Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

MCS is an environmental illness. It is not yet possible to make a clear cut line what multiple chemical sensitivity is? It is a general term for severe sensitivity and allergic reaction to many environmental pollutants like organic solvents, volatile organic compounds, smoke, diesel, petrol, perfumes and other chemicals from everywhere. Most of these patients have allergies to pollen, house dust mite and pet hair. The mechanism of allergies are well known, widely studied and understood, but MCS has no known mechanism and it is not all fully understood. Without taking it as a challenge, many who have taken an oath to help patients, take it very easy, and consider it idiopathic and I had many heated discussions with them.

MCS has different faces, it is very difficult to find out the reasons and you must get all the information from the patients. Here lies a major problem because getting information from them is very difficult and the doctors have usually no time, thus mostly a quick diagnosis, by women, the problems with menopause and by men, the laziness and stimulating the symptoms. It is important to find out the pollutant, so that it could be avoided completely. The psychological factor must also be considered always.

Are there no ways to find out whether it is only true allergy or MCS?

It is very difficult with MCS because the amount of substances which trigger these symptoms are very minute, several triggers together makes it more difficult to diagnose; if the pollutants are removed, the patients improve. That means, you must have thorough knowledge in all the fields, unfortunately not all have this and most of them have problems to convince the patients. If you cannot convince them, you will not get all the information, without these, you cannot motivate them.

Moreover, most of them are having iron deficiency, thereby very tired and this makes the process more complicated because if you supplement iron, that can produce lot of hydroxyl free radicals in the body, their diet is very poor, may be because of allergies. With much difficulty it is possible to improve iron status with food first before coming to the actual work.

Another problem is, they read all the available literature, pick up only the negative things there and tell that they know better than the doctor, but we have our methods to make them listen.

What are the symptoms of MCS?

Everything is a symptom here, but varies patient to patient and there is no demarcation between MCS and other environmental diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome etc. The following are the several symptoms and normally a patient has many of these symptoms:

• Rhinitis (running nose)
• Wheezing
• Nausea
• Burning eyes
• Extreme fatigue
• Sinus problems
• Sensitivity to noise and light
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Skin rashes
• Itching of the skin
• Migraine
• Headaches
• Poor concentration and memory
• Dizziness
• Digestion problems
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Problems to sleep

Here you can see and understand how difficult it is to find out the real cause, but nothing is impossible. An environmental doctor must have knowledge in all the fields including psychology, food sciences, allergies, detoxification and scavenging of free radicals, laboratory medicine, trace analysis and the effect of poisons and the source of poisons. Many times fungi and moulds which could not be seen with the eyes are the major problem. In Germany trained dogs could detect such invisible fungi, when removed completely with experts; there were improvement in many cases.

But, I stress this point once again, without successful treatment of iron deficiency with right food; it is very difficult to achieve something for these patients. We have to show understanding to their problems but many doctors mistrust them from the beginning and the basis of diagnosing and treating is considerably disturbed. In environmental toxicology, if we do not understand things, it does not mean that the patients are not telling the truth; if we are sure of psychological problems, this must be told to the patient immediately, otherwise, the patients run to 20 doctors with increasing health problems.

What should be done finally?

In the course of this diagnosis the polymorphism of the genes, deficiency in enzymes and nutritional deficiencies must be found out. Most of these enzymes contain different minerals and the deficiency makes problems in the detoxification and free radical scavenging. If there is no improvement, the last chance is trying to prevent all possible pollutants; with an individual diet it may be possible to improve the quality of life considerably.

What is the relationship between MCS and perfumes?

Perfumes are the worst pollutants in our day to day life for persons who suffer from MCS, but perfume vapours are everywhere. If one person in a room has used perfumes, the patient gets the symptoms. In environmental clinics the air inside the clinic is filtered so that the air is free from any allergens or chemicals.

Many do not bother about the environment, but the persons who suffer from environmental illness only pay the heavy bills. They may be in my family or in your family.

Cosmetics – Few Truths!

