Skin allergies in Aussie kids most often caused by fragrances

The most common substances causing allergic skin reactions among Aussie kids are fragrance mixes, according to an Australian study. The researchers looked at how common skin allergies were, and found that around four in ten Aussie kids tested for suspected dermatitis at skin clinics turned out to have some form of skin allergy. The most common substances they were allergic to were fragrance mixes, followed by other cosmetic and soap ingredients - including some found in 'slime'. Allergies to nickel sulphate, found in items such as jewellery, toys and zippers, were also common and occurred more often in girls than boys. The researchers suggest the data should be used to create the first Australian Paediatric Baseline Series - a list of 50 common allergens to guide future testing.