Common Causes and Sources of Skin Allergy
These are the most potent causes of skin allergy and their most likely sources. In some cases, not all items in each category contain the allergen. For example, not all jewelry contains nickel, and not all medications contains benzocaine. Check all items you use routinely to determine possible causes of skin reactions.
| Plant, Compound or Chemical | Common Sources |
| MOST COMMON CONTACT ALLERGENS | |
| Rhus family | Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac |
| Paraphenylenediamine (may cross react with benzocaine, procaine, para-amino benzoic acid [PABA] and certain dyes in foods, drugs and cosmetics) | Dyes in clothing, shoes and textiles (especially black, blue and brown); hair dyes; fur dyes |
| Nickel and nickel compounds | Jewelry, coins, keys, buckles, clasps, zippers, door handles, knitting needles, thimbles, hydrogenated fats (as a catalyst), detergents used outside the U.S. |
| Rubber and rubber compounds | Rubber gloves, rubber bands, adhesive tape and bandages, elasticized underwear |
| Ethylenediamine | Preservative in topical ointments; aminophylline and theophylline suppositories |
| OTHER COMMON CONTACT ALLERGENS | |
| Alcohol* | Rubbing alcohol, cosmetics, medicinal preparations |
| Antibacterial agents | Soaps |
| Azo dyes (such as FD&C Yellow No. 5) | Foods, drugs, cosmetics, ballpoint pens |
| Benzocaine (ethyl aminobenzoate) | Cosmetics, medications, salves, suppositories |
| Carbonless copy paper | Office forms |
| Carbowax | Cosmetics |
| Cinnamon oil (cinnamic aldehyde and other cinnamates) | Flavoring in toothpaste, mouthwash, candy, soft drinks, ice cream, baked goods, condiments, meats, chewing gum, flavored vermouth and bitters; aroma in perfumes, household deodorizers, air fresheners and sunscreens |
| Copper | Coins, metal alloys, insecticides, fungicides (anti-mold agents) |
| DDT | Insecticide |
| Formaldehyde (sometimes known as formalin) | Clothing (cotton or blends labeled durable-press, wash and wear, wrinkle resistant, drip dry, no iron or permanent press), spun rayon, rayon acetate blends, polyester blends, flameproof sleepwear and clothing, shrink proof woolens; cosmetics, deodorants, insecticides, paper towels |
| Fragrances (balsam of Peru, wood tars, benzyl salicylate, phenylacetaldehyde) | Perfumes, soaps, detergents, scented toiled paper |
| Henna | Hair dye |
| Iodine compounds | Tincture of iodine, loprep |
| Jasmine | Perfumes and fragrances |
| Lanolin (wool flat, wool grease, wool wax) | Soaps, lip gloss |
| Linseed oil | Paints, varnishes, furniture polishes, putty |
| Mercury | Topical ointments, disinfectants, insecticides |
| Musk ambrette | Men's colognes and after-shave lotions |
| Newspaper print | Newspaper |
| Orris root | Fragrance in cosmetics |
| Parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben) | Preservatives in most drugs and cosmetics |
| Para-led dyes | Colored sections of newspapers and magazines |
| Potassium dichromate | Yellow paints, leather (tanned), matches, some bleaches, anti-rust compounds, varnishes, spackling compounds and glues, ink chrome plating, welding, linoleum, cement, caulking compound |
| Potassium iodine | Table salt, photography (emulsions) |
| Procaine (Novocaine) | Local and spinal anesthesia |
| Propylene glycol and butylene glycol | Face mask, hand cleansers, moisturizing creams |
| Pyrethrum (related to ragweed) | Insecticide |
| Ragweed oil | Ragweed stem, leaf and pollen |
| Resorcin | Cosmetics, hair tonics, leather (tanned) |
| Rosin (made from turpentine) | Brown soap, adhesive tape, furniture polish, varnishes, glue, floor wax |
| Sodium hypochlorite | Bleach, cleansers |
| Turpentine | Paint remover, polishes, cosmetics, insecticides, varnishes, liniment |
Source: Alexander A. Fisher, Contact Dermatitis (Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1978)
* Some people allergic to contact with alcohol may also experience overall redness when drinking alcoholic beverages.