The Food and Drug Administration which controls the cosmetics in United States of America gives a good definition to cosmetics; intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions and any material used for that is a cosmetic product.

What are the cosmetics used to make us attractive, beautiful and pleasant?

They include the following:

Skin-care creams
Talcum Powders
Lotions
Perfumes
Lipsticks
Nail polishes
Eye and facial make up
Hair sprays and gels
Hair colours
Deodorants

All the products for the baby - bath salts, creams and oils

Many other local and natural herbs containing creams available in our world are also good.

Why do the women in western countries do more make up?

It is very easy to answer because of their white complexion they need some contrast colours in their face and without make-up it is not possible. Otherwise, they do not look good, few have decent make-up and very few do not use make-up at all. The majority use the hair colour and so the hair is not the indicator of natural beauty there. In Western countries, the young girls are almost addictive to cosmetics which bring social problems in the family, school and in the society

What about the cosmetics used by Indian women?

Whenever I meet a newly arrived young Indian woman in Germany all say that they have learnt as beautician. Now many women can afford to go to beauticians in India but exacerbation spoils their skin and beauty. Woman who cannot afford, wash with cold water, use the things which their mothers and grandmothers used and normally have healthy skin. A decent make up is good but at the end of the day it must be taken away in a professional way which is more important for your health. I am afraid most of them are not doing that!

Do you say all the cosmetics are important?

No, I did not tell that. We can differentiate care cosmetics from the decorative cosmetics. Even many manufacturers do this.

What are the effects of cosmetics on health?

Several people are against the allergy produced by cosmetics and others are against tests on animals.

Parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate and petroleum products may be harmful. Sodium lauryl sulphate causes skin problems. Parabens can cause skin irritation and skin allergies including contact allergies. It has also a weak estrogenic activity.

Synthetic fragrances are used in many cosmetics and the ingredients cause allergic reactions. Many other chemicals used are also allergic.

What are the different make up types?

As a chemist and clinical toxicologist I know a lot but as a woman you must know better than me. Do not forget, with lot of imagination and fantasy you need very little make up to be in the middle point.

Which countries have banned the test on animals?

It is banned now in Great Britain, Netherlands and Belgium. From 2009 it is also be banned in all the European Union countries.

Are there toxic substances found in cosmetics?

The toxic substances found in cosmetics are as follows:

• Wherever chemicals are used there will be problems. Here the known problem makers are phthalates in artificial fragrance and nail polishes.
• More than 20% of the cosmetics contain 1, 4-dioxane which causes cancer.
• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives can cause irritation and allergic reactions and is a possible carcinogen.
• Parabens are preservatives found in many deodorants and skin-care products. This can cause reproductive damage (estrogenic activity) and have been detected in breast tumours.
• Propylene Glycol is a moisture retainer in skin-care products. It is a strong skin irritant, and causes liver problems and damage to kidney.
• Talc is closely related to carcinogen asbestos and its particles can cause tumours in the ovaries and lung cancer.
• There are several components in cosmetics which are not at all regulated and used chemicals and heavy metal may cause health problems. If you want you must use this but in small quantity and before go to bed remove them completely.

• P-Phynelenediamine used in hair dyes is also allergic to many. Do not exceed the applying time, never more than 15 min.

What is AHAs?

AHAs are often used in products claiming to reduce wrinkles or he signs of aging and improve the overall texture and feel of the skin. They are also used in chemical peels. Used in beauty and health centres and kits used in home. These are used in anti aging creams to smoothen your skin. But they destroy the skin and there by the chances of skin cancer is increasing. Avoid creams which contain AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids).

What are the side effects of AHAs?

The side effects include:

• Mild skin irritations
• Redness and flaking of the skin
• Blistering skin
• Burning skin
• Skin decolouration

• AHAs can increase the photosensitivity to the sun, increased risk for skin cancer.

One must be very careful.

Do not forget the beauty come from inside. Healthy food, life without stress, no alcohol and no tobacco are far better for anti aging than creams with or without AHAs.