Formaldehyde allergy

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What is formaldehyde and where is it found?

Formaldehyde is a chemical that is widely used in many products in our environment. It would be difficult to list all the possible sources of formaldehyde; The following table shows some of the most common sources of formaldehyde exposure.

Sources of formaldehyde

Fabrics treated with formaldehyde resins and in which some free formaldehyde remains. Formaldehyde resins provide the unique qualities of the following fabrics:
- Permanent ironing
- Non-stick, anti-static, anti-wrinkle and anti-shrink finishes
- Chlorine resistant finishes.
- Stiffness in light nylon fabrics
- Waterproof finishes
- Sweat-proof finishes
- Moth and mildew proof finishes
- Suede and suede
Cosmetics and toiletries, such as nail polishes and hardeners, antiperspirants, makeup, bubble bath, bath oils, shampoos, creams, mouthwashes and deodorants. In many cases, formaldehyde is used as a preservative.
Household cleaners, disinfectants and rinse aids
Paper products: formaldehyde is used to improve water resistance, grease resistance, shrinkage resistance and other characteristics of paper
Building Materials: Urea-formaldehyde glue or adhesive is used on pressed wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and MDF
Medications including wart remedies, anhydrotics, medicated creams, orthopedic plaster and disinfectant for root canal preparation
Paints, primers and mold release agents.
Embalming fluid and as a preservative for laboratory samples.
Formaldehyde is released in smoke from burning wood, coal, charcoal, cigarettes, natural gas and kerosene.

What are the reactions to formaldehyde?

Reactions to formaldehyde depend on the type of exposure that has occurred. Formaldehyde is not only a sensitizer but also a potent primary irritating. Exposure to formaldehyde gas can cause burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, rashes, chest tightness and wheezing, fatigue and headaches. These symptoms may be the result of a primary irritant effect or an allergy. sensitization to formaldehyde

Frequent or prolonged exposure may cause hypersensitivity, leading to the development of allergic contact dermatitis. Formaldehyde was declared contact Allergens of the year 2015 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS).

Allergy Formaldehyde can occur through skin products that contain formaldehyde or with clothing made from fabrics that contain formaldehyde. Dermatitis caused by clothing tends to affect the parts of the body where there is the most friction between the skin and the fabric, for example, “trouser dermatitis” usually appears on the inner thighs. gluteus folds and back of the knees. Sweating can also be a factor that causes allergic dermatitis such as sweat or tallow appears to leach free formaldehyde from formaldehyde resins. Formaldehyde-sensitive people are not necessarily hypersensitive to formaldehyde resins. Clothing dermatitis is reported to affect women more than men.

In very sensitive people, contact with small amounts of formaldehyde, or being in a room where a bottle of formaldehyde may have been previously opened, leaving residual gases, can cause dermatitis.

Patch tests

Am I allergic to formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde allergy is diagnosed based on clinical history and by performing patch tests

Formalin patch test (40% solution of gaseous formaldehyde) is carried out using an aqueous solution of formalin at 2%. Some researchers have stated that the 75% of positive patch tests have no clinical significance and only the 20% of these may be related to real cases of formaldehyde dermatitis.

The diagnosis of clothing dermatitis due to free formaldehyde can only be confirmed if the following standard criteria are met. In some cases, clothing dermatitis may not be a problem, even if the suspected fabric tests positive for free formaldehyde and an individual has a positive patch test reaction to formalin 2%.

Dermatitis in formaldehyde clothing: criteria to meet

Suspicious fabric shows presence of free formaldehyde
Patient shows a positive patch test reaction to formalin 2%
Fabric impregnated with formaldehyde resin shows a positive reaction in the patch test: the tested piece of fabric must have been worn and subjected to sweat, sebum and friction
Wearing the fabric causes clinical allergic contact dermatitis.

Product patch testing for formaldehyde resins is performed using 10% of urea formaldehyde in Vaseline, 10% of melamine formaldehyde in Vaseline, and 1% of other formaldehyde resins in Vaseline or isopropyl alcohol.

A product self-test for formaldehyde should be performed only with products designed to remain on the skin, such as cosmetics and lotions. Apply a small amount of the product to a small sensitive area of skin, such as the crook of your arm or neck. Examine the area every day for several days and if no reaction occurs, the product is likely suitable for use.

Treatment of contact dermatitis due to exposure to formaldehyde

If you are diagnosed with a formaldehyde allergy, if possible, avoid exposure to products containing formaldehyde; otherwise, take steps to reduce potential exposure.

Once dermatitis appears on the skin, treatment is like any other. acute dermatitis/eczemathat is to say current corticosteroids emollients, treatment of any secondary bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureus), etc.

What should I do to avoid formaldehyde allergy?

It is difficult to avoid all exposure to formaldehyde because it is normally present at low levels (usually <0.03 ppm) tanto en aire interior como exterior. Para la mayoría de las personas, la exposición a bajo nivel (hasta 0.1 ppm) no causa ningún problema. Los métodos para evitar o minimizar la exposición se describen en la tabla a continuación.

Methods to avoid or minimize exposure to high levels of formaldehyde

Wear clothing made of 100% cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, or acrylic; These fabrics generally contain less formaldehyde and are generally well tolerated by sensitive people
- Avoid all clothing made with fabrics that have been treated with formaldehyde (see above)
In general, machine wash all new clothing and bedding in hot soapy water several times before use.
Buy furniture made from pressed wood products only if the surfaces and edges are laminated or coated
Occupational exposure can be reduced by identifying potential sources of exposure (material safety data sheets should be available to employees) and taking precautions to minimize exposure by wearing appropriate protective clothing.
To reduce the formaldehyde content in the air, increase ventilation by opening doors and windows and installing exhaust fans in closed areas
Read product labels and avoid not only formaldehyde itself, but also preservatives that release formaldehyde. Some of these are known by the following names:
- Quaternium-15
- 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol
- imidazolidinyl urea
- diazolidinyl urea

Alternative names for formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is also known by several other names. These include:

Formalin
Metanal
methyl aldehyde
methylene oxide
morbicidal acid
Oxymethylene

Avoid all this. At work, request a material safety data sheet to help identify potential sources of exposure.

More information

Formula: CH₂0 0

CAS number: 50-00-0

Cross reactions: possibly glutaraldehyde

Appearance: clear, colorless liquid

Sensitizer formaldehyde free, formaldehyde resins

Patch test:

2% aqueous solution of formalin (40% solution of formaldehyde gas)

10% Urea Formaldehyde in Vaseline

10% Melamine Formaldehyde in Vaseline

1% of other formaldehyde resins in petroleum jelly or isopropyl alcohol.

Sources of exposure to formaldehyde
Anhydrotics and antiperspirants. Building materials: pressed wood products such as particle board, plywood and MDF canned ice cellulose esters Clothing made from fabrics finished with formaldehyde resins. Coatings: melamine, urea, sulfonamide, phenolic resins Cosmetics and toiletries. Disinfectants and cleaning agents.	Embalming fluid and fixatives Fabrics and textiles Cola, pasta Medicines Preventing mold on fruits and vegetables Paints and primers. Paper products Phenolic resins and urea plastics found in buttons, footwear and jewelry.	photographic plates Enamels Preservatives Printing / engraving materials Rubber cement Smoke tanning agents Toxoids and vaccines.