ALLERGIC TO GLYCERIN??????GLYCERIN CHALLENGE TEST

Hi, life long sufferer of glycerin allergy. Over the years my allergy has become more severe, but it started with soaps and then progressed. I can't even eat food if it contains the smallest amount. Due to this allergy and a multitude of other food allergies I have almost completely stopped eating packaged foods. It's a pain but I cook all of my own meals. That's the safest way to insure that you wont poison yourself.
Speaking of, avoid potlucks and buffets. Or food offered by friends. They aren't trying to killing you, but they could.

Always read the label on everything and I mean everything. If you think that just because you've been using a product your whole life, you don't need to check the label, it could just be that you haven't had a reaction.
Example: Most brands of Worchestershire sauce contain anchovies, but when I got my fish allergy I checked everything in the fridge and the off brand I had didn't contain them, but the next brand I bought did.

So that's another thing to watch out for, cheaper products will sometimes omit preservatives like glycerin, and the more expensive items are usually filled with it. And ingredients can change by brand, so don't completely disregard a favorite food if you've only checked one brand.

And since you're new to looking for glycerin on labels here are a few of the derivatives you should watch out for: Mono- and Diglycerides, glycerin, glycerine, glycerol, glyceryl, polyglycerol esters of fat, triglycerides, E442 (As a food additive)

Questions to ask youself when shopping: Is it baked? Does it contain chocolate or vanilla? Is this a product you refrigerate only after opening? (ex: velveta) If so, these products are probably loaded up with glycerin.
You'll have trouble finding bread, so check bakeries in the area to see if any of them are preservative free.

Do not use laxitives or stool softeners ever. Those are like pure glycerin. As for other drugs, avoid capsules, liquid cold medicine, suppositories, ear infection remedies, most eye drops, and some lozenges. Check with your doctor before getting anesthesia. And for all medication worries use Rxlist.com. You can check the ingredients for just about any drug.
And considering glycerin is a common pill coating, you need to.

E-cigarettes contain glycerin, and can be released through second-hand "smoke" by others using the E-cig. Regular cigarettes also contain glycerin to hold the tobacco together and prevent clumping, and also in the filters.

Beauty products: If it says moisturizing, that's usually a sign that its gonna contain glycerin, but not always. I stick to bare minerals makeup. And I usually only use things that can brush on, I never use liquid foundations or liquid eyeliner. Most pencil makeups are safe. And eyeshadow is usually ok. Lipstick and mascara are harder to find. I suggest using the cheaper product theory here and buying dollar store mascara. The cheaper made, the less likelihood of preservatives.
Personally for toothpaste I use baking soda, but I'm sure you can find a toothpaste with a better flavor out there, but most stores don't carry them.
In the event that anyone needs to find a safe lubricant to use, Ky Intrigue silcone lube is a good product. Most water and all oil based lubes contain glycerin.

As for shampoo which seems to be the question on everyones mind, I use a shampoo bar from Lush (http://www.lushusa.com/). Request a lush catalog from the website, they have great vegan products, which is sometimes the best way to get glycerin free products. And the catalog contains an ingredient list next to items. But if you really wanna be sure, ask for help from someone on the website.

Sadly, you can't get a tattoo. If you have one, you may have to have it removed. To the best of my knowledge and research, I haven't been able to find a tattoo ink that I can use. Even vegan. Because they are just made with synthetic or vegetable glycerin.

Candles: I have a pretty good detector to see if I can or cannot be around a specific candle. Before lighting it, I sniff it and wait a few seconds, and if it contains glycerin, my nose starts to itch. This works with lotions too.

And my last bit of advice is find a local health food store. You can find allergy friendly food, and perhaps get some tips from an employee. That was how I found egg / nut/ dairy free cookies.

I hope this helps.

