Fragrance has been chosen by The American Contact Dermatitis Society as ‘Allergen of the year 2007’ .

 

A perfume may contain hundreds of different chemicals, including fragrances, some of which mat be complex substances. More than 2,800 fragrance ingredients are known and at least 1000 of these are known allergen.

 Recently, the European Union (EU) designated 26 fragrance allergens as requiring labeling on cosmetic and detergent products.

 

Many people are sensitive to fragrances (ie, have positive patch-test reactions), but not all of these individuals have clinical allergies to fragrances (allergic contact dermatitis, ACD). An allergy itself is a disease whereas a positive patch-test result is an allergic reaction. Thus a person may be sensitive (e.g. as shown by patch testing) to fragrance, but not necessarily develop clinical allergy (e.g. ACD).

 

When dermatologists advise their patients to avoid all products containing  fragrances on the basis of a very weak positive (e.g. irritant) fragrance mixed patch-test reaction, the patients are deprieved of one of life's pleasures.

 Of cource patients with very strong product fragrance reactions should be urged to use caution when selecting scented products.

 

Much mystery still surrounds fragrances and perfumes. Therefore many people seek "natural" scents, which may, however, give rise to troublesome allergies.

 

Reference: Frances J. Storrs. Allergen of the year. Dermatitis: 2007;18(1):3-7.

 

Accessed 20th of September 2007 at medscape.com

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