Sorbitol allergy

[FrayGrants]

So I made a batch of of CP soap the other day and decided to use sorbitol for the first time. Unfortunately I seem to be allergic, as it seems to be causing irritation to my skin. I did also use mango butter at 5%, which is also a first for me. I have a hard time believing it is the mango butter at such a low usage rate. Is a sorbitol allergy common?

My thinking is to make a small ZNSC test batch with sorbitol and if that bothers my skin then I have found the culprit, because ZNSC doesn't bother my skin. If it doesn't irritate my skin then it is more than likely the mango butter. Any thoughts on this as a whole or on my process of elimination?

When I first started making soap I thought I was doing the whole thing wrong because every soap I made was irritating to my skin. Through a lot of testing and a long process of elimination I discovered that I am allergic to certain oils, especially when used at high percentages. I also don't wish to give soap to people that could cause potential irritation. I guess I am a great candidate for testing for people with sensitive skin.

 

[AliOop]

Mango is definitely the more likely culprit. If you happen to be allergic to latex, you can have cross-allergies to mango, avocado and a few other things that I'm not remembering at the moment.

 

[Kari Howie]

Yep. I agree with Ali.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Yep - third

 

[FrayGrants]

Well now I know why all my first attempts at soap making irritated my skin. My first batches were made with a premade mix that contained mango butter. Now I create all my own recipes and I haven't tried using mango butter up until now, about a year later.

You all have no clue how much this information means to me, thank you all so so much! I guess the next thing to do is find out what to do with 2lbs of the stuff. Thanks again!!!

 

[KiwiMoose]

Lotion bars! (don't use them yourself though)

 

[Becky1024]

Mango is the definitely the more likely culprit. If you happen to be allergic to latex, you can have cross-allergies to mango, avocado and a few other things that I'm not remembering at the moment.

Shea is another one that is a cross allergy with latex.

 

[Blufuz]

I am by no means and expert, but maybe do a “patch test” if you’re worried about being allergic to a specific ingredient? There should be more detailed advice online, but it comes down to applying a little bit onto your skin, usually inner forearm, and waiting to see if you develop irritation there. You can basically try all the ingredients you use for a given soap recipe, just be sure to draw circles around each patch to tell them apart.

 

[DeeAnna]

I second the patch test idea -- that's the only way to definitively find the culprit. I mean this kind of irritation could come from a lot of things up to and including the soap being lye heavy. At this point, you know it's the soap, but you don't really know anything more than that.

 

[FrayGrants]

I am by no means and expert, but maybe do a “patch test” if you’re worried about being allergic to a specific ingredient? There should be more detailed advice online, but it comes down to applying a little bit onto your skin, usually inner forearm, and waiting to see if you develop irritation there. You can basically try all the ingredients you use for a given soap recipe, just be sure to draw circles around each patch to tell them apart.

I never thought about trying this because I was under the impression that the chemical composition changed during saponification. I will give this a try.