Ah....the sweet, smell of perfume! Today's market is flooded
with hundreds and hundreds of different fragrances ranging from
floral to woodsy. Most women love the smell of perfume, wearing
it even when going to the grocery store. The problem is that
perfume allergy for some women, is anything but nice.
Keep in mind that a perfume allergy is not limited to the woman
who wears it. For some people, men and women, just being around
someone wearing perfume can have a devastating effect. Even
regular household cleansers, air fresheners, fabric softener,
scented candles, potpourri, hair spray, and shampoo can produce
the same reaction. Although the smell of perfume might trigger a
headache or rash, the more severe problem is a full-blown asthma
attack.
Having a perfume allergy is not something new. Unfortunately,
many people are affected by the smell of perfume, especially
when in a confined space. For instance, individuals working in
an office environment might not have a choice but to be around
someone wearing perfume. In this case, the only real solution is
to request those individuals to stop wearing perfume to work
(some may) or to ask if your desk can be seated in a different
area. The problem is that not all companies are accommodating,
meaning a new job must be found.
The good news is that because a perfume allergy can produce such
a serious reaction as asthma or an anaphylactic shock, you will
find a number of products now on the market that are fragrance
free. Many of these items are found in organic stores although
traditional grocery stores are now trying to cater to all
customers. Because you cannot control who does and does not wear
perfume, you have to take steps to protect yourself if you have
a perfume allergy. This might include letting a job interview
know, wearing a mask, or perhaps taking medication.
If you notice that you have symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose,
wheezing, or coughing when wearing perfume or being around other
people that do then chances are you are having a reaction.
Interestingly, many people have a perfume allergy but blame it
on other things, never even considering that fragrance could be
the problem. Sometimes, even doctors miss a perfume allergy
simply because they are more accustomed to treating seasonal
allergies, pet allergies, and other forms of allergy.
In addition, remember that while you might be allergic to some
perfumes, it is possible that not all fragrances will create a
reaction. The reason is that performs are made up of varying
chemicals so while one chemical may trigger a reaction, other
chemicals might not. Therefore, it is important that you pay
attention to your surroundings, taking note if you can pinpoint
these symptoms specific to fragrance.
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