.

Fit's Tip: One quick way to zap all those bacteria is to throw you pillows into the dryer for 20 minutes on high heat. Aim to do this at least once a month and at least once a week if you are experiencing severe allergy symptoms.

Sweet dreams....

Peanut Allergies: Progress Made

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0800

About 1% of the U.S. population has a peanut allergy. The percentage may seem small, but since reactions can be fatal, finding a way to prevent it is becoming increasingly important. Many schools even ban peanut butter from children's bagged lunches.

That's why this news is so promising. Progress has been made in desensitizing children with peanut allergies using a form of immunotherapy - a common form is allergy shots.

For years, allergists have injected patients with tiny amounts of the allergens that bother them, be it bee stings or pollen, and their bodies have built up a tolerance for them. So when they come in contact with something they are allergic to in the future, their bodies recognize it, and their reaction is next to nothing.

Dr. Scott David Nash from Duke University conducted a study with his team. They decided to try Oral Peanut Immunotherapy. They gave 8 children with known peanut allergies, increasing doses of peanut protein in the form of a flour mixed with applesauce.

The entire test took about 2 years, beginning with trace amounts of peanuts, and working up to eating the equivalent of 1 peanut a day for the last 18 months.

At the end of the study, the 7 children (1 dropped out) who completed it were given a "food challenge" involving 8g of peanut flour, or about 13 peanuts. 5 of the 7 children passed the challenge. This study showed that their immune systems developed a growing tolerance to peanuts.

This is incredible news for people with peanut allergies. The fear they live with, worrying everyday whether or not they'll accidentally touch or eat something containing peanuts is way too agonizing. This gives them some much needed hope.

Top Allergens Making Us Miserable

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

It's not always your grandmother's cat that is making you miserable. Allergens lurk everywhere and if, like me, you're a sufferer they can make for a miserable Spring, Summer, and Fall. There are a few allergens that affect more of us than others, and Everyday Health has rounded up some of the top allergens and I've picked out a few highlights for the slideshow.

Source

View Slideshow ›

Why Sudden Allergies in Adulthood?

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Many people live through childhood sleeping with their pet kitties on their pillows, rolling around on dust filled carpets, and collecting flowers and weeds to give to their moms. They do this without a sneeze or sniffle. Those same carefree kids grow up and when they hit their 20s, they suddenly develop allergies to all those things. What gives?

Allergies can develop at any age, and its prevalence in adults is rising. It's known as Adult-Onset Allergies and there are many theories as to why this happens. The most accepted reason is that nowadays babies' developing immune systems are not exposed to as many viruses, bacterium, and allergens as in the past due to wide use of antibiotics, vaccinations, cleaner food and water supply, better living conditions, and germ-a-phobe parents who don't let their kids roll around in dirt. When immune systems aren't faced with dust, pollen, and mold, they don't fully develop the ability to combat those allergens in the future. So in a way, being too careful and being protected against such allergens can actually cause children's immune systems to develop in an unbalanced way, which can make them hypersensitive to seemingly harmless substances in the future.

Allergies can also develop if you are exposed to allergens when your immune system is weakened. That's why pregnant women often develop allergies after they give birth.

Could your family history be to blame for allergies too? To find out read more.

Genetics can definitely play a role in developing allergies as an adult as well. Allergies to specific allergens are not necessarily inherited, but the general tendency to develop allergies can be traced back to your family. If one of your parents has allergies, then you have a one in three chance of developing allergies too.

Your age also has something to do with developing allergies. Since repeated exposure to certain allergens can cause an allergic reaction, it makes sense to develop allergies when you're older, as you've had more time to be in contact with dust, dander, mold, and pollen.

I guess I should be grateful that I lived without allergies for most of my life, but I get the sniffles now when all the flowers start to bloom. What about you? Are you all of a sudden allergic to your pet or do you get a runny nose as soon as the pollen count climbs?

Source

Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:23 -0700

Winter is slowly receding, and in many places Spring has sprung, even though the official start date doesn't come until the end of the week. With Spring weather comes blooming plants, trees, and shrubs, and with those lovely flowers comes pollen, the irritant that brings on hay fever. I lived for years in denial of my seasonal allergies and pretended that I had a cold . . . a cold that never ended.

I have wised up and since allergy season is upon us, or will be soon depending on where you live, I thought it might be useful to compare the symptoms of the common cold with those that accompany seasonal allergies.

