0

Your cart is empty

Continue shopping

Carba Mix: A New Kind of Allergen

Like it or not, more and more people are becoming allergic to various allergens. Back then we associate allergic reactions only with allergens such as insect bites, bees, poison ivy and dust.

But now it seems that the number of allergens is increasing and a lot more people are discovering that they’re allergic to substances that were considered trivial before like latex or nickel.

Our bodies are evolving and the unfortunate outcome of this process is that a lot of us are becoming less immune to substances that used to be safe for the whole population.

One particular substance that is now becoming a threat to a lot of individuals is Carba Mix.

What is Carba Mix?

Carba Mix is a combination of three chemicals:

Diphenylguanidine
Zincdibutyldithiocarbamate
Zincdiethyldithiocarbamate

These chemicals are often used as accelerators in the manufacture of rubber products and sometimes they are used in agricultural chemicals.

Experts often advise people to stay away from allergens that could trigger a severe reaction. But avoiding Carba Mix is nearly impossible because these substances can be found in everyday objects such as:

Even if you manage to avoid these objects Carba Mix can still be found in soaps, shampoos, disinfectants, adhesives and anti-rust coating.

And if you’re a farmer chances are you’ll come in contact with Carba Mix as well because this chemical can also be found in pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and slimicides (a kind of pesticide that eliminates pests that produce slime).

Managing your exposure to Carba Mix

Despite the abundance of this chemical experts agree that people can still manage to avoid them and prevent severe allergic reactions.

Scientists made a list of chemicals that you should avoid if you are allergic to Carba Mix and the list is as follows:

• Diphenylguanidine
• 1,3-Diphenylguanidine
• N,N’-Diphenylguanidine
• Zincdibutyldithiocarbamate
• bis(N,N-dibutyldithiocarbamato)zinc
• carbamic acid dibutyldithio-, zinc complex
• zinc bis(dibutyldithiocarbamate)
• Zincdiethyldithiocarbamate
• diethyldithiocarbamic acid zinc salt
• zinc bis(diethyldithiocarbamate)
• zinc diethylcarbamodithioate

Of course, it’s not easy to remember all of these chemicals so experts have written down a much more pragmatic way to avoid Carba Mix or manage your allergy towards it, and here’s how to do that:

Stay away from rubber products as much as possible.

When a product containing rubber causes a rash on your skin throw it away and never use it again.

Switch to vinyl, plastic, leather, wood or fabric.

Don’t use rubber insoles, rubber boots and rubber shoes like sneakers and tennis shoes.

Switch to solid leather shoes with no inner or outer soles, like moccasins.

If in doubt, take your new shoes for a test run and see if it will cause a rash.

Look for insoles free of Carba Mix to see if using insoles makes dress shoes wearable for you.

Carba Mix found in shoes can contaminate socks and stockings and does not wash out so avoid shoes like these at all cost.

Switch to surgical gloves that are “hypoallergenic and rubber free” since these are free from synthetic materials and rubber accelerators.

Use gloves made of synthetic co-polymer of styrene and butadiene, vinyl gloves or nitrile gloves.

Other good alternatives are articles made with polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, or silicone.

Avoid contact with agricultural chemicals.

If you think you’re being exposed to this allergen at work, inform your employer and consult your Material Safety Data Sheets.

Wear protective clothing such as aprons, gauntlets and appropriate gloves when handling rubber hoses, seals, cables etc.

Inform your healthcare providers that you are allergic to Carba Mix chemicals.

Despite the abundance of Carba Mix in everyday products some people can still manage to avoid this allergen. Vigilance is the key to preventing a severe allergic reaction to Carba Mix and though it may be difficult to steer clear from ever-present allergens it’s still the best course of action for individuals with skin sensitivity issues.