Isobel trained as a nurse and worked until 1988 when she became a mum. She undertook various voluntary jobs until six years ago, and is now a retired mother of two, and grandmother of four. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, pickleball and padel. She also enjoys reading, music, holidays in Europe and the UK, taking French classes and being involved with her local church. This is her story of living with MI allergy.
I’ve had eczema all my life.
My very first patch test was about 25 years ago. I was told I was allergic to fragrance mix, Balsam of Peru, rubber latex, parabens, and potassium dichromate (chromium), among others.
I’ve had several patch tests over the years, but my last one was 12 years ago, when I tested strongly positive to methylisothiazolinone.
The patch test reaction took over 10 months to heal — very unusual, but not undocumented.
I think my exposure was through the morning deep clean of my mother’s hospital ward. I visited many hours later in the evening but there were enough residual particles in the atmosphere for my whole face to go red, swell, weep and blister within a very short time.
The first time it happened, I used topical steroids on my face, but went to my GP because there was no improvement at all after two days. He prescribed eye drops and antibiotics for one week as the skin was infected. He also advised oral steroids but I didn’t want to take them.
After the second time, about a week later, which made me realise that the deep clean seemed to be the common factor, I agreed to take oral steroids as well as antibiotics and eye drops for one week again which seemed to clear it up.
However, after two weeks I was having repeated problems to various things to which I am allergic but not usually so severely. I saw my GP again who referred me urgently to the consultant dermatologist.
When I saw him, feeling a bit disappointed because I thought my skin was looking a lot better, he said it was severely inflamed and still infected and that I needed a longer course of steroids and antibiotics to clear it up properly because my skin was never completely healing, although it looked like it was. As a result, I was reacting to other allergens much more than I would normally because the skin was still damaged.
That was another two weeks of steroids and antibiotics.
When the course finished, I was patch tested, and that was three months after my initial reaction.
By the time I had the results of the patch test the hospital unit had closed so I had no way of checking whether MI was actually in the deep cleaning products but it just seemed too much of a coincidence.
I also had a reaction after my husband used No More Nails to fix two small lengths of picture rail at home. When I looked at the ingredients it contained methylisothiazolinone.
Now, if I sense I am having an issue in an indoor environment — when I experience face itching, mouth tingling — I leave immediately.
At home I use perfume free, preservative free natural products wherever possible — Ecover Zero and Dri Pak among others. I only use Biofa Paint from GreenSteps as it’s the only coloured paint I have found without any MI.
When I stay away from home I use only my own personal care products, bedding and towels. I take a single duvet cover to use as a sleeping bag, a high thread count cotton pillowcase, my own flannel and towels — the quick dry sports towels take up less room. I take my own hand dishwashing liquid, dishwasher tablets and laundry wash. I carry my own hand soap in my handbag so never wash my hands with anything else when I’m out. I email ahead asking for no room scents or flowers to be in the room/property.
For personal products I use Pure Nuff Stuff, Weleda, MooGoo, and Beauty Without Cruelty. I’m allergic to PPD and henna but can use TDS so colour my hair with Inoa. I always take my own hair products to the hairdresser as well as my own towel. Also, I am spot-tested on the wrist five days before having my hair coloured every single time — in fact, they won’t colour my hair without it.
I will also politely extricate myself from situations that I can feel are going to be a problem. Recently I partnered a lady at Pickleball on an indoor court who told me she loves her cleaning products. Her clothes had an overwhelming smell of perfumed product (so probably MI too). My face and throat started to feel irritated almost immediately so I had to say something. She took it very well and we swapped partners.
I no longer feel embarrassed if I have to politely explain my predicament particularly as a number of friends and acquaintances have seen me on my bad days so understand the impact of dealing with this allergy.
Isobel’s Top Tips
* Be mindful that ingredients can change. I’ve noticed this when the packaging changes but doesn’t necessarily state ‘new formula’.
* Look for few-ingredient products, and always spot test products first. It’s much easier to try to work out which ingredient might be the problem if you have a reaction.
* I was given this advice by a dermatologist: wash your hair under a hand-held shower over the bath so as not to have products on your body which are formulated for scalp and hair.