Contact Dermatitis to Leather & Wood

The Discovery

The discovery of a severe skin allergy is bitter sweet. That moment of discovery sounds like waves crashing and the sky thundering. Stars align and you quickly go through all the moments you missed in your head. The flare-ups that caused confusion and misery. They make sense now. And they were avoidable.

That’s the silver lining. Now I know what to avoid. But it’s not so simple. Skin allergies never are simple.

My Allergic Reaction to Leather & Wood Products (Sometimes)

As always, it stars with an itch. It progresses to little red bumps that themselves get bigger, redder and itchier. The bumps spread. It gets to the point where a large area of skin is thick, inflamed, red, and itchy to an unimaginable point. Like one big, furious welt. It’ll start oozing after a week if the skin continues to be in contact with the allergen.

The Leather & Wood Products I Can’t Touch with my Bare Skin

My skin does not flareup from all leather and wood, but a few leather and wood items in my life consistently cause flareups. I’ve discovered and confirmed this in the last half year. Because I have a serious dust mite allergy, I surround myself with mainly leather and wood - no upholstered furniture.

One of my leather couches causes contact dermatitis. And, of course, it’s my Chesterfield couch from Restoration Hardware and not my sectional from Costco! The fake leather upholstered seats from my dining set also causes problems. As does my wooden desk in my work-from-home office. My desk! And my leather desk chair. And the leather on my car seats! My beautiful camel colored leather. What a shame.

And the list will probably keep growing as I touch new things.

How I Avoid My New Contact Dermatitis Allergies

Pop quiz: how does one avoid contact dermatitis? Ya don’t touch it! It turns out that it’s that simple. I still use all these items that cause allergic skin reactions, but I use a barrier so my skin doesn’t have direct contact with the culprit. I have a towel under my laptop, so my forearms touch the desk instead of my desk. I avoid using shorts, so my pants are a barrier between my legs and dangerous seats. I cocoon myself in a washable and clean blanket on my Chesterfield couch. And I avoid short dresses, skirts and shorts when I go out to avoid sitting on furniture that could cause a reaction. And by short, I mean anything that is above my knee, because the point is for there to be no bare skin touching a seat.

Why Am I Allergic to Some Wood and Leather products?

I think I’m allergic to some (not all) wood and leather products because of my contact allergy to colophony, which is also known as rosin. It is an ingredient in many products, from makeup to topical medication, furniture … even asphalt! It is also found in lubricants, polishes, lacquers and varnishes.

How I Treat My Skin’s Allergic Reactions

I sure did learn the hard way that the best way to treat my eczema (assuming it’s caused by a skin allergy) is to LET IT BE. Most importantly, I stop exposing my skin to my allergen when it starts and before it gets terrible. If it gets out of hand and gets terrible, I ride it out. No steroids, no non-steroid topicals like Elidel or Protopic … not even moisturizer. I do wash the flared area with CLn Bodywash and use antihistamines like Claritin and Zyrtec daily, both of which I think helps.

And it works! If contact with the allergen is stopped, within one week my skin turns itself around and starts improving. Often, within two weeks, it’s healed almost completely or is at least going through the shedding process and headed towards complete healing.

I feel so liberated from not using eczema medication anymore. I now tackle the root of my eczema problem - the triggers. Though, my triggers are so widespread and ridiculous that I feel shackled by them some days. But, hey, one win at a time!

What It's Like to Live With Eczema and Skin Allergies

Published on WebMD blog.

Eczema isn’t as simple as it seems. The symptoms, severity, and flare triggers can range widely from one eczema warrior to another. I think, though, that I can confidently say eczema is a skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin.

That doesn’t sound very confident, does it? I’ve had eczema for much of my life and have talked to many doctors, but I still have many questions about it. Is eczema the condition that causes the symptoms, or are the symptoms eczema itself? Eczema equals rashes, but rashes don't always equal eczema, right? Does it stop being eczema when the symptoms become super severe, even though eczema led to that severity level?

