Sensitivity To Blue Inks? Is This A Thing?

[lgbpinho]

I have a certain sensitivity to some cosmetics with the blue color. Using a blue toothpaste, for example, gets my face all red and somewhat flaky. Few weeks ago I got a bottle of Diamine Sargasso Blue and I noticed the same symptoms! I write for long times, several pages, 10 to 15 pages, twice per week (well, it looks a lot to me!). I'll go to the dermatologist this week. But may I ask in advance: has any of you had a similar experience? If it is really a sensitivity to some component that would be a little sad, since I like this ink pretty much, even though it bleeds a lot in my cheap papers! Good thing I like black better.

Edited August 29, 2015 by lgbpinho

[jmccarty3]

Sorry to hear you are having this problem (I'm a dermatologist). It's possible to do patch testing to a wide variety of chemicals, so it may be possible to determine what is causing your reaction. It might also be useful to perform what we call use tests, which would involve applying dilute solutions of different blue inks in your case, to try to find one that does not cause a reaction. This must be quite rare--I have never seen a patient who was allergic to ink in 35 years of practice. You may have to be seen in an academic center for testing like this to be performed. Best of luck to you!

[Brianm_14]

The remarks below are merely from a chemist's perspective. You really should consult a dermatologist!

 

There are certain common components (mostly dyes) specifically used in many products with a blue color or hue. Methylene blue (and related compounds) is just one example. Thus you certainly could have cross-reactivity to quite different products based on some common component, or some aspect of a component molecule.

 

(I know cross-reactivity is seen in sensitivity to seemly unrelated medications. It is not exactly a parallel instance to your ink issue, but some people who are hypersensitive to sulfa drugs, e.g., can't tolerate Celebrex either. It is all in how the body "sees" the molecules and parts of molecules involved.)

 

Note that the ingredients responsible for your untoward reaction might well be present in other colors of inks, including green, purple, and perhaps even black. Who knows? So be careful. Beware, too, that some different brands of ink come from the same factory.

 

You might try contacting a couple of ink manufacturers. They may have experienced similar workplace hypersensitivities. Just tell them you are looking for blue inks less likely to cause a reaction, and state which inks have been troublesome so far. They should be able to suggest which inks do not incorporate the dyes found in their blue inks.

 

Patch testing certainly sounds like a helpful possibility, along with the other points so kindly made by the physician above. Please take the doctor's advice!

 

It is a shame this has to be a problem with a such a useful and common color of ink.

 

Sorry to hear of your trouble, and good luck!

[dcwaites]

Some dyes used in foods (and toothpaste qualifies here) can also be used in inks. It may very well be that you are sensitive to the blue colouring in the toothpaste, and that same dye is used in the Sargasso Blue.

The food colouring should be listed on the toothpaste packet, and a letter to Diamine in the UK could confirm if the same dye is in that ink.

But yes, see your dermatologist first.

 

Once you know what Diamine inks have that dye, it may be possible to blend a replacement for Sargasso Blue from others of their blue inks that don't have that dye.

[lgbpinho]

So, I consulted with a dermatologist that works in the same place as I do. That was before the post, 28th this month. He suggested and I stopped using the ink for a few days. The redness was gone until today. I wrote with the blue ink during the morning, for an hour and half or so, and now my face is red hehe. I teach Statistics and thus I'm very inclined to get a larger sample by doing the experiment over and over again before jumping to conclusions, but my co-worked convinced me not to . I'll see the dermatologist next thrusday.

 

Thank you for your answers

[dcwaites]

So, I consulted with a dermatologist that works in the same place as I do. That was before the post, 28th this month. He suggested and I stopped using the ink for a few days. The redness was gone until today. I wrote with the blue ink during the morning, for an hour and half or so, and now my face is red hehe. I teach Statistics and thus I'm very inclined to get a larger sample by doing the experiment over and over again before jumping to conclusions, but my co-worked convinced me not to . I'll see the dermatologist next thrusday.

 

Thank you for your answers

 

I was tempted to do the same when I developed a sensitivity to certain high-strength anti-inflammatory drugs. Sensitivity to the audience precludes me from describing the results....

I did just what you did, one confirming exposure and then off to the doctor where we explored alternatives. In my case I started walking with an elbow crutch. It gave me the same relief as the drugs without the side effects.

 

 

 

PS, there are times when a Sample size of One is good enough...

[jmccarty3]

 

 

PS, there are times when a Sample size of One is good enough...

 

That is absolutely correct, especially when the sample is You. The "evidence-based medicine" people can scoff, but people are not genetically identical lab rats, and there is more than enough variation in response to any intervention to confound the issues. This is why, after 35 years in medical practice, I take all medical studies with a big grain of NaCl.

[dcwaites]

Just to correct. I feel that sample size must fairly represent the population being samples. And we should take guidance from that. However there are times (eg the case above, Prostate testing, etc), when the population is You.