Post Edited (Psyclops) : 10/5/2012 7:12:05 AM (GMT-6)

Danae said...
I found Glycerol in Special K fruit crisps (strawberry). I'm allergic to artificial sweeteners and since I've been eating the Special K fruit crisps, I've had real bad headaches and an upset stomach. I get the same reaction when I ingest artificial sweeteners. I decided to take a closer look at the ingredients in Special K fruit crisps and found Glycerol. I know Glycerol isn't an artificial sweetener, but apparently it effects me the same way that artificial sweeteners do.

Glycerin is an artificial sweetener. It's only 60% as sweet as sugar, but since it also acts as a preservative most packaged food uses it.

I hope that I am not to late to post this. I am allergic to glycerine also. It is very dangerous. You can try Vo5 shampoo, and Suave. Sty away from skim milk, and all low fat foods. They use glycerine for fillers.

 Yes, glycerin is rare as a allergy.  Glycerin is present in all medicines, prescription and over the counter.  It is used as a preserveative in medicines.

Thank you all for the valuable info. I just recently had a very severe reaction to glycerin. I Had no idea i should be so concerned about it. Now some things ate starting to make sense to me. I started getting asthma/allergies at age 13, right about the same time I started drinking diet pop which sounds like contains some form of glycerin. I am going to try to start weeding this substance out of my diet, lotions, cleaning products, etc. and see if I have some health improvements. It sure would be nice but seems like a pretty good challenge! Thanks again for all the tips. I will be watching for any more hints that are offered.

I have had too deal with my glycerin allergy for a long time unfortunately my allergy has a 2 fold reaction not only is my immune system massively suppressed but it also causes intoxication in low doses and in larger doses comatose state to death. I have read the statements of you all who have the allergy and i feel your pain looking at the foods you can't eat anymore and the countless times staring through the tiny lettering on the back of foods. It's Freaking BULL then there is the explanations about your allergy to friends when your out for a bite at a McDys "what do you mean you get drunk on burgers can i see it?" Its no joke it sucks and i'm sick of dealing with it on my own i've learned alot but i have yet too find a way to suppress or reduce the reaction if any of you have found a new treatment that doesn't involve drops of the stuff tried that one and slept for 2 days straight i would appreciate it and i'd be glad to answer any questions my fellow glycerin suffers have the best shampoo and body wash i've found is dove none in it and you won't come out smelling of sandal wood.

Welcome to the forum. It would be nice if you would start your own thread - use the "Post New Topic" button - so more people will see what you are asking about. I'd use a title like looking for glycerin-free vitamins.

You might check out the small vitamin tablets. Most people don't really need the horse pills that are advertised all the time. I don't tolerate biotin, and I can't swallow big pills, so I use the cheap little ones. I have to add lutein, but that is a glycerin-covered one too.

Also look into liquid vitamins. Most taste awful though.

Babystang said...
As far as facial moisturizer I still cannot locate any that is free of Glycerin.

I use one that is glycerin free. Search for "Unicorn" Aqueous + Vitamin E cream. Comes in a big white tub.

I am about 95% sure I am allergic to glycerin. What tests did your allergy doctors use to diagnose your glycerin allergies? My allergy doctor does not believe me and thinks I'm am reacting to the environmental allergies. I recently was ordered Peridex swish and spit for peridontal disease and took it for a few days and stopped and missed a few days. When I started again my palms got firefly red and I had hives and facial and body swelling. I switched to my periomed swish and spit. I had the same reaction to a lesser degree. The two common ingredients are glycerin and saccharin. I ruled out saccharin when I realized I was getting itchy hands from my aveeno lotion and my Advanced Costco Soft Soap from Costco. I realized I was reacting to glycerin. Now my lips swell when I eat ice cream, chocolate and nutrigrain bar. I realized they contain derivatives of glycerin. I need help because my allergy doctor thinks I'm nuts because he has never seen this allergy.

My issue is Glycerin my inflammation gets severe with any touch of glycerin. Don’t know what to do