What you need to know about silicone allergy
What is silicone allergy?
Silicone allergy refers to the human body has an allergic reaction to silicone materials, this reaction is not common but it does exist. Silicone is a widely used in medical, industrial and other fields of material, under normal circumstances, qualified silicone products are harmless to the human body, will not cause allergic reactions. However, when the silicone may contain some substances that are easy to cause allergies, or the silicone itself remains harmful substances due to unqualified production, it is possible to become an allergen and cause allergic reactions of users.
Why can cause silicone allergy?
The main cause of silicone allergy is related to the allergic reaction of the human body to the silicone material.
- Contact with silicone products: such as the use of medical masks made of silicone, silicone nose augmentation, etc., the silicone components of these products may cause allergic reactions.
- Silicone product quality problems: Unqualified silicone products may contain chemicals that are harmful to the human body, and these substances may also cause allergic reactions.
- Individual differences: Different human bodies have different tolerance to silicone, and some people may be sensitive to certain components of silicone materials, which can cause allergic reactions.
What are the manifestations of silicone allergy?
Which areas are involved in silicone allergy?
Daily necessities: Silicone is also widely used in daily life, such as silicone tableware, silicone mobile phone cases, etc. Some people may experience symptoms such as skin redness, swelling and itching after using these products, which indicates that they have an allergic reaction to silicone.
Industrial production: In industrial production, silica gel as a highly active adsorption material, its production process if the addition of some easy to cause allergy substances, or silica gel itself due to the production of unqualified and residual harmful substances, it may also become an allergen, especially in the presence of high temperature or high pressure conditions.
Medical field: Silicone, because of its good biocompatibility, is often used in various products in the medical field, such as prosthetics, breast implants, and insulation materials for cardiac pacemakers. However, substandard silicone products may cause allergic reactions, especially in the field of medical plastic surgery, the use of substandard silicone fillers for plastic surgery may lead to serious problems such as rejection, inflammation and other problems in patients.
What are the diagnostic methods of silicone allergy?
- Skin test: Add a solution containing silica gel to the skin, and then gently prick the surface of the skin to observe whether the skin has an allergic reaction. This method can produce results quickly (usually within 15-20 minutes).
- Serum test: A blood sample is used to detect the presence of specific IgE antibodies against silicone. This method is suitable for situations where skin testing is not possible.
- Observe the symptoms: Pay attention to the symptoms of allergic reactions after contact with silicone products, such as skin redness, itching, rash, swelling, etc. If these symptoms occur after the use of silicone products, it may be a sign of allergy.
How to treat silicone allergy?
General treatment: Stay away from the silicone environment immediately, keep your skin clean and hygienic, and change clean clothes; Diet should choose light, easy to digest food, drink more water to help the body speed up metabolism; If the silicone is implanted in the body, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and have the silicone material removed by a professional doctor.
Drug treatment: Use calamine lotion to relieve skin itching; Topical corticosteroid creams, such as hydrocortisone cream or compound dexamethasone acetate cream; Oral antihistamines, such as cetirizine hydrochloride tablets or loratadine tablets, to reduce allergy symptoms; If a severe allergic reaction occurs, such as edema or difficulty breathing, prompt medical attention should be sought and an injection of epinephrine may be required.
How to prevent silicone allergy?
Conclusion
To determine whether you are allergic to silicone, you can judge the test by the above recommended aspects, allergy testing should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor to ensure safe and accurate results. If you are allergic to silicone, it is very important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for prevention and treatment. At the same time, by following these prevention tips, you can effectively reduce the risk of silicone allergy and act quickly if an allergic reaction occurs.