Before you conclude that I’m completely unqualified to write about eczema, I’ll share what eczema means to me and how it’s affected my body.

What Is Eczema?

Eczema is dermatitis -- they’re interchangeable words that describe a chronic condition with inflamed, dry, itchy skin. There are different types of dermatitis conditions, like atopic, contact, nummular, stasis, and seborrheic. I’ve dealt with atopic, contact, and seborrheic dermatitis. My current struggle is contact dermatitis, which is closely related to my many skin allergies.

How Do Skin Allergies Cause Eczema?

Triggers cause eczema flare-ups and can be related to things like stress or allergens. Allergens that come into contact with your skin cause a reaction. Poison ivy is a good example. Most people are allergic to poison ivy and they react with a rash.

Different people have different allergies. I have many skin allergies, and that makes it more likely for my body to come into contact with an allergen and have a reaction (i.e. an eczema flare-up).

My Skin Allergy and Eczema Life

My lifelong eczema journey is marked by milestones and revelations related to allergens that I discover are causing reactions. Fragrance was my first allergy revelation, then dust mites, and, as of last year, colophony (which is rosin made from pine, fir, cedar, and similar trees).

It seems the older I get, the more all-encompassing my allergens become. Lately, it’s to the point where my clothes are triggering flare-ups.

Example 1: I put on a sweater that triggered hives on my arms that kept spreading, improving, then worsening for weeks with no end in sight. It’s inflamed and itchy as I write these words.


Example 2: I wore sweatpants or sat on a fabric couch and the backs of my thighs broke out in painful, burning hives.

Example 3: I wore the same cloth face mask a few times and suddenly it triggered eczema on my face, in the areas under the mask.

These real-life examples are all recent, and they’re confusing -- not all sweaters, face masks, and sweatpants trigger reactions. I assume they need to be freshly washed or they can gather dust mites, triggering a flare-up. I have many more examples: reactions from metal jewelry, cosmetic products, rugs, deodorants, soaps, etc. Skin allergies are especially difficult because of their mysterious nature.

How I’ve Dealt With My Eczema and Allergies

I’ve been very thorough with my eczema treatments and have tried most options, from over-the-counter eczema creams to oral steroids and traditional Chinese medicine (like herbal pills and acupuncture, which worked well!). I used topical steroids to the point that I went through topical steroid withdrawal -- the most severe, debilitating skin condition imaginable. I’ll never use topical steroids ever again.

My treatments have varied throughout my life and have been based on the severity of my eczema, which has ranged between mild, moderate, and severe. Nowadays, I’m trying to manage my eczema by avoiding my allergens altogether and using a nonsteroidal prescription ointment when my eczema gets out of hand. I’m considering traditional Chinese medicine again because my mild-to-moderate eczema has been on the moderate side for much of this year and I don’t seem to be doing a good enough job at avoiding my many allergens.

It’s an Itchy Life

Although everyone’s eczema journey and eczema types are different, chronic eczema fighters have many things in common: consistently dealing with itchy skin, at different severity levels, resulting from different triggers throughout our lives. It’s an itchy life, and we all have that in common. It’s good to know I’m not alone in my itchiness.

The Right Clothes and Accessories Help Me Avoid Flare-ups

Published on WebMD blog.

It may surprise people to learn that clothing and accessories can actually cause eczema flare-ups. I often get contact dermatitis, a type of rash that results from my skin coming into contact with an irritant. There are two main types of contact dermatitis:

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common and isn’t caused by an immune system reaction. Instead, the irritant directly damages skin tissue.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your immune system has a delayed reaction to an irritant that touches the skin, like how people typically react to poison ivy.

For me, contact dermatitis occurs when I use or wear a product or item that has one of my many allergens. This includes ingredients that are in makeup and body cleansing products, but also in clothes and accessories.

Dust Mites: The Invisible Allergens on Clothing and Accessories

My dust mite allergy is consistent and life altering. I do all the typical things to handle the allergy: my mattress and pillows are enclosed, my house has no carpet, there are no curtains in my bedroom, my couch is leather, etc. I take it even further, though, because I know that dust mites can be on my clothing.

