Information and opinions on health from Fred Little at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/109789/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/109789/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/109789/index http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/124249/month-antibiotic Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:12:08 -0500 Fred Little Cuts and scrapes are very common. Some antibiotic creams or ointments can cause an allergic contact dermatitis, such as Neosporin or Bacitracin. It is important to be aware of this an allergic skin reaction can be confused for a cut that is getting infected!   For more information on the allergen of the month feature, take a look at the overview, and check out the previous post on sulfa-containing medications. http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/124249/month-antibiotic http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/119796/month-detergents Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:20:48 -0400 Fred Little Certain individuals can have so-called irritant contact dermatitis from soaps, detergents, and cleaning products. These reactions are similar to allergic contact dermatitis but the skin does not have an allergic reaction but rather is directly irritated, leading to loss of normal barrier skin function and painful rash. These reactions can be slightly less itchy that allergic dermatitis. A common situation is a new rash that comes up after... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/119796/month-detergents http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/117127/poison-relatives Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:28:43 -0400 Fred Little In susceptible individuals, poison ivy causes allergic contact dermatitis. While contact may be apparent and avoidable in many cases, it may not be so when clearing brush at the end of the season, and can cause breathing problems if an allergic person inhales smoke from burning brush with poison ivy. Interestingly, the compound that causes the reaction, urushiol, is also found in poison oak and sumac. What few people know if that it is also in... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/117127/poison-relatives http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/113654/allergen-nickel Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:48:00 -0400 Fred Little Nickel is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis has a different allergic mechanism from that which causes severe, immediate allergic reactions (like bee stings or peanuts). Reactions typically occur 24-48 hours after exposure as an itchy rash in the area exposed. Nickel isn’t only in 5 cent coins – it is a common component of most store-bought jewelry, belt buckles, and pant fasteners, among others. This... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/113654/allergen-nickel http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/110415/allergens-month Mon, 10 May 2010 17:26:00 -0400 Fred Little Soy productsSoy is an excellent source of protein and is used in many prepared foods as a protein supplement or as a lower cost alternative to meat protein. Check the ingredients for ‘soy protein isolate’, ‘isolated soy protein’, ‘textured soy flour’, or other similar ingredients in frozen meat patties, some baked goods, and canned soups and stews.Unwanted household ‘guests’Common cryptic causes of... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/110415/allergens-month http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/107797/contamination Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:37:52 -0400 Fred Little <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan;... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/107797/contamination http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/105180/flavorings-soups Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:48:00 -0500 Fred Little Certain tasty slowly simmered dishes may not be as safe as they seem. This can be particularly problematic with ethnic cuisine. For example, a ‘fish stew’ may have broth that is flavored with shellfish, which could be catastrophic to an individual with shrimp or crab allergy. There was a tragic case in the late 1980s of a young woman with peanut allergy who went out for a graduation dinner at a chili restaurant. Soon after starting... http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/109789/105180/flavorings-soups