Do you ever feel like you're allergic to your job? A reporter at the Baltimore Sun actually is. Journalist Mike Dresser discovered he has a severe sensitivity to pine resin, which is found in newspaper ink.
The 38-year industry veteran had been experiencing skin problems and severe puffiness around his eyes for years. He finally consulted with a doctor and underwent an allergy patch test, which uncovered a number of allergies, including the pine resin sensitivity.
"This is not a life threatening situation," Dresser told The Daily Caller. "If you see me on those mornings when my eyes puff up, it's a dignity threatening situation. You don't want to go into a gubernatorial interview when you're looking grotesque."
Dresser plans to wear rubber gloves at work to limit his exposure to pine resin throughout the day. He will also opt to read news online or on a mobile device, avoiding hard copy newspapers altogether.
According to a memo from Dresser to his colleagues at the Sun, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, the reporter is also allergic to blue textile dye No. 106. The dye is common in blue, green, black and purple clothing, so Dresser says he has been advised to wear mostly white or cream-colored clothes.
In his memo, Dresser advises anyone who suffers from severely irritated, puffy eyes to get a pine resin skin patch test from an allergist or dermatologist. He points out that the allergy is more common than many people think.
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