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Fragrances and Asthma / Allergies
I wanted to increase awareness about the dangers of fragrances to those of us with breathing difficulties, and those who are affected by fragrances that are all around us. In my own home, I use cleaning products without fragrances and run a HEPA filter with activated carbon that absorbs chemicals from the air so my home is a safe place to breathe. We built a home with building products that didn't have formaldehyde and without carpet because it triggers my asthma. Going out in public is a problem because I'll be bombarded with all kinds of chemicals. My lungs react quickly and I've started carrying a respirator so when I'm in the car and pass something that bothers me, I can get the respirator on to try to avoid problems. I did use the respirator at a play holding it over my face with a cloth over it so no one could see what it was and it worked, and I put it away after the lights came back on. There were people right near me with heavy fragrances that would have caused an asthma attack. As I understand this, it is the chemicals that help distribute the fragrances that are the big offenders... things like phalates. While traveling this weekend, I was happy to see a sign at a rest area that the soap in the washroom was fragrance free because of allergies to fragrances. That is a step in the right direction. It's my hope that people reading this might consider not wearing personal fragrances in public. Workers in health care often do this to help their patients. I hope that sometime in the future, there is some kind of regulation in the fragrance industry. Ingredients are not disclosed and those of us who are affected can have serious reactions. This is a medical problem. I thank those people who are fragrance free in support of those who are like me.
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I use only peroxide for all cleaning. Works great and it kills 99% germs of all kinds. Absolutely NO smell/odor. Cheap too.
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3 ReactionsCertain perfumes. L’Air du temps
And strong commercial cleaning odors and Skin So Soft caused serious asthma attacks in me.
Also heat running in a room during warm weather, caused a trip to ER.
@gift440 Welcome to Connect. I understand lung reactivity. I'm sorry you have this too. Are you using any preventative asthma inhalers?
Yes thank you. I use symbicort and ventolin daily. I am allergic to a good many medications and could not take Bretzi because the one ingredient added to symbicort I had already reacted to by another name. Ventolin is the best rescue med for me plus prednisone when I have reactions.
I have also been taking dupixent shots for 2 years but recently had an adverse effect so I am not taking it now.
My reaction to cleaning smells was I a bed BathandBeyond store. It was a commercial grade overpowering odor. I left the store immediately yet had trouble breathing even on prednisone for a day and a half. It shut down my respiratory system ineffect.
I have Asthma and use Symbacort in AM & PM. Albuterol for back up. Like you, I cannot tolerate anything that permeates the air. White vinegar is great for fabric softener. I make my own "baby wipes" with peroxide/water and paper towels and fold and put in baby wipe box. (of course put in trash can) I use the same for mouth wash and BIDET spray. It is also great for cleaning drains too.
To @anna17
I too have Severe Asthma, and have dread over strong fragrances.
I wear a mask when out of my home.
Presently, my apartment manager us on a campaign to get folks to stop using these newer products in the laundry room.
I am three floors up from the vent from the laundry room, and some days, it is necessary to flee back into the apartment and shut doors and windows due to the chemicals floating up from the vent.
Thankfully the manager also has severe asthma, so understands completely. So hopefully we will see progress on using fragrance free products!
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1 ReactionI wear Shalimar perfume everyday. Spray on each wrist and dab behind ears. I have used many Guerlaine perfumes without a problem but I use it on pulse points and don’t spray in my hair or on clothing.
I wear a mask at high Covid times or high flu counts because I cannot take flu vaccine and am also allergic to any medications including aspirin. It’s a matter of caution for me. I do not often go to large gatherings where I would be seated nearby people for hours, out of an abundance of caution. But I never noticed another persons after shave or perfume nearby even when I did.