TESTS FOR DETECTING SENSITIVITY TO CHEMICALS

The Sniff Test

Sniff any product gently before buying to see if it upsets you. You can sniff fabrics, clothing or footwear as well as cosmetics and other products. If you find the smell distasteful or it gives you strong symptoms, do not buy it. If you find the smell peculiarly alluring, even addictive, this is also an indication of sensitivity.

To test a product you already have at home, remove the lid and place the container in a glass jar. Alternatively, soak a small piece of cotton lint with a chemical you want to test, and place it in a glass jar. Seal the glass jar and leave it for a few days. You get the best results if you can totally avoid the product you want to test during the period of waiting. Open the jar carefully and sniff gently. If symptoms develop, do not use the product.

The Patch Test

To do a simple patch test at home, take a tiny dab of chemical and place it on the skin behind your ear or on your forearm. Try to use an area that you have never tested on before, and which is not inflamed if you have sensitive skin. If you have nowhere left in these places, get someone to help and use the skin in the centre of your upper back, between your shoulder blades. Mark in pen beside the spot where the product has been applied, then wait for 24-48 hours. If the area has reddened and is raised or swollen, it is wise not to use the chemical.

Patch tests can give false positive results, particularly if you have very irritable or sensitive skin. False negatives sometimes result as well, so a negative result does not mean that you tolerate the chemical. Patch-testing is not foolproof, therefore, and not totally reliable. However, it can be a help and at least some indication of whether or not you are sensitive to something.

If you are just starting out and want advice on how to carry out an elimination programme, primarily to test out what does or doesn’t upset you, read on from here.

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