It was many years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the E.R. asking, “What is causing my itchy rash?”
At that point, the rash covered my ENTIRE body from the neck down. As I lay in bed that night, I thought I might go insane from the itching and burning. My upper chest was the worst. The rash finally got so intense that I went to the hospital at 2 a.m. to see if they could offer relief.
Irony – but you won’t get it until the end of this article
It was the first time I went to the doctor for my rash, but it was unfortunately not the last. The hospital staff pumped my veins with an IV Benadryl. They told me that moving forward I could get the same relief from over-the-counter Benadryl. I tried the capsule variety on many future occasions, but it never actually helped. (Keep reading to find out the laughable reason why).
The itchy rash popped up several times
Prior to the full-body rash that took me to the E.R., the rash had appeared on my ankles a few times. Both times were the day after taking calcium supplements. I knew it was the calcium supplements, because it had been the only change in my routine those days.
The night I wound up in the emergency room with an itch, I had spent the day at the lake. I thought perhaps I had swimmer’s itch or something. (Nobody that had been with me in the lake that day had similar symptoms, though). The itching and most of the rash went away within about a week of my doctor’s visit.
However, I had a few spots on my arm that time that stayed for YEARS after the day at the lake! I literally spent two summers in long sleeves because of the ugly rash on my arm.
Numerous visits to doctors failed to turn up answers. The dermatologist took samples to the lab, but they were inconclusive. He gave me a cream to use . . . and I continued use for weeks in hopes that it was working. Every time I used it, though it made my rash redden and burn worse.
How I finally figured out what was causing my itchy rash
In my efforts to diagnose myself, I started to save ingredients lists for everything that I KNEW triggered the outbreak. The calcium supplement bottles went in the pile. I also noticed it got worse whenever I went to the movies, but didn’t know why. One day when the only thing I consumed at the theater was Jordan Almonds, I saved the box.
Finally, two full years after I found myself in the E.R. for an all-over rash and itch, I FIGURED IT OUT! It was summer and I had put on a self tanner from my ankles up to my rib cage. The rash appeared in the EXACT areas I had applied the self tanner. It was THE SELF TANNER that had caused the rash. I gathered all the things that I KNEW had made my rash worse – the supplement bottles, the jordan almond box, and the self tanner. They had two common ingredients.
The next time I applied sunscreen to my hands and arms, I got a rash there, and I FINALLY knew with 100% certainty which ingredient had caused the rash:
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Titanium dioxide is a “naturally occurring” metal that is used as an additive in SO many products. The reason I have the words “naturally occurring” in quotes is that while it does exist in nature, it is chemically processed before we use it.
Titanium dioxide is used as an additive in lots of things for it’s thickening, yet anti caking properties, for it’s shine, and for its ability to make things white. It is most often used in paints and inks. Even after I found out what was causing the outbreaks, I still accidentally used it a few times by not reading every label.
Some of the surprising places I found titanium dioxide (usually by breaking out in an itchy rash)
- toothpaste and gum
- Both caused a rash down my throat and upper chest. A lot of tooth whiteners have it, also.
- sunscreen
- There are only a limited number of sunscreens that don’t use titanium dioxide, so I’ve been in positions where I had to choose between rash and sunburn :/
- supplements
- Anything with a shiny, easy-to-swallow coating; some companies also use it as a filler. For more information on choosing quality supplements, click here.
- lotions
- Especially products any with shine, tanners or skin-tighteners
- candies
- That shiny coating like on the Jordan Almonds mentioned above
- hotel soaps and shampoos
- They don’t usually have ingredients listed, but my most recent rash – the one in the picture that is STILL on my leg as I write this – came from a hotel-room shampoo (which is why I usually travel with my MONAT – click here to read more about these amazing products).
- make-up
- Most make-up says “may contain titanium dioxide” at the end of the ingredient list, but I usually don’t get a rash unless it’s listed specifically. Titanium dioxide is in almost all foundations, concealers, brighteners, bronzers, and powders.
And the most surprising products that CAUSED an itchy rash
- Benadryl
- Yes, I actually laughed out loud when I realized this. I’m not sure why it took me so long after figuring out what my allergy was to read the back of the Benadryl box.
- Cortisone Cream
- That’s right, even the one my dermatologist prescribed for the rash – (another funny, ha!ha!). Especially if your cream is white, double-check what’s in it.
If you have an itchy rash for which creams and prescriptions aren’t working, consider reading the ingredients list. While you’re checking, compare it to the items in this article about Hazardous Chemicals in Our Personal Care Products.
Is titanium dioxide safe?
I didn’t want to write an article about titanium dioxide, but I found a really good one here if you would like to read further. If I could compel you to read the article, I would. For me, reading the article has confirmed that my high sensitivity to ingredients like titanium dioxide is a blessing in disguise.
Why I wanted to share my story
I really wanted to write my story because I suspect that there are a LOT of people and a lot of your kids who are having the same problems. There are probably a lot of you with an undiagnosed titanium dioxide allergy, just like me. Maybe you’ve looked for a cure for your itchy rash without result. Or maybe, like was the case with me, the prescribed cure is actually making the problem worse. If you have a rash or have kids that do, I challenge you to check your products for titanium dioxide. Experiment with removing those products for at least 3 weeks (the rash on my leg is flat, but is still there 2 weeks after exposure) and just see if the rash goes away. You have nothing to lose, but perhaps clear, rash-free skin to gain.
It is important to add that a rash might be the symptom of something serious. This article is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition, just to tell my story. If you would like to find more possible causes of a rash or know when to go to the doctor, this is a great article. And if you are interested in learning an easy way to reduce all of your allergies, read this one.
Take charge of your health once and for all. Click here to learn more.
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Marcy Vogler is a lifestyle makeover coach, personal trainer, and mother of three. Marcy is passionate about helping women make over their lives from the inside out. To learn more about the courses Marcy offers, check out our parter website at www.thegoodlife4u.club. For daily inspiration, join Marcy’s Facebook Group: Love Your Day, Love Your Life.