When I wear a sweater that I haven’t washed recently, for example, it might give me a rash -- and after I wash it, it no longer makes me itchy. Coats, scarves, and hats that aren’t enclosed will gather dust and cause flare-ups, too. Sometimes, if I wear a new garment and don’t wash it first, it makes me itchy. I’ve concluded it’s because it was likely in a dusty warehouse.

I also use HEPA-filtered vacuums and steamers to clean my coats and hats, I wash my sweaters often, and I keep my hats and accessories enclosed. This helps minimize clothing flare-ups caused by my dust mite allergy.

Metal Allergies Limit Jewelry Options

Everyone reacts to metal jewelry differently. I have family members that can’t wear gold below 18 karats, for example. I myself get a rash when I wear copper jewelry or fake-gold jewelry (which I assume is because it probably includes copper). I can sometimes wear sterling silver, but not any gold (regardless of karat), except for my gold wedding ring. I’ve been patch tested by an allergist to determine my metal allergies. Results showed I have none, even though I’m at the point where I can really only wear plastic, non-metallic jewelry.

It doesn’t make sense, and I wish I knew exactly which metals my body rejects so I could purchase the right jewelry for me. I have tried to wear enough metal jewelry, though, to know I should avoid it. So I shop for wooden or plastic items with no metal clasps. It’s not easy, but it makes my pieces even more special once I find them.

Wearing the Best Materials

Even if you don’t have allergies that cause contact dermatitis, wearing the right clothing can improve or worsen flare-ups of atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. Loose-fitting cotton clothing that lets your skin breathe is best. On the contrary, polyester clothing will overheat you, causing sweat and irritating eczema. I’ve read that superfine wool can be good for people with eczema, but I haven’t tried that type of wool clothing. However, the wool sweaters I have tried were a terrible idea -- in general, itchy people should probably avoid wool clothing.

Cleaning Clothing

The cleaning process can turn a non-triggering clothing item into an allergen if it’s cleaned with triggering materials. Keep your skin allergies in mind when cleaning your clothes. For example, I have many allergens that are in cleaning products, including the fragrance. So I’m careful with the fabric detergent, stain cleaners, odor eliminators, fabric softener, dryer sheets, and dry-cleaning services I use to clean my clothing. In general, I use the fewest products possible.

Clothing Can Carry Allergens

An article of clothing may be fine for your skin, but if it’s been in contact with an external allergen, it may still cause a reaction. Picture this: Your partner goes on a walk wearing a sweatshirt and is amongst plants and pollen that you avoid due to allergies. If you wear this sweatshirt before it’s washed, those allergens could still be on it and could cause a reaction. It’s safe to always keep in mind where your clothing has been before putting it on your body.

The Known Unknowns

Be aware of how your body reacts to your clothing and look for patterns. Are you always itchy when you wear a certain item? Even if you don’t know why an item is causing a reaction, avoid it altogether to be safe. I recently realized that my new Teva sandals were causing my ankles to flare up where the straps touch my skin. Sandals! I would probably not have made the allergy connection 10 years ago, but now, nothing surprises me and I do my best to listen to my body. I don’t know why my Teva sandals cause a rash on my ankles, but I avoid them, nonetheless.

Pay Attention and Act Quickly

Most importantly, pay attention to your body. An eczema flare-up starts with a small itch. Have you noticed you’ve scratched a little, for just a few times, but in the same spot where a new article of clothing or accessory touches your skin? Notice any little bumps? Take it off or change your clothes before it gets worse!

The best thing you can do for your eczema is to control your flare-up when it’s in the early stage, before the area starts spreading and you are red, inflamed, and unbearably itchy. This leads to uncontrolled scratching, bleeding, and likely scarring. No article of clothing or accessory is worth an eczema flare-up!

Did my Dirty Face Mask Trigger My Flare-Up?

