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Perfume allergy is a condition in which the person is more sensitive to substances that give characteristic smells, such as lyral, responsible for the smell of flowers such as lilies, for example.
This sensitivity causes irritation in the mucosa in the nose and causes an inflammatory process that can cause respiratory symptoms, such as runny nose and sneezing, but if the person comes in direct contact with the perfume containing the allergenic substance, skin symptoms such as itchy skin and skin may appear. around the eyes, in addition to headache.
Allergy to perfume can be prevented by means of some measures, such as removing allergens and treating with antiallergic remedies, which relieve symptoms and which should be indicated by the allergist or general practitioner.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms that perfume allergy can present are:
- Coryza;
- Sneezing;
- Swollen and watery eyes;
- Itchy nose;
- Skin irritation;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Wheezing in the chest;
- Headache;
- Dizziness;
- Cough.
If these symptoms are present frequently, it is advisable to see a general practitioner or an allergist so that the allergy to perfumes is diagnosed or ruled out, and treatment begins when there is confirmation.
People who have a respiratory condition such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or some other type of allergy are the ones most likely to develop perfume allergy, so these people should be careful with strong smelling products.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of perfume allergy is confirmed by the general practitioner or allergist, and is made by observing the symptoms presented at the time of the crisis and by the person's report of how the previous crises were, in cases of mild and moderate allergy.
However, in severe cases, specific exams, such as allergy skin testing, for example, are needed to identify the most allergenic substance and thus indicate the appropriate treatment. Check out how the skin allergy test is done.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for perfume allergy, be it mild, moderate or severe, can be done with the removal of products that do not have neutral perfume, even the use of mild perfume products is not recommended. Since there is no cure, the treatment of perfume allergy lasts a lifetime.
However, in cases where the allergy causes many symptoms, the general practitioner or allergist may also recommend the use of antiallergic agents, to control the intensity of the symptoms during the allergy crisis. See which antiallergens can be used.
What to do to prevent the allergy crisis
To avoid perfume allergy it is recommended that the person suspend the use of any product, be it personal hygiene, cleaning and even cosmetics, which have a mild or intense smell. It is recommended to use only products with a neutral smell.
Other important recommendations for preventing crises are:
- Avoid products that contain very allergenic substances such as comolyral, geraniol, cinnamal, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, coumarin, eugenol, farnesol, HICC (synthetic), hydroxycitonelal, isoeugenol, limonene, linalool;
- Maintain air circulation in the environment, with open windows or a fan;
- Use products that have the specification of neutral perfume, in the packaging;
- Avoid public and closed environments, such as food courts or cinemas.
If these measures do not prevent allergy attacks, it is recommended to return to the general practitioner or allergist, so that the case can be evaluated again, and a new treatment is indicated.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE & HEALTH. International prevalence of fragrance sensitivity. 2019. Available at:. Accessed on 27 Aug 2020
- AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY. Fragrance Contact Allergy. 2003. Available at:. Accessed on 27 Aug 2020