What does hypoallergenic mean?
Hypoallergenic means that the ingredients used to make the product do not cause an allergic reaction in the persons tested.
Food. In order to test if something is hypoallergenic, you have to test the elements against a subject. All elements are hypoallergenic if you aren’t allergic to the proteins in the element. Let’s take the example of peanut butter. If you aren’t allergic to peanuts or salt, all brands of peanut butter are hypoallergenic. If you are allergic to the proteins in peanuts, there is no brand of peanut butter that is hypoallergenic.
Dust mite covers: Hypoallergenic dust mite covers are the one that have a high score bareer against the D. Farinae, the main dust mite causing the most of the allergies. If you get a score above 90% with a good breathability, then you get a great protection. They must be approved by Allergists as well as not all dust mites covers are effective. You can find great dust mites covers here.
Cleaning Products. In the case of hypoallergenic laundry detergent, the term doesn’t mean that it removes allergens. It means that the common ingredients that cause allergic reactions (fragrance and dye) have been removed. However, most allergic reactions to detergent are caused by the enzymes used to break down soil. If the detergent has no dye or fragrance and still has enzymes it can cause allergic reactions. It is not hypoallergenic to those sensitive to enzymes and will not remove allergens from your laundry.
The hypoallergenic vacuum cleaner is the most egregious use of the term. Rarely do the materials used to manufacture a vacuum cleaner cause an allergic reaction. But, the use of the term tricks you into thinking that the vacuum cleaner does more than it really can. Unless you are allergic to the plastics and metals used to make vacuum cleaners, all machines are hypoallergenic. That doesn’t mean they do a good job at removing fine particles. The best allergy vacuums are sealed-canister units that use self-sealing bags and HEPA filters.
Pets. The question about dogs is based on the misconception that dogs that don’t shed don’t create allergens. The protein that causes allergic reactions to dogs comes from the saliva and urine of the animal. That protein gets spread to the skin and fur of the dog. So, an animal that sheds less spreads less allergen but the animal still produces the allergy-causing protein. If someone tells you a cat or dog is hypoallergenic they are not telling you the truth. If the animal creates urine or saliva it produces the allergy-causing protein.
Know Your Ingredients and Read Labels
So, if certain laundry detergents, cleaning products, or personal care products cause you to have allergic reactions you must understand what is causing the reaction. In the case of cleaning products, it is generally enzymes, dyes, and fragrances. Some “green” products are soy-based, so they should be avoided if you are highly sensitive to soy.
Personal care items not only have dyes and fragrances to make them look and smell good, they can also have masking fragrances used to conceal the odor of other ingredients. They also include formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. These can cause allergic reactions as well as other health hazards.
Learn to read the labels. Whether it is a bottle of shampoo or deodorant or a bottle of all-purpose spray cleaner, read the label. Even if the label says hypoallergenic on the front, read the label on the back for enzymes, fragrances, masking fragrances, dyes, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers (such as quertinum-15). If you have food allergies, read the labels of all packaged, prepared, and precooked foods. If someone tells you a product is considered “hypoallergenic” ask them why. A good laundry detergent to get rid of dust mites in your clothes is the Demite product available here.
Know more about allergies
The more you know about the term hypoallergenic and how it is misused, the smarter you will be with your purchases. Protech Allergies believes that an informed consumer is the best consumer. That’s why we share as much information as possible. If you’ve got questions about allergy control products, we’ve got answers. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1 (833) 776 2553 or contact us at info@protechallergies.com. Have a great day!