A few weeks ago, I started getting a little itch on the tip of my nose. I had no visible flare-up, but just a consistent little itch. (The cutest little itch!) Fast forward to a few days ago and I started getting an itch on my left cheek that then became a visibly flared-up spot within a few hours. “Oh no, not my face again,” I thought. But I stayed positive. Well, I woke up this morning to obvious eczema flare-ups throughout the bottom half of my face and on my lips. Specifically, my lips were swollen and flared at the edges (like an eczema lip liner!) and I had flare-ups throughout my cheeks.

I don’t know why, but I immediately thought this was caused by my face mask. I admit, I haven’t washed my face masks nearly as often as necessary. And maybe a few times I’ve ridiculously worn lipstick for patio date nights with my husband. Lipstick that swelled up my lips and that I probably smeared on the mask that covered my face. Yes, these are the same masks I put on again later without washing them. Not my finest moments!

I used Protopic ointment on my face this morning to get it under control. Thankfully, after an itchy morning, it started improving. I think my face will clear up within a few days - fingers crossed!

So, did my dirty face mask trigger my facial eczema? Who knows?! Maybe it did. Or maybe it was that faux fur blanket I used last week, or the pillow I laid on over the weekend knowing it didn’t have a dust-mite cover. Oh, the joys of skin allergy mysteries! Just to be safe, all of my face masks are currently in the washing machine being cleaned in hot water.

What NOT to Wear

Jewelry. I cannot wear any jewelry. Okay, I’m being dramatic. I can’t wear 90% of the jewelry available in the world. Beautiful, colorful, jewelry. Accessories that make me feel good and help my outfits look better. Woe is me.

A few months ago, I splurged and bought a custom 14K solid gold name necklace. I’m allergic to fake, copper and metal jewelry and had given up on buying trendy costume jewelry. Spoiler: it didn’t work out.

Within the first day, I got a little tingle on my neck. Then, it was more than a tingle. I knew it was the necklace, but I didn’t want to believe it. How could it be?! It was solid gold! A few times, I took the necklace off and tried again a few days later, still in denial. Last week, I stubbornly ignored my body and kept the necklace on my neck. Not a good idea.

My skin worsened until I couldn’t take it anymore. It got better (thankfully!) a few days later with the help of Protopic ointment. I felt ridiculous. I risked my skin’s health over a necklace.

But it was solid gold! Here’s the deal - I learned that 14K isn’t actually pure gold, because it is still mixed with metals. 24K is 99.9% pure gold, but it is very malleable. Maybe 18K is good enough for my skin, but I’m not sure I want to spend the money to find out.

Last weekend was my birthday and I stumbled across an all-rubber necklace at the Museum of Fine Arts. I splurged and purchased it - I have to support artists that make plastic or rubber jewelry, because it’s so hard to find!

I think sterling silver may be okay for me, but I don’t know at this point and prefer gold anyway. Who knows if I can wear 18K gold. For now, I’m going to give my skin a break and stay clear of jewelry … unless it’s made of all rubber or plastic.

Makeup and Skin Allergies

Pretty colors and fun shades. Makeup is all the rave. Hypoallergenic or not, for peeps with skin allergies, makeup is not a friend.

I have a contact allergy to fragrance and tons of plants. This means most of those "natural" products don't make a difference. I got married recently and was convinced by friends that I needed to use makeup to get good photographs. I usually only wear the one black eyeliner that won't swell up my eyes.

So I went on a mission to find all the makeup gals wear: foundation, bronzer, blush, mascara, etc. I tested so many. Ultimately, time ran out and I had to use what I deemed "safe." I thought I was okay, but got nervous after an unexpected and unrelated allergic reaction with my eyes a few days before my wedding. I freaked out and used the preventative steroid pack I had prepared for my wedding. This is not a norm for me and I do not recommend using steroid packs just in case your skin has a reaction to something! I avoid steroid packs as much as possible, but I was not going to risk having my skin go bonkers on my wedding day and honeymoon. 

I would list out all the makeup products I bought that now seem okay with my skin, but it really doesn't matter. Every immune system and body is different. If you have skin allergies, then you'll need to test products yourself.

