Allergies and treatment.

Botulinum toxin: true allergies to the product are extremely rare. Relevant are allergies to excipients – some products contain human albumin or lactose. With a known cow's milk protein allergy a different product is chosen. Hay fever, house dust and animal hair play no role.

Hyaluronic acid fillers: the hyaluronic acid is produced bacterially, no longer from rooster combs; a bird protein allergy is therefore no exclusion. Many fillers contain the anaesthetic lidocaine – with a proven lidocaine allergy (rare, mostly a reaction to additives) there are products without. Active allergy flares with a swollen face are a reason to postpone.

Anaesthetic cream and disinfection: reactions to numbing cream (lidocaine/prilocaine), plasters or chlorhexidine are more common than to the product. Disclose known contact allergies – there are alternatives.

PRP: your own blood – allergy practically excluded. Only the anticoagulant in the tube (citrate) is relevant and very rarely causes problems.

Vitamin infusions: caution matters here: high-dose vitamin B1 and some trace elements can trigger allergic reactions; high-dose vitamin C is dangerous with G6PD deficiency. Hence history, test dose and slow infusion under observation.

What you should disclose: all known allergies (including medicines, plasters, metals), previous reactions to anaesthetic at the dentist, asthma, tendency to hives. Bring your allergy card. Antihistamines before treatment do not prevent a true allergy – but they can reduce swelling with hay fever.