Formaldehyde Allergy Symptoms

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in various items of daily use. It has many industrial and domestic applications including photography, cosmetics and toiletries, household cleaners, furnishings, inks, paints, disinfectants, fertilizers, automobiles, pressed wood products and polishes. It is used in fabrics to make wrinkle-free clothing, anti-shrink finishes. Formaldehyde is also commonly used as a preservative in some vaccines given to children. It is also used in water proofing, moth proofing and as a fixative for microscopy. With so many useful applications it is very difficult to replace formaldehyde with another chemical. Breathing air containing low levels of formaldehyde can cause a burning sensation in your eyes and irritation in the nasal tissues. But some individuals might be more sensitive to this chemical. In case one is allergic to formaldehyde, he/she will experience mild to severe formaldehyde allergy reaction symptoms when exposed to the same. Here are the details of such symptoms which will help you know whether you are allergic to this chemical.

What are the Symptoms of Formaldehyde Allergy?

You might be easily exposed to formaldehyde released in air by household products and inhaling the same can lead to reaction. The strong smell of formaldehyde commonly causes irritation and runny nose. You might consume it through foods or come in direct contact with it. If you are allergic to this chemical, exposure to the same will immediately trigger some reaction. Inhaling formaldehyde can commonly lead to symptoms such as a burning sensation and irritation in eyes. In some cases, irritation in throat, coughing, wheezing, tightness in throat and watery eyes are also experienced. In severe cases, exposure can also lead to breathlessness and serious illness. Pulmonary edema and pneumonitis can be caused if it injures the respiratory tract.

If you are allergic to formaldehyde and your skin comes in direct contact with a strong formaldehyde solution, or fabrics in which formaldehyde was used, you will notice a skin reaction. Redness, burning sensation, skin rash, scaling, cracking, skin discoloration and extreme irritation of skin are symptoms that you would notice in this case. It can also cause hives. Inflamed eyes, blurred vision and excess tearing are severe formaldehyde allergic reaction symptoms.

Formaldehyde is also found in dried foods, Italian cheese, fish and some food preservatives. One might experience formaldehyde allergy symptoms like severe abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, headache, migraine and diarrhea after intake of such food items.

Children can be more susceptible to the allergic effects of formaldehyde. As their immune system is still in development stage, chemicals like formaldehyde can easily trigger reactions in them. In kids, even a small amount of formaldehyde can at times lead to formaldehyde allergy reactions like dermatitis, headache, respiratory tract effects or asthma.

Larger doses of formaldehyde can lead to fever, severe pain in the digestive tract, shallow respiration, irregular pulse or lack of consciousness.

What is the Formaldehyde Allergy Treatment?

The first thing to do in case of any allergy is to avoid contact with the substance causing allergic reaction. With formaldehyde present in so many items, it might be difficult to do so. If your skin or eyes come in direct contact with formaldehyde, you must soon flush that part with cold water. If you observe the formaldehyde allergy reaction symptoms after consuming food, drink a lot of water or milk so as to dilute it and consult a physician. In case of skin reaction, topical ointments used for eczema and contact dermatitis will be prescribed by your doctor for allergy relief. You can check the list of ingredients in cosmetics before using them to avoid skin reaction.

There is no specific treatment for curing formaldehyde allergy. The primary treatment for formaldehyde allergy includes avoiding further contact with this chemical. A patch test will help confirm formaldehyde allergy. It is essential that you consult a reputed doctor after experiencing formaldehyde allergy reaction symptoms to confirm the same as ignorance can prove harmful to your health.