Would you contact GP?

[sofiaaaaaa]

Last month I had a dermatology appointment and found out I was allergic to a few chemicals. The dermatologist discharged me back to my GP.

As the weeks have passed, I find myself with more questions than answers and Google isn’t really providing clarification. For example I’m definitely allergic to one form of an ingredient, but unsure if I’m allergic to other forms of the ingredient. I wasn’t given the list of what I was tested for, only what I reacted to, so unsure what is “safe”.

However I’m not sure if my GP would be able to assist with the allergy questions as they’re not a specialist. Should I contact them or the hospital directly? Would the hospital even entertain my questions now that I’ve been seen and discharged? What would you do?

Your hospital has discharged younback to your GP so not sure why you wouldn't see your GP? Did the consultant issue a letter/report?

Ps I would contact the hospital to ask for a copy of the tests done and ask for your GP to be copied.

They said the letter would take months to process due to delays

I don’t believe my GP would have a record of my allergies just yet actually

The Consultant's secretary would probably be your best bet.

Allergy UK forums can be helpful when you are getting to grips with it, and keeping a good trigger diary. I'm sure GP would help you interpret the info but probably no better than you could by having the info and sleuthing. Ring the allergy department if you think it will put you at risk.

Thanks. So for example I have a contact allergy to limonene/hydroperoxides but unsure if I also have an allergy to citric acid or not. Some companies use a blanket term to reference limonene such as fragrance/parfum but unsure if citric acid is the same.

I know I’m allergic to a few fragrances but unsure if it’s safe for me to use other fragrances. Eg citronellol comes up a lot, would be great to know whether I was tested for it

When you say safe, how severe is your reaction?

I have had contact testing for skin allergies.

They only tell you the substances to which they consider you to have reacted sufficiently to indicate allergy.

Limonene is a fragrance, but it is unrelated to citric acid. From the fragrance allergy perspective, citric acid should not cause you any problems. I don't know anything about hydroperoxides.

Did you react to Balsam of Peru/myroxylon pereirae? IIRC, the allergist told me that it was a general fragrance allergy flag: if you react to it (I did) you are more likely to develop further fragrance allergies. So, although there are only two fragrances and several non-fragrance chemicals I am officially allergic to, I avoid all products with any fragrances. You soon learn to recognise the names!

The allergist said that I might be able to wear perfume again once my skin had healed. It would be a matter of trail and error to work out whether a perfume was safe for me.

IME GPs really know nothing about this allergy. I can only speak for my own experience living with this allergy, but I'll try and answer any other questions you have.

@Dilbertian thank you so much for the detailed information, you’re amazing! Definitely alleviated my concerns about citric acid! Feel a bit silly now haha

I know I was tested for limonene & linalool as those are my main allergies. There were several question mark reactions which seemed to settle down later. Definitely need to ask for the full list.

It’s weird, I’m okay with proper perfume and can tolerate low % of my allergies.

@ScrapThatThen reactions range from mild-severe. The patch test reactions were mild. As I’m also allergic to the hydroperoxide of limonene/linalool, older products that have a chance to oxidise are a problem. Also the concentration of the ingredients and whether my skin was already sensitised is a factor. Essentially it’s a bit random whether I get a reaction or not, and how severe.

@Palavah I didn’t think my GP would be best placed to advise as they struggled to treat my initial contact dermatitis so immediately referred to dermatology without treatment. Any related issues I had in the year until being seen, my GP couldn’t advise and said to wait until hospital appointment

I started clearing fragrances out of my life immediately after I was diagnosed. Obviously it took time, every single garment and towel was impregnated with fragrance, household cleaning chemical residues everywhere, even the car was contaminated.

After that it took several months before I noticed a sustained improvement in the condition of my skin, and about 1 year before it was really healed. Oh my the transformation!

Now I find that I can tolerate some exposure to my allergens, and cleaning and moisturising my skin after exposure usually prevents any lasting damage. But if my skin is irritated for any reason, especially anything drying, then I am far more sensitive. Different areas of my body react differently. Any reaction takes longer than apparent to heal: the skin may appear normal, but it is more sensitised and physically more fragile for several months.

Pain in the bum.

I was asking about severity to see if you can approach it safely from the trial and error route .

Hi, I have also been diagnosed with allergies to Linalool and limonene, struggling to find products to use, if anyone can post products they have used it would be a great help. What a nightmare. Thanks