Itchy nose: Although allergies and colds both produce a runny nose and congestion, allergies create the dreaded itchy nose. The itch generally occurs in the back of the nose and is difficult to "scratch." Folks suffering from "nasal pruritus" (the fanciest way in the world to say itchy nose) often scrunch up their faces, like a bunny, to try to alleviate the itch.
The sneeze: Sneezing frequently, and sometimes quietly, is common with allergies. Allergy sneezes are an attempt to remove allergens from the nose. Sneezes from colds tend to be loud, deep, and infrequent, attempting to clear the bronchial congestion down in the lungs.

Unfortunately, the list of symptoms is a bit longer, so read more.

Runny eyes: While eyes might occasionally water with a cold, they will run profusely with allergies.
Mucus color: Mucus, aka snot, is generally clear with allergies, whereas with a cold it tends to have a color - yellow to green.
Dark circles under the eyes: This symptom is sometimes referred to poetically as the "allergy shiner." These "shiners" are caused by the inability of veins in the area to drain due to chronic nasal congestion. It is like a traffic jam in the area under your eyes. Common colds do not cause these.

If you are living in allergy denial, hopefully, this list will help you figure out that you do indeed have hay fever, and need to leave the weeding and lawn mowing to someone else for now.

Allergen

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:53:16 -0700

Illustrations

Positive reaction to allergen

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Definition

An allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction. Allergens are substances that, in some people, the immune system recognizes as "foreign" or "dangerous" but cause no response for most people.

Information

Common allergens include:

Bacteria, viruses, and animal parasites
Chemicals
Dust
Drugs (such as antibiotics, serums)
Foods (such as milk, chocolate, strawberries, wheat)
Perfumes
Plants
Pollen
Smoke

Positive reaction to allergen

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:36:01 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Allergic reaction is a sensitivity to a specific substance, called an allergen, that is contacted through the skin, inhaled into the lungs, swallowed or injected. The body's reaction to an allergen can be mild, such as a localized rash, or life-threatening, such as anaphylactic shock.

Review Date: 12/3/2007

Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M. Copyright

adam.com

Source Doc: 2_8703

Beauty Byte: Muji Launch Skincare

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:30:09 -0800

Fans of Muji's sleek minimal furnishings are in for a treat. The Japanese lifestyle brand is launching a capsule skincare collection in the U.K. at the end of this month, pooling all the favorites from its long-standing highly successful range in Japan. The new line will be available in selected stores and online from the end of this month.

To get the details of this story, just read more.

I'm already a fan of Muji's soy scented candles (£10.95). They're fantastic value and are a great staple for burning around the house. What's more, they're packaged in recycled glass, so they're eco-friendly too.

The new skincare line is made using water sourced in the Lwate region of Japan – known for its softness and miniscule particle size, for easy absorption, combined with quality moisturising and cleansing ingredients. There's a hypo allergenic facial skincare range for sensitive skins and a 'High Moisture' range for dry skin types. The line includes cleansers, toners and moisturisers priced from £7.95 to £16.95.

So far, my favourite product is the traditional Japanese oil based cleanser. I was unsure at first about using an oil to remove makeup, but I'm quite liking it! The cleanser combines olive oil and jojoba oil and would suit sensitive skin as it's very gentle. I also like the packaging. It's not girly at all, so could easily appeal to men too.

Muji is the latest High Street chain to enter the world of beauty. In the past month both H&M and Topshop have announced new ranges. Affordable beauty rules!

Photo courtesy of Muji

Allergy Sufferers, Make Your Pet Carry His Own Ionizer

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:20:12 -0800

Though I've never suffered an allergy in the name of love, the idea of caring for someone who couldn't care for North is too scary to consider. While there are bathtime alternatives and medication, many people turn to ionizers to clear the air (literally).
Ionizers charge the air with negative ions, which attract and catch airborne allergens - like pet dander - and relieve suffering. While not effective for everyone, especially those with severe allergies, learn about this super compact model with several benefits when you read more.

This Wearable Pet Ionizer ($30) runs on 2 AAA batteries and helps improve the air by catching those allergens and eliminating odors and germs in the process. Plus, it fits right on your pet's collar no matter where adventures take you - no lugging or electrical outlet, required! Could you see a use for this?