Home Spa, Natural Ingredients and Testing for Allergies

Home spa is generally about using natural ingredients, and many people look to natural ingredients to avoid allergies and illness associated with chemicals. However, one of the biggest misconceptions a person can make is to assume a natural product will not cause an allergic reaction.

Even though an ingredient is natural, it could still provoke an allergic reaction. Obviously, if you already know you are allergic to something than you should avoid using it. However, there are many people out there in the world that are yet to discover an allergy that they have. You should always test any home spa ingredients you are using on yourself for the first time. Try the following method:

Pour a teaspoon of boiling water over ½ teaspoon portion of the dried herb you are planning to use. Mix it up into a paste and then allow it to cool.

Place the paste on the sensitive skin of your inner arm. Let it dry and leave it there for 24 hours if you can. Typical allergic reactions to look for might be an itching feeling, skin redness, signs of swelling, or just irritation.

If you do have a reaction, do not use the particular herb in future home spa applications.

Symptoms Associated with Allergic Reactions

Some people have very serious allergies that can even cause death (like peanut allergies). Symptoms associated with allergic reactions can include:

Skin rashes – such as eczema or hives

Swelling – or angioedema

Sneezing and running nose – or allergic rhinitis (hay fever)

Teary, red, itchy eyes – or allergic conjunctivitis

Asthma

Nausea and vomiting

Anaphylaxis – severe allergic reaction that can cause serious breathing difficulty. Anaphylaxis can be fatal.

Getting an Allergy Diagnosed

Specialist allergy testing really is stepping outside the realms of home spa, as most of the life threatening allergies are food related. Sometimes finding a specific allergy can be difficult and requires specialist testing. These tests can include:

Skin prick tests – where allergens are applied to the forearm or the back of the subject, and the skin gently pricked with a needle.

Allergen-specific IgE blood tests (RAST) – A blood sample is taken and the level of an immunoglobulin associated with allergic reaction (allergen-specific IgE) is measured.

Elimination diets and challenge testing – This usually takes a number of weeks and involves avoiding foods identified as common causes of food allergy. If symptoms improve, foods are added one at a time until symptoms recur. A diary is kept to record any symptoms so they can be linked to the correct food.

Patch tests – these are commonly used to investigate contact dermatitis. Common triggers include fragrances, nickel and chrome. Patches are applied to the back in adhesive strips. The area is examined after two and four days.

Getting back to the Spa

It’s always wise to test the waters before you dive in, so it makes sense to always test any spa or cosmetic applications first, too. If you are making your own spa recipes, it’s a good idea to separate the making from the enjoying. So, try to create your recipes on one day, then use them the following day. This gives you the opportunity to test your home spa recipes first and then enjoy them with no risk the following day.

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