Are You Wearing Too Much Perfume or Cologne?

There has been much talk about the dangers of second hand cigarette smoke of late. Smoking has been banned in most public places including bars in some cities.

Few would argue that the right of the smoker to smoke overrides the right of the bystander to breathe clean air. Smokers themselves seem to understand and have, for the most part, taken it outside or to another designated area.

Equally Dangerous

But there is another lesser known habit that endangers perhaps 33% of Americans. This isn't as obvious as cigarette smoke but it can be equally dangerous, causing bystanders to suffer immediate symptoms including dizziness, headache and difficulty breathing.

The offending habit? That of wearing too much perfume, cologne or other body scents.

When we hear of women in historical times using toxins like lead in their regular beauty routine, we shake our heads at their ignorance. But are we doing the same thing to ourselves in the 21st century?

According to the New Women's College Hospital, one perfume can contain as many as 500 different chemicals and some of these chemicals have links to birth defects, cancers, and central nervous system disorders. Other commonly used chemicals are known to be respiratory irritants.

One Woman's Experience

Marcia is a fifty-something grandmother who suffers from chemical, sometimes called environmental, sensitivities. She experiences reactions severe enough to send her to the hospital for emergency treatment.

"They have told me that I could die from these reactions. I have a shot that I can give myself in the event of an extreme reaction if I'm not near a hospital," she said.

Doctors haven't been able to pin down everything that triggers her reactions. This mean she must live by trial and error from day to day, watching herself for any early signs that a reaction is about to hit.

"Sometimes it's my eyes swelling or itching that warns me of an impending reaction; sometimes, it's my hands. I can sometimes take an antihistamine and stop the reaction before it gets too severe. If I start having trouble breathing, I head for the emergency room," she said.

"I've had reactions at my office, at home, and while out shopping. Sometimes, just being in a room with someone who is wearing heavy perfume, hairspray or cologne can set me off."

Many believe that chemical sensitivities are the result of years of exposure to chemicals that we encounter every day in cleansing products, air fresheners, and scented body products. Some sufferers cannot even leave home because of the risks.

Lighten Up

Less is more. Lighten up on the body scents and you might spare someone (possibly yourself) a painful experience.

Those who suffer from chemical sensitivities will thank you for it.