Kunbi Balogun

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity [a.k.a Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance (IEI), 20th Century Disease Syndrome, Total Allergy Syndrome, Immune System Dysregulation, and Chemically Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome].

Hirsutism is a word derived from the Latin word 'hirsutus' meaning 'hairy' or 'shaggy' and is a term used for excess facial and body hair growth.It occurs in about 5-15% of women between the age of 18 and 45 and is more common in Southern European and South Asian women.

Hyperpigmentation is a skin condition caused by ultraviolet light from the sun, which darkens the skin in color compared to the surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin as UV light provokes melanocytes in the skin.

Pet allergy is caused by the shedding of minute particles of fur and skin relatively known as pet dander. However some animals produce there allergens in urine or saliva, that may also cause allergies.

Occuring in up to 3% of adults in the UK and 2-3% of the US population, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can be a very embarrassing problem with a potential of being malodorous.It occurs in both males and females, and can be a source of emotional distress.Underarm hyperhidrosis tends to start in late adolescence, while palm and sole sweating often begins earlier. If left untreated, hyperhidrosis can continue throughout life.

Alopecia (also known as baldness or hair loss) refers to loss or lack of hair on part of or the entire scalp and in some cases, other parts of the body. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent and can affect people of all ages. Although alopecia can occur anywhere on the body, it is most distressing when it affects the scalp.

Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the sebaceous follicles, which are special pilosebaceous units (relating to the hair follicles and sebaceous glands) located on the face, chest, and back.

Psoriasis is a common chronic, relapsing, non-contagious skin disorder characterised by red patchy lesions, with grey or silvery-white, dry scales, which are frequently painful, itchy and may bleed. Lesions are typically distributed symmetrically on the scalp, elbows, knees and essentially any part of the body. It is a disease with an unpredictable course, prone to flare-ups and remissions, and which can affect the joints, nails and eyes [1, 2].

There are many different types of eczema; infantile eczema, which babies experience as an allergy that they usually grow out of, atopic dermatitis, which is the more persistent form, and contact dermatitis, a sensitive reaction to touching an allergic substance. Atopic eczema affects 15% of young children and is on the increase.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease, characterised by recurrent breathing problems. It is a significant health problem, which has increased in incidence worldwide over the past decade. It is estimated that at least 7% of the population in the USA suffers from asthma, with prevalence higher in children than adults. In the UK, approximately 8% of the population has symptomatic asthma of which 12-15% are children.