You can save tons of money by knowing the ingredients to which you're allergic. Take a patch test with a dermatologist, if you haven't already. You can even get a list of products recommended by your dermatologist, based on your results. Even with that list, though, you'll need to experiment. I suggest trying a makeup sample before purchasing it. Go to Sephora or Nordstrom and try a product, leaving it on for the day. Don't do a full face of makeup, because it will be harder to isolate the allergen if you have a reaction. You may even have a little fun ... if you do this when you're not also planning a wedding!

Now that my wedding is over, maybe I'll start exploring colorful makeup again. I can't be allergic to all of it. Well, I could be, but we'll see ...

Dust Mite Allergy and My Freezer

I have a pretty serious dust mite allergy. Out of the gazillion food, product ingredient, animal and environmental allergies I have, I'm confident my dust mite allergy causes a reaction for me. Earlier this year, I started getting reactions to my allergy injections, which contained dust mite substances. They were local reactions, meaning the injection area got swollen, itchy and felt hot; and the reaction lasted days. I've had a dust mite allergy for years, but never knew it was that serious.

Since then, I've done the whole de-dust mite thing: new mattress, no curtains, special bedding, dust mite spray, dust mite powder on upholstery and rugs, etc. Then I noticed that my clothing made me itchy. Sweaters that I didn't wear (or wash) often would make me itchy. Fluffy scarves would do the same. "Dust mites!" I thought.

There are a few options for minimizing dust mites on clothes and blankets:

1. Wash in hot water (at least 140 F). I used a thermometer to make sure my hot water was hot enough. The problem with this is the damage hot water does to clothing - your things won't last as long and will look faded. 

2. Use a de-mite laundry additive or allergen wash laundry detergent. This sounds great and gets great reviews on Amazon, but it has tea tree oil and I'm worried I'll have a flare-up reaction because of my composite mix contact allergy (basically am allergy to lots of plants and trees). I still want to try it, though.

3. Freeze it! Both hot water and freezing temperatures kill dust mites. For example, you can put a teddy bear in the freezer to kill its dust mites. I don't have a teddy bear situation, but I do have items I don't want to wash that need to be treated. And this is why if you open my freezer at home, on the bottom shelf you'll see scarves, knit hats, sweaters, etc. I think it helps!

I just put a sweater in my freezer. I hadn't worn it in months (Houston is usually hot) and my arms became pretty itchy while I wore it. I'll take it out of the freezer in a few days and will see if it's better. I'll report back!

Genetics, Eczema and Skin Allergies

Today is my mom's birthday.  I love her to pieces. When my mom was in her early twenties, she went through serious skin issues, mainly on her face. Huge chunks of her skin would peel off and her scabs would ooze. She tells me it was horrible and she wouldn't wish it in her worst enemy - not that she has one. My mom is Mexican and when this happened to her, she went to a Mexican allergist. She found out she had tons of food allergies and begin to take allergy injections. Here's where I get confused. My doctors tell me that food allergies aren't treated by allergy injections. There is no treatment, they tell me. Well my mom was cured with whatever injections she took in Mexico. Don't get me wrong, her skin isn't perfect and new skin conditions have taken over, but the horrible eczema she had as a young adult disappeared and has never returned. (Knock on wood.)

I worry that if / when / if I have kids, he / she / they will inherit my skin issues. It's definitely possible and I would feel terrible if it happened. My mother feels very sorry about my eczema, dermatitis and skin allergies. It's not her fault. The thing is, eczema and skin allergies seem to be more and more common these days. Babies left and right have eczema. My adorable one-year-old niece has it, even though my sister has never had eczema. A part of me wonders if the family eczema gene passed onto my neice or if she's just another, albeit adorable and amazing, baby with temporary eczema. I really, really hope it's the latter.

In the meantime, my mom and I will continue to have the eczema-sufferers bond. The "I know what you're going through" bond. It's good to have her support and understanding. Happy birthday, mom.