If you were gifted a candle this year at Christmas, then there’s something you need to know.
Candles are probably one of the most popular things to gift a person, right? They smell nice, look great and are the perfect thing to get if you don’t want to spend a fortune for Xmas.
However, they could be harming your health.
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According to doctor and dermatologist Dr John Zade, they should stop being used altogether.
That’s not going to go down well with those of us who like to light a candle after cleaning the house!
Taking to TikTok to explain his side, he shared: “Dr Zade here, and if you’re using this one thing in your house, you need to stop right now.”
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The expert shared that scented candles are made with a specific ingredient which isn’t going to mesh well with your health.
That ingredient is paraffin.
He said that a lot of scented candles are made from paraffin, which when burned, release toxic chemicals.
As the chemicals are then in your home, you’re going to be breathing them in and into your lungs, causing you issues down the line.
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Dr Zade explained the issues you might face, saying: “Along with that the fragrances in the chemicals can be super irritating.
“A lot of people get eyelid rashes or other skin rashes because of these fragrances. So we do not like scented candles, try to remove them from your house.”
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According to a study published last year by the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University, burning candles could also be pretty dangerous to young adults who have mild asthma.
It found that burning candles caused indoor air pollution, as well as cooking fumes, these can irritate those suffering from the condition, or even cause inflammation.
The researchers went on to note the importance of having a healthy indoor climate and to keep the home well ventilated when cooking or lighting candles.
This could be through opening windows, doors and having fans on. Like I said, that’s not going to go down well with those who like candles.
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Because of the popularity of the smelly gifts, people in the comments were not best pleased, with one user hitting back: “No candles now? This is the very last straw on the fun bus of life and I just can’t.”
And another commented: “Not all candles are paraffin. We love scented candles.”
But there were those who were happy to be warned.
Someone said: “Not me sitting here with an eyelid rash wondering how I got it," and another confirmed the health side effects: “I can’t use any of the plug-in stuff either. All of that stuff makes me sick.”
So, it seems like it’s true.
According to an article about the ‘unknown’ risk of scented candles, there are more risks that could be happening if you light candles at home.
The paper said: “A number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have been identified as carcinogens, such as naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene, were also found in candle fumes that are products of wax, aroma substances, or combustion dyes.
“The most common complaints from those who had been exposed to scented candles were vertigo, headaches, mucosa irritation, respiratory issues, watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy nose, chest tightness, and a dry or irritated throat.”
Is it worth it? Perhaps not.
Britt Jones