1.
You feel as if the world is out to get you. When
you first got your patch test results, you might have thought “no biggie. I’ll
just read some labels and get rid of anything that has ingredients ending in
isothiazolinone.” But no. It doesn’t stop there. Half your products don’t list
the ingredients. Others only list vague terms, such as “preservative” and
“fragrance.” And the number of products that contain isothiazolinone in one of
its various forms is mind-boggling. This poison is everywhere; you trust
nothing.
2.
You’ve become an expert ingredient reader. You
can pick an isothiazolinone out of an ingredient list in three seconds
flat—even the ones where they try to trick you by splitting up the name between
two different lines. Take that methylchloroisoth-
iazolinone!
3.
You actually know how to pronounce
methylchloroisothiazolinone. People look at you funny when you say it without
stumbling.
4.
You’re suspicious of anything labeled “free
& clear,” “hypo-allergenic,” “natural,” “green,” or “organic,” because you
know that these terms are used all willy-nilly and are no guarantee that the
product doesn’t contain harmful ingredients. You feel sad for the people who proudly use these allegedly “environmentally safe” and “healthy”
brands. Little do they know…
5.
You can no longer shop at Walmart. Trying to
find soap that you can use at any mainstream store usually results in a mental
breakdown. You pick up a product, read the ingredients and find yourself
struggling to resist hurling the bottle to the floor. And to top it off,
getting anywhere near the air freshener aisle makes you ooze for weeks! Speaking
of ooze…
6.
The camera roll on your phone contains hundreds
of rash pictures. You know, just in case your dermatologist wants to see the
day-to-day progression of your latest flare. (Trust me… they probably don’t).
7.
You’re not sure you fully trust your dermatologist.
They don’t seem particularly read up on MI/MCI issues or even contact
dermatitis in general. Didn’t they go to school for this? Why are they still
handing out samples containing common allergens to eczema patients? One day you
hope to find a derm who really gets it. You’ve heard they’re out there, but like
the ever elusive four-leafed clover, you’ve yet to find one.
8.
You’re afraid to try new things or go new places.
New products have burned you (quite literally) in the past. They’ve hidden MI
in the fragrance. Or just “forgot” to put it on the ingredients list. You’ve
found that few companies will give you a straight answer when you ask them to
disclose what’s in their product. Becoming a hermit seems to be the safest bet
for staying rash free. New environments make you break out.
9. You’ve become that weirdo… the one that carries around their own hand soap. You refuse
to pet your neighbor’s dog. You recoil in fear when someone tries to shake your
hand. The smell of fresh paint makes you flee in terror. You’d rather pee in a
bush than risk it in a bathroom that smells like air freshener. This allergy
has unintentionally turned you into a hippie. You now rub yourself in hemp oil,
talk about your organic soap nut laundry detergent and preach the dangers of
the cosmetic industry to anyone who’ll listen—and anyone who won’t too.
10. Television
commercials make you roll your eyes and shout obscenities at the T.V. “No!
Don’t wash your laundry in that! What
are you doing? You shouldn’t put that lotion on a baby. Don’t spray that air freshener. People are going to need a HAZMAT
suit to enter the house!” You can’t believe
the lies they’re able to tell the unassuming public.
11. Traveling
can be a nightmare. Airplane recirculation vents, toxic rental car cleaners, freshly
cleaned hotel rooms and bedding washed in mystery detergent, crowded subway
cars, Ubers with a forest full of those little air freshener trees—these things
make for potentially itchy vacations. Good thing seeing the world is worth a
little pain and inconvenience.
12. You’ve
been called crazy. You’ve been told that it is all in your head. Nobody
believes that someone could be allergic to such a tiny amount of chemical
that’s in so many products. People act like you’re making it all up just to
inconvenience them. But you’re not. Allergic contact dermatitis is a real condition and you are really suffering from it. Nobody would
question someone’s peanut allergy; why don’t they believe you?
13. You’ve
stopped telling people about your condition. You are sick of hearing people
say, “Oh, if you just try such-and-such your eczema will magically disappear.”
You’ve tried it all. It didn’t work. Allergies don’t work like that and you
don’t want any more unsolicited advice. Sure, you probably should stop eating sugar and processed foods. And yeah, probiotics
are a good thing to take for optimal gut health. You’re glad that the lotion
your sister’s dog walker swears by works for him, but it contains one of your
allergens and therefore is not an option… Why do people always think that they
can cure you?
14. Despite
knowing that there is no cure other than avoidance, you’ll try just about any
snake oil to get rid of the itch. Bleach baths? Check. Apple Cider Vinegar?
Check. Hemp oil? Check. Fermented cod liver oil and turmeric? Check and check.
Does anyone know where one can get actual
snake oil? You’ve heard it does wonders!
15. You
would never wish this allergy on anyone. And that’s why you’ve become an
advocate against MI and all of its biocidal cousins (MCI, BIT, OIT, etc). You
know that it’s a strong sensitizer and as long as companies are still putting
it in products, no one if safe from developing a contact allergy to it. And
being allergic sucks.
16. Some
days you are overwhelmed. You sometimes struggle to stay positive. But you
refuse to let a single preservative ruin you life. You carry on, armed with
your own hand soap and a new wealth of knowledge. You know that one day you will
get this all under control. You know that you are not alone.
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