Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ghnWwr6iL/ During this season of award shows, the medical community won’t be left out.  One dermatology professional association, the American Contact Dermatitis Society has named sulfites the Allergen of the Year for 2024. Sulfites as a family of chemicals can be present in foods, drinks, cosmetics, and therapeutic skin creams both over-the-counter and prescription.  When sulfites touch the skin in susceptible individuals, they can induce and repeated trigger local allergic reactions that you recognize as rashes, tiny blisters, and good old fashioned red bumps that can be devilishly itchy.  This type of allergic reaction forms slowly snd usually does not lead to hives or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.  The reactions most commonly occur on the hands and then on the chest, abdomen, back, and extremities. The sulfite family includes sodium disulfite, sodium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, and potassium sulfite.  These chemicals serve as preservatives and therapeu