So, truly interested in the answer: how do you protect yourself from airborne allergies if you are that sensitive? I am allergic to aromatic benzene as found in chemistry labs, but I don't run into that problem out in the community, and worked only with a negative pressure fume hood in college. Do you have a "no fragrances" sign in your work space? Is there a mask that is effective against fragrance allergies? Do you have easy access to an EPI pen? We had a co-worker that worked in the administrative offices of our facility and she was fragrance sensitive. Her co-workers agreed to have a fragrance free area around her work space, and new hires were informed about that space, but she still had to be out in public to carry out routine tasks for everyday life.... I am not aware that she ever had an allergic reaction that required emergent medical attention. Fragrances are added to so many things - even breath mints - they are a part of global culture. I'm wondering how people are able to cope in public spaces? Just wondering, p From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carlton, Chris [VA] Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 12:15 PM To: 'optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: [optimal] Re: Allergies and Sensitivities On a similar note. How many of you still tell your patients if they are allergic to shellfish they are also allergic to iodine? The RN's I work with still use this and refuse to do ICG on patients with shellfish allergies. Chris Carlton VCH/UBC Eye care Center ________________________________ From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of CPMC Ophthalmic Diagnostic Center Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 10:51 AM To: 'optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: [optimal] Allergies and Sensitivities My fellow collegues Let us use caution with our terminology. A case of anaphylactic shock, or even a simple case or urticaria (hives) attributed to a perfumed substance IN THE AIR has not been documented in the literature. The term "allergy" is casually used in our descriptive world. Now, do not confuse this assertion with perfumes in general. Contact dermatitis could definitely produce a severe reaction in a sensitized individual if they placed the substance on their skin. People get easily confused between a sensitive nose and an allergic sensitivity. Pollen in the air is also a CONTACT allergy with a substance in the air. Least we confuse our terminology. True allergies are actual histamine reactions involving mast cells. Denice Barsness, CRA, COMT, ROUB, CDOS, FOPS Ophthalmic Diagnostic Center CPMC Department of Ophthalmology 2100 Webster Street Suite 212 San Francisco CA 94115 (415) 600-3937 FAX (415) 600-6563