Walking into a cramped office and suddenly being hit by a wave of perfume is not always the most pleasant environment for someone sensitive to fragrance. For someone with allergies, a hypersensitivity to fragrance affects not just his working environment but his entire life; allergic reactions can occur from anything that contains scent, including deodorants, soaps, detergents, shampoos, and lotions. It is important to know the symptoms of scent allergy so that it can be treated accordingly by an allergist.
Atopic Contact Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a hypersensitivity to a specific allergen. It can occur within minutes and can also appear after using a product for a long time with no prior adverse reaction. Contact dermatitis can occur anywhere on the skin, including wherever perfume or scented products are applied, or even anywhere that comes into contact with clothing washed in a detergent. The cause of an allergic reaction can usually be determined by the location of the rash; a rash found in the armpit region is usually caused by a deodorant product. Contact dermatitis appears as a patch of darkened or reddened skin that in more severe cases may include small itchy welts that may break or ooze a clear liquid when scratched. Since contact dermatitis is an immune system response, it cannot be spread.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is a condition caused by inhaling allergen molecules, which usually worsens with increased exposure. Symptoms are characterized by sneezing, coughing caused by postnasal drip, clogged ears that pop, sore throat, headaches ranging from mild to migraine, dark circles, itchy and watery eyes, and in more severe cases, swelling of the eyelids.
Asthma
Asthma can be triggered or worsened by exposure to fragrance. Symptoms of asthma include bouts of coughing, wheezing, or an audible whistling sound upon exhaling, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, or a feeling of constriction. These symptoms can progress into a life-threatening asthma attack if symptoms are not treated properly. Asthma symptoms can also appear at the beginning of a deadly allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. Wheezing, shortness of breath, facial swelling, urticaria, or severe itching all over the body, tightness in throat, and asthma are all symptoms that can happen during anaphylaxis; this reaction must be treated immediately or can be deadly. Although such a severe reaction is rare, there have been documented cases of scent causing this reaction.
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