From a personal perspective I hope they ban aspartame all over the world. Go NZ!

story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…

Thanks for posting this information for our readers.

Dr.G

Thanks for letting me post.

Dermatitis. 2008 May-Jun; 19(3): E10-1.
Formaldehyde, aspartame, and migraines: a possible connection.
Jacob SE, Stechschulte S.
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami,
FL, USA.

Aspartame is a widely used artificial sweetener that has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines.

Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into formaldehyde in various tissues.

We present the first case series of aspartame-associated migraines related to clinically relevant positive reactions to formaldehyde on patch testing.
PMID: 18627677

formaldehyde from many sources, including aspartame, is major cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis, SE Jacob, T Steele, G Rodriguez, Skin and Aging
2005 Dec.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1533

“For example, diet soda and yogurt containing aspartame (Nutrasweet), release formaldehyde in their natural biological degradation.

One of aspartame’s metabolites, aspartic acid methyl ester, is converted to methanol in the body, which is oxidized to formaldehyde in all organs, including the liver and eyes. 22

Patients with a contact dermatitis to formaldehyde have been seen to improve once aspartame is avoided. 22

Notably, the case that Hill and Belsito reported had a 6-month history of eyelid dermatitis that subsided after 1 week of avoiding diet soda. 22″

Avoiding formaldehyde allergic reactions in children, aspartame,
vitamins, shampoo, conditioners, hair gel, baby wipes, Sharon E Jacob, MD,
Tace Steele, U. Miami, Pediatric Annals 2007 Jan.: eyelid contact
dermatitis, AM Hill, DV Belsito, 2003 Nov.: Murray 2008.03.27
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.htm
Thursday, March 27, 2008
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1532

Sharon E. Jacob, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology),
University of California, San Diego 200 W. Arbor Drive #8420, San Diego, CA
92103-8420 Tel: 858-552-8585 ×3504 Fax: 305-675-8317 sjacob@contactderm.net;

Dermatitis. 2008 Jan-Feb;19(1):9-15.
Systemic contact dermatitis.
Jacob SE, Zapolanski T. tamar.zapolanski@gmail.com;
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami,
FL, USA.

Systemic exposure to allergens resulting in a cutaneous eruption is known as systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).

Once sensitization occurs, varying exposures to antigens via multiple routes (including transepidermal routes, intravenous or intramuscular routes, inhalation, and ingestion) can result in systemic flare.

This article highlights the different categories of common contactants,
metals, medications, and plants, exposure to which leads to SCD.

A comprehensive approach that takes into account all possible routes of exposure is essential in diagnosing SCD and in helping patients successfully avoid their allergens. PMID: 18346390

“We present a case of a medical student who presented with erythematous
eczematoid plaques on her trunk and legs and fine vesiculation of her scalp,
3 weeks after starting anatomy class.

Of note, she routinely washed her face and arms after leaving the anatomy lab, but remained in her scrubs for the rest of the day.

Formaldehyde and Quaternium-15 positive reactions in the same patient. [ photo ]”

“Our patient underscores the importance of appropriate patch testing and education.

Once we identified the allergy to formaldehyde and quaternium-15, we provided patient education materials regarding the common and not-so-common locations of these chemicals and cross-reactors.

We also gave the patient information on avoidance and safe alternatives (see
Table 5).

Fortunately, with technical advances, this student completed the anatomy section via electronic learning tools.

By avoiding formaldehyde, including anatomy lab, FRP in her shampoo and cosmetics, and aspartame in her diet, this patient dramatically improved.

As with all contact dermatitides, the mainstay of treatment for allergic contact dermatitis is avoidance.”

http://www.skinandaging.com/article/5158 Skin & Aging Journal ISSN:
1096-0120 – Volume 13 – Issue 12_2005 – December 2005 – Pages: 22 – 27

Allergen Focus:
Focus on T.R.U.E. Test Allergens #21, 13 and 18: Formaldehyde and
Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives — By Sharon E. Jacob, M.D., Tace
Steele, B.A., [now MD] and Georgette Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H.