Have you been lying on that couch all weekend? You might end up with a rash.
People in northern Europe have been suffering under the plague of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano. And if that weren’t enough, their sofas are giving them rashes. Recently dermatologists in Finland and Sweden have been seeing patients with a strange, itchy rash all over their bodies. Like an episode of House, no one could figure it out until doctors put together that everyone with the rash had recently bought a new sofa or couch. Extensive testing revealed that people were allergic to a preservative that was used to prevent mold growth when the furniture was shipped. The preservative, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) was released from the material when it became warm, as when you lie on it watching the Red Sox and the Celtics all weekend.
It does not appear that DMF dermatitis is widespread in the United States, but it has been reported on feet from athletic shoes that were shipped using the same preservative. We dermatologists are now aware and will be vigilant looking for this allergen.
So if you get up from the sofa and discover that you’re itchy, don’t blame the dog. It might not be his fault, this time.
Photo: Spartography (flickr)
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Wow, that’s interesting.
Is there a way to know if it’s been treated with that before you purchase?
I’m moving back to America soon and will need to furnish my house, I don’t really want to run into this problem if I can avoid it.
Thanks for the heads up!
Susanna
As far a I know, almost all the DMF furniture came from Linkwise, a company in China. You can ask who is the manufacturer and where the furniture came from. Where are you moving to here in the US?
Guess you’d have to use Copper Pillows whenever you are sleeping on the couch
LOL. Nice. I’m awarding you 11 points.
Very interesting article. I never thought that furniture can cause a skin itchiness and rash.
It is unusual, which is why I wrote about it. Thanks for stopping by.
I was wondering if you knew whether DMF that was inhaled from a gaseous form (released from sachets within the sofa) would cause a different reaction to that of direct contact with the skin? My partner fell poorly back in 2007 after we recieved our new sofa and to cut a long story short, was recently patch tested and DMF was included but although I saw a ‘area’ where they tested, he was told that it was negative as an allergin. I find it a huge coincedance that he fell poorly once usage of the sofa occured, any views would be appreciated
I meant to add that Eurosofa were also another Chinese manufacturer of leather sofas supplied around Europe. My partners initial reaction was a purpuric rash that eventually grouped before ulcering and then infection, internal bleeding from the bowel and various other symptoms. After many many, months (and various different medications, some of which he’s only just coming off) the doctors could only best put the illness down as probable HSP (Henoch Scholien Purpura) but it was never 100%
This is so strange! I just moved in with my fiance and purchased a slipcover for the tacky sofa. Now, whenever I sit on it, I break out in hi es all over!!!!
I seriously thought I was going crazy….
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