Allergies and Perfume

Perfume is a major ingredient in many products – from shampoo to air fresheners – but an increasing number of people are becoming allergic to what they put onto their bodies and into the air.

Why The Problem Now?
It’s official that sensitivity to perfume is on the increase and it’s hardly surprising given our artificially fragrant world today. In an average day most of us will have about a dozen encounters with perfumed products. Bubbles in a bath, shampoo, sun lotion, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, body lotion, air fresheners, you name it.

What Is The Problem With Scents?
Some of the chemicals used in these products have long been suspected to be carcinogenic, some are actually designated hazardous waste, some cause breathing disorders and others depress the central nervous system. When the US Environmental Protection Agency recently looked at samples of fragranced products, it analysed the 20 most commonly used chemicals and the list does not make for comfortable reading.

According to the EPA, there are chemicals used which are designated as hazardous waste (acetone, ethyl acetate, methylene choride); chemicals that are carcinogenic (limonene, benzyl acetate, methylene chloride) and chemicals that can cause central nervous system disorders (acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, terpineol). Some of these chemicals can also damage the immune system.

Toluene is a carcinogen, a designated hazardous waste chemical and is known to cause neurological disorders AND was found in every fragrance tested by the EPA. Toluene is also been shown to induce asthma attacks.

Chemicals that are present in many fragranced products can also cause a range of symptoms such as headaches, migraines, sinus and other conditions.

More Research:
In Europe, research into the connection between perfume and allergic content eczema found that in Denmark one to two percent of the population are affected as a result of perfume.

Asthma And Perfume
Asthma has long been associated with exposure to perfume. The incidence of asthma worldwide has risen 31 percent in the last decade: a figure that perhaps mirrors our increasing exposure to artificial fragrances in the environment. Chemical cocktail:
Current legislation allows the word “parfum” to contain a list of up to 500 chemicals. The cause of many health problems is just this cocktail formula. The nose is a chemical receptor and when we inhale a perfume we give the chemicals a direct route to our brain, as the barrier that helps protect the brain from substances in the bloodstream does not protect it from inhaled substances. The other route is through our skin. Chemicals that penetrate the skin can be stored in fatty tissue.

What Can We Do About It?
It’s not just cosmetics, but cleaning products and air fresheners that are fragranced. The widespread use of scented products makes it difficult for individuals with fragrance sensitivity to avoid. There are ways though of limiting exposure and still enjoying good fragrances. Essential oils are pure and harmless, even good for you. Burn them in your house and look for natural products where possible, rather than artificial. Try to avoid harsh (but sweet smelling) cleaning substances in your home. If your allergy is severe treatment may help.


Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation (EPD): How can it help?
This is a new medical service now available in Hong Kong. The technique for treating immediate and delayed allergies has been developed by Dr Len McEwen in the UK over the last 30 years. It is effective for people who suffer from allergies to inhaled substances and also for food allergies. There is a large trial going on in the USA into EPD and it may start replacing conventional allergy shots in that country.

How Does EPD Work?
During an EPD treatment very small amounts of antigen (molecules that cause allergy) are injected into the skin along with an enzyme (beta glucuronidase) that causes desensitisation to take place. EPD shots are given at two monthly intervals and they differ from conventional allergy shots because the doses given are small. There have been no reports of severe allergy to EPD in the 30 years it has been used. Preparation is necessary as the physician trained in this area of medicine will first take a detailed history and also correct nutritional deficiencies (see article on Functional Medicine).

To find out more about EPD contact us.