#Bee pollen benefits myth skin#

Some breeds produce less dander than others, but they may still cause allergic reactions.

It is not possible to eradicate all dander and breed a completely allergen-free pet.

#Bee pollen benefits myth skin#

Dander is skin cells that have been shed. Pet allergens come from different parts of the animal and commonly it's pet dander that causes reactions. Sadly, there is no such thing as an allergen-free or hypoallergenic cat or dog. There is no regulation of hypoallergenic claims so they are a matter of trust and good faith between producers and consumers. Products labelled 'dermatologically tested' are tested on the skin of volunteers who do not have allergies rather than on people who do. This may sound as though they contain no allergens, but hypoallergenic actually refers to materials that are relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, relative to other things that may be known to do so. Some products claim to be hypoallergenic.

Myth 8: Hypoallergenic means allergen-free Sulphite allergies do exist but are very rare the majority of people who think they are allergic to sulphites are probably experiencing a non-immune reaction (known as an irritant reaction, maybe caused by dilated capillaries) that cause sneezing, flushing and wheezing. Sulphites are commonly blamed for perceived allergies to wine. Allergies are almost always triggered by proteins therefore it is rare to have a food allergy to substances that aren't proteins.Įxception to the rule: Sulphites, also known as E-numbers E220-229, have been used as preservatives in some foods and drinks since Roman times. The only recorded allergies to E-numbers are to those made from naturally occurring substances, which contain proteins. Some of them are essential vitamins, for example E300 is vitamin C and E101 is vitamin B2. Myth 2: Artificial e-numbers and preservatives cause allergiesĮ-numbers are food additives, both natural and synthetic, and are deemed safe by the European Food Standards Authority. For example, one component of cow's milk intolerance is now recognised as a non-IgE allergy. People with allergies to foods usually react to small amounts of the food, reactions occur quickly and can be life-threatening.Įxception to the rule: In the future we may discover some intolerances do involve the immune system, in which case they will be reclassified as allergies. Those with intolerances can usually eat small amounts of the foods to which they are intolerant. Self-diagnosis is common, including both people who don't have an allergy and think they do, and people who have an allergic reaction but blame the wrong cause.Ī study on the Isle of Wight found 34% of parents reported food allergies in their children but only 5% were found to have an allergy. Food intolerances are not allergies because they do not involve the immune system. To bring some clarity to the situation UK charity Sense About Science and Making Sense of Allergies reveals everything you need to know about this often tricky and confusing health condition: Myth 1: A food intolerance is an allergyįood intolerances and some difficult-to-diagnose conditions are easy to confuse with allergies, as they may have similar symptoms. Given that there are 100 million allergy-related searches a year on Google alone, outdated information, distorted reporting of studies, 'lifestyle guru' advice and alternative therapy suggestions could be getting in the way of clear, medical-based advice that could help you manage an allergy and avoid time-wasting.

Not only are allergies on the rise, misinformation about allergic reactions are, too.