Don't Let Allergies Stop You From Enjoying Candles!

Dear Brownstoneshopper,

I absolutely love scented candles! But, since I've been using them, I've been getting mild asthma attacks, teary eyes and a runny nose. Is it possible that I'm allergic to candles? I'm torn now between enjoying my candles and my health! Is there anything that I can do short of giving up scented candles altogether? Would appreciate your help.

- Joanne, Chicago

Hi Joanne!

Thanks for your email. We really appreciate questions and feedback from people who love candles as much as we do! Now, on to your concern about being possible allergic to candles.

Joanne, before anything else, let me tell you that your health is really the top priority and consulting your doctor is the first step. Your physician can confirm whether you are indeed allergic to candles or refer you to an expert who can make an informed diagnosis. Your doctor/s can also prescribe you the appropriate recommendations and correct medicines to manage your symptoms.

If you are allergic to candles, though, you are one of around 40 - 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies of some type or another. We can be allergic to so many things: food, drugs, fragrance, dust, certain chemicals, insect stings and, even, latex, with allergic reactions taking on many different forms. I am not a doctor (so you'll need to verify this with one) but your symptoms seem to point to hay fever and allergy-triggered asthma. These are quite common.

Allergies are triggered by substances known as allergens. Normally, these substances are harmless. Allergens are naturally present in the environment. Dust, pollen, and components in grain, eggs and chicken are some of the most common. Manufactured goods can contain allergens as well. Through inhalation or ingestion, allergens make their way into your body, activating chemicals called histamines, leukotrienes and interleukins. These chemicals are what cause allergy symptoms such as asthma, sneezing, hayfever, skin rash and the like. One of the worst allergic reactions are systemic responses called anaphylaxis. "Systemic" means that an allergen can affect multiple organs at once. Anaphylaxis can cause difficulty in breathing, rapid heart rate, coma and even death.

Allergies are often genetic. Do your parents, siblings, grandparents or other close relatives exhibit allergies too? If so, then allergies definitely run in the family. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in allergies caused by environmental factors such as pollution, exposure to infectious diseases during childhood, allergen levels in food or products and even changes in diet.

In your case, what you are allergic to may not be candles themselves but one component in them such as fragrance, wax or the wick. Do you think you may have an allergic reaction to scented candles? While the National Candle Association makes sure that candle manufacturing standards are upheld, once you are hypersensitive to a substance then you will really have an allergic reaction to it.

Research shows that candles produce certain byproducts when burned. Paraffin wax candles, which are the most common types of candles, can emit soot and smoke when you burn them. Poorly maintained candles - where the wick is over one quarter inch long and/or sitting in a draft - are also culprits of increased soot and smoke. Since paraffin is a petroleum-based product, research has indicated that certain toxic chemicals are released into the air from burning paraffin candles. This soot, smoke and chemicals make their way to air vents and often stick to walls and ceilings, exposing you to them long after your candles have been extinguished. There is, however, what is called fully refined or food-grade paraffin wax, also known as Japanese wax. The FDA has approved this wax as safe, nontoxic and edible. It is used to coat a lot of food products such as candy, fruits, and wax paper. However, there are not enough studies out there focusing on this type of paraffin, especially when used for candles and particularly focusing on allergic reactions to it. One thing though, while edible, fully refined paraffin passes out of the body undigested.

Then again, there is also the wick, which may contain lead. Even if wicks containing lead have been banned from the U.S. for decades, industry studies have revealed that these types of wicks still make their way into the country.

Unfortunately, another common hypersensitivity is allergy to fragrance. A lot of common household items, as well as your favorite perfume, can trigger an allergic reaction. Again, your doctor can fully determine whether this is what is causing your allergies. Most fragrance allergies, however, are triggered by certain synthetic fragrances and a number of natural-based ones.

Now, Joanne, before you panic and stop buying candles altogether, there are a lot of things you can do to continue to enjoy them, even with allergies!

Of course, medication and management is the very first thing. You can also try the following suggestions.

1. Read labels and find out the ingredients that go into your favorite candles. Do they contain common allergens? If so, look for alternatives. If candles you buy are not labeled properly, it will be better to switch to those that are.

2. We recommend looking into palm wax candles. Palm wax not only makes candles which burn better, longer and with a richer fragrance, studies have also shown that palm wax is less likely to trigger allergies compared to those made of paraffin wax. Soy wax and beeswax candles are also marketed as safe for allergy sufferers but there are some concerns about these types. First, soy is a known allergen. Moreover, there is the emergence of genetically modified soybeans, the effects of which are not yet known. In addition, soy bean plantations have encroached on virgin rainforests, destroying biodiversity.

On the other hand, beeswax candles are excellent alternatives and burning them has been known to release positive ions in the air, supposedly improving air quality. However, there have been an increasing number of cases of the collapse of bee colonies and the disappearance of bees. The theory is that these are caused by environmental degradation as well. If you are concerned about environmental issues then, a natural palm wax candle maybe an option for you. Did you know that palm trees (where palm oil to make palm wax comes from) are farmed in an environmentally friendly manner and can coexist with the natural vegetation?

3. Research points out that those who suffer from fragrance allergies are not as likely to have reactions to natural essential oils. A lot of candles these days are made with these oils so you'll have a wide variety to choose from. You just need to make sure that the candles you buy contain 100% essential oils and have little synthetic fragrances. Moreover, essential oils are used in the art of aromatherapy so you get added benefits them!

4. Try candles with single note fragrances. Single note fragrances are less likely to cause allergic reactions that complicated ones.

5. Unscented candles are also another option. Try an unscented palm wax candle. These are available on the market today and can still give you the same enjoyment albeit without the scent.

6. Finally, shorten your burning times to avoid the build-up of candle emissions in the air inside your home.

Joanne, we hope these tips have answered some of your questions. Like we always say, it is still best to consult your doctor but we can assure you that there are a myriad of options you can look into so you can still enjoy your favorite candles minus the allergies!

REFERENCES:

1. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Allergy Statistics." http://www.aaaai.org/media/statistics/allergy-statistics.asp

2. Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. "Beat nagging allergies and sinus problems--just by minding your own beeswax." The Tahoma Clinic. Article online at http://www.tahomaclinic.com/beeswax.shtml


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Karen Davis runs an online boutique called brownstoneshopper. It's where you can find distinctive pieces and ideas to
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