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With the thousands of different fragrances found in household products used on a daily basis, and over 30,000 designer scents available on the market, it is not surprising that allergy to perfume is a common health concern. Many workplaces across Canada and the Unites States have encouraged employees to refrain from wearing perfumes because they can trigger allergies and other health issues. Fragrances and allergies is also of concern to magazine publishers, and many will now distribute subscribers’ copies without the perfumed inserts inside them so as not to cause reactions to those who suffer from allergies and scent sensitivity. Most people are not affected, but for those members of the population for which fragrances and allergies go in hand, it is a subject of concern.
Perfume enters the body through the nose by inhalation, through the mouth by ingestion, and through the skin by absorption. As a result, fragrance chemicals can affect the lungs, nose, eyes, skin, and brain. Asthma attacks are often triggered by fragrances, as are other breathing issues such as coughing and sneezing. Studies show that inhaling fragrances can cause circulatory changes and electrical activity in the brain. This can cause reactions such as migraines, dizziness, and fatigue. Perfumes can also cause skin reactions such as hives, eczema, dermatitis, and rashes. For those who have issues with perfume and allergies, simply switching perfumes can solve the problem. Each perfume has a different chemical formula, and it is possible that the allergies triggered by one perfume may not be triggered by another. If trying different scents does not alleviate the symptoms, avoiding fragrance altogether may be necessary. |
