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WHAT MAY CAUSE YOUR ALLERGY?

Plants

Sensitivity to plants can cause cross-reaction to other plants, foods or chemicals. The cause is thought to be closely related chemicals that occur naturally within them. Some of the principal plants and plant products known to cause cross-reaction in people with dermatitis are:

Turpentine

This is a natural resin derived from pines, but it can also be produced synthetically. In cases of dermatitis, it is known to cross-react with Balsam of Peru (see below), benzoin (found in tinctures, creams and many home medicines), and the chrysanthemum family (see below). It may cross-react with orange and lemon peel. Turpentine is widely used in cosmetics, polishes, varnishes, paint thinners and anything pine-scented.

Chrysanthemum and pyrethrum

Chrysanthemum and pyrethrum (often used as an insecticide in organic gardening) are members of the Chrysanthemum genus and are thought to cause dermatitis by cross-reaction. They may also cross-react with turpentine (see above) and with arnica and camomile, both members of the same biological family.

Cashew nut and mango

These are members of the same family as poison ivy, which is probably the single largest cause of dermatitis in the United States. They can cross-react with each other, and with other members of their family, including the Japanese lacquer-tree (used to produce furniture lacquer) and the marking nut tree of India (producing black marking ink for laundry). Cashew oil is used in producing some phenol formalde hyde resins for clothing, in printers’ ink and in varnishes.

Tree Pollens

Some tree pollens cross-react with certain nuts and fruits. You may get a reaction when you eat these foods if you are allergic to the relevant pollens.

Allergy to beech pollen can make you cross-react to hazelnuts. Allergy to walnut pollen can make you cross-react to walnuts. Allergy to birch pollen can cause cross-reaction to hazelnuts, to apples, and to peaches, cherries, pears and carrots.

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