Allergic to Everything?
"My goodness! You're allergic to everything!"
I've heard that before! And it certainly seems that way for people who suffer from MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. But are MCS sufferers really "allergic to everything", or are they allergic to several things that are IN nearly everything? Take me, for instance...
When severe balance problems and seizures were making my life difficult, I went to see an allergy specialist to see if there were things that were triggering some of my "attacks". Besides several household allergens, 4 chemical groups turned up as antagonists, that is, 4 of 24 that were tested. "Not bad," I thought. It shouldn't be all that difficult to stay away from four things, right?
But I was told that many of these chemical groups include chemicals that go by several different names, and besides that, many cross-react with chemicals of a similar make-up. Take a look at some of the places where my "four" groups may be found:
1) Fragrance chemicals, found in toiletries and skin care products, colognes, aftershaves, soaps, moisturizers, lotions, gels, mousses, shampoos, sunscreens, scented household products, including room fresheners, scented candles, waxes, detergents, polishes, solvents, deodorizers, insect repellants, cleaning fluids, foods, toothpastes, cosmetics, including foundations, powders, self-tanners, makeup removers, concealers, creams, highlighters, eye shadows, eyeliners, lipsticks, quick-dry nail products, nail enamel removers, dental materials, topical medicaments, medical pastes, medical gels, personal hygiene products, including tissue, toilet paper, and tampons
2) Carba chemicals, found in almost all rubber products, including shoes, shoe insoles, swimwear, toys, gloves, condoms, diaghrams, elastic, tires, caulking, electrical cords, plugs, gas masks, safety goggles, conveyor belts, shock absorbers, earphones, stethoscopes, rubber bands, erasers, dental dams, rubber sheeting, balloons, garden hoses, mattresses, slippers, antislip carpet backing, agricultural products such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and slimicides, also in soaps, shampoos, disinfectants, and some adhesives
3) p-Phenylenediamine, a coal tar dye found in permanent hair dyes, dark-colored cosmetics, dark-colored clothing, black rubber, photocopying ink, printing inks, oils, greases, gasoline, photograghic developer
4) Balsam of Peru, often used in fragrances and flavorings, such as those found in medicinal creams and ointments, baby powders and ointments, cosmetics, soft drinks, pastries, cakes, wines, liquors, chocolate, baked goods, ice cream, candy, chewing gum, toothpastes, medicated cough lozenges, dental cements, hemorrhoidal suppositories, rectal ointment, tincture of benzoin, foot lotion, wound spray, liniments, lip medications, sunscreens, suntan lotions, insect repellants, hair conditioners, shampoos
It is easy to see why some people may be extremely sensitive to a few chemicals, and yet it seems like they are allergic to "everything". Often people find that the chemical groups they have problem with are all of one origin, such as all petroleum products, coal tar dyes, and so on. Exposure to these products may be small, even minute, but in a person whose body has set up a defense against such things, such exposure can bring about immediate and serious reactions.
© Dorothy Herrmann 2002
