08-07-2013, 08:52 AM
So much of the stuff out there for sale, ostensibly to put in and on our bodies, is way beyond unhealthy.
A few years back, my brother developed an awful rash, starting on his calves and spreading northward. At first he thought it was an alkali burn from pouring concrete. He saw a dermatologist who was mystified, but prescribed the standard cortisone cream, which of course only treats the symptoms.
Long and short of it... after a couple conversations, we figured out that he had indeed changed a skin care product. It was an allergic reaction to a new deodorant! Last thing you'd think when the symptoms show up on the legs, no?
Since then, every time I hear the phrase "allergic contact dermatitis" along with "my dermatologist can't figure out what's causing it", that person gets the same quiz: what have you changed lately in your personal care regimen? Thus far, I'm batting 1000.
Just knowing what's in so many of these products is enough to turn me off of them. Detergent residue on my clothes and mainstream bath soap make my skin crawl, and the "fragrances" in the market's cleaning product aisle make me choke.
Maybe each individual manufacturer and each individual product isn't trying to poison us... but put together a few dozen of them and it adds up to a whole lot of ick.
A few years back, my brother developed an awful rash, starting on his calves and spreading northward. At first he thought it was an alkali burn from pouring concrete. He saw a dermatologist who was mystified, but prescribed the standard cortisone cream, which of course only treats the symptoms.
Long and short of it... after a couple conversations, we figured out that he had indeed changed a skin care product. It was an allergic reaction to a new deodorant! Last thing you'd think when the symptoms show up on the legs, no?
Since then, every time I hear the phrase "allergic contact dermatitis" along with "my dermatologist can't figure out what's causing it", that person gets the same quiz: what have you changed lately in your personal care regimen? Thus far, I'm batting 1000.
Just knowing what's in so many of these products is enough to turn me off of them. Detergent residue on my clothes and mainstream bath soap make my skin crawl, and the "fragrances" in the market's cleaning product aisle make me choke.
Maybe each individual manufacturer and each individual product isn't trying to poison us... but put together a few dozen of them and it adds up to a whole lot of ick.