19. March 2025 in ECARF News

ADF/ECARF Award 2025

On 14 March 2025, this year’s ADF/ECARF Award was presented at the 51st meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF). The winners received an award worth 5,000 euros for the discovery of a possible important function of an antimicrobial protein […]

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23. January 2025 in ECARF events

Studio ECARF Bids Farewell with a Musical Finale

For three weeks, Studio ECARF in Berlin-Mitte became a vibrant hub where art and music lovers came together. It was a place of scientific encounters, creative synergy, and unforgettable moments. On January 23rd, 2025, the event series reached its grand […]

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18. January 2022 in ECARF News

Gaming against asthma

Gaming inside a digital immune system: The strategy game Inflammania helps people understand the workings of asthma and other inflammatory diseases.

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15. December 2021 in ECARF News

Get started now: hyposensitisation

People with pollen allergies should begin allergen-specific immunotherapy in autumn – even at the end of autumn is not too late. This gives the body time to build up its defences for pollen season.

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23. November 2021 in ECARF News

Heating season is dust mite season

Once the heating season begins, the symptoms of people with house dust mite allergies become more severe. Drugs can help manage these symptoms – and so does keeping dust in the home to a minimum.

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20. October 2021 in ECARF News

Antibody injection for cat hair allergy

When people with a cat hair allergy receive an injection of special antibodies, they develop a tolerance to the cat hair allergen. But the treatment is not yet approved. Studies are still needed in order to determine how long the

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17. August 2021 in ECARF News

Plant + light = rash

Many plants contain substances that, when activated by the UV light of the summer sun, can cause severe skin irritation. The best-known example is giant hogweed, but other acanthus species have a similar effect.

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Kuh melken
1. July 2021 in ECARF News

The One Health Concept

Cow’s milk can cause allergies, but raw milk protects against allergies. Why is that? People, animals, plants and the environment usually all come into play when an allergy develops. Allergology is teaming up with many other sciences to investigate these

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25. June 2021 in ECARF News

Obituary: Prof. Dr. Marek L. Kowalski

It is with great sadness that we have received the news that our ECARF ambassador for Poland and esteemed friend, Professor Marek Kowalski (1952-2021), has passed away.   Marek has been head of the Department of Immunology and Allergy at […]

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Karotte wird in Behälter schockgefroren
23. October 2020 in ECARF News

Cooked carrots can trigger allergies

Allergies to raw carrots are common. But cooked carrots can also trigger allergies, as researchers in Bayreuth have recently discovered. People who are allergic to carrots should therefore avoid carrots altogether.

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Nahaufnahme von Frau mit Mund-Nasen-Bedeckung
1. September 2020 in ECARF News

What to do when masks cause itching

‘Maskne’ – a combination of the words mask and acne – is one of the new buzzwords emerging from COVID-19 times. But acne is rarely the reason behind the itching and rashes that occur underneath masks.

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21. July 2020 in Recipes

Cheesecake

Cheesecake is always good – and can be made lactose-free, gluten-free and egg-free.

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21. July 2020 in Recipes

Homemade tortilla chips with dip

Ingredients For the chips:   Corn tortillas For the dip:   3 medium-sized potatoes 2 carrots 1 onion 1 garlic clove 0,5L milk (we used rice milk) 0,5L vegetable stock 2tbs Yeast flakes 2-3tbs Tapioca Starch Salt Spices of your […]

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Ein Smartphone, das in einer Halterung neben einem Autolenkrad befestigt ist zeigt ein durchgestrichenes Männchen. Darüber steht COVID-19.
3. June 2020 in ECARF News

COVID-19: Does pollution play a role?

Pollution causes disease. High levels of pollution may also be one of the reasons why more people are dying from the novel coronavirus in certain regions. A geoscientist from Halle has made this discovery.

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4. March 2020 in Interesting facts

Cold allergy is not an allergy

Some people develop a skin rash when exposed to cold temperatures. But it is not an allergy in the classical sense. Cold does not contain any allergens and the body therefore cannot develop antibodies against it.

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20. January 2020 in Interesting facts

Iodine allergy: myth or reality?

Some people believe that they are allergic to iodine. But the chemical element is so small that it cannot trigger any allergic reactions whatsoever. So if exposure to iodine leads to itchy skin or dizziness, what is the cause?

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29. November 2019 in Recipes

Sugar cookies

What’s better than making and decorating sugar cookies for Christmas? Our version is gluten free, lactose free, egg free and nut free.

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30. July 2019 in Interesting facts

Munich researchers test gluten sensor

A portable gluten sensor for home use has been available in Germany for around one year. Food chemist Katharina Scherf has received €20,000 in research funding from the German Coeliac Society (DZG) in order to test whether it really works.

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24. April 2019 in Interesting facts

Penicillin allergy diagnosis is often false

Significantly fewer people are allergic to penicillin than previously assumed, according to Deutsche Gesellschaft für Infektiologie (German Society of Infectious Diseases – DGI). One in ten adults in Germany believe they are allergic to the antibiotic. But in many cases,

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22. February 2019 in Interesting facts

Nanoparticles from Food Mask Gut Bacteria

Nanoparticles in food can cover bacteria like a sort of mask. This is what Shirley Knauer from the University of Duisburg-Essen and her team discovered. They observed the nanoparticles within the different environments of the gastrointestinal tract simulated in the

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18. December 2018 in Interesting facts

Allergies during Christmas Time

People with hay fever usually look forward to the colder months as the pollen season comes to an end and allergy symptoms subside. But the winter season brings its own share of allergens. Our Advent and Christmas traditions include many

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26. November 2018 in Everyday tips

The controversy over baby wipes

What do baby wipes have to do with food allergies? Not much at first. But in spring 2018, headlines appeared claiming that ‘baby wipes cause food allergies.’ Although there is no proven connection, there are still good reasons to take

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12. September 2018 in Interesting facts

Non-Allergenic Laundry

The all-clear has been given for people with contact allergies: the preservative MIT from laundry detergents is undetectable in laundered textiles. For the first time, researchers investigate whether the substance leaves residues in laundry.

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15. February 2018 in ECARF News

‘Allergy Girl’ Gets an Allergy Test

Kortney has suffered from numerous food allergies since she was a child. Her last allergy test was more than twenty years ago. Are the recommendations she received back then still valid? A test will provide new answers. ECARF accompanied the

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22. January 2018 in Interesting facts

Is It a Cold or an Allergy?

Whenever they feel run down and get a runny nose and scratchy throat during the winter, many people assume they have a cold. But allergic rhinitis can cause similar symptoms. How do you know which one it is?

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4. January 2018 in Interesting facts

Majority of People Want Allergen Labelling

In Germany, 67 per cent of the population believe it is important to provide information about potential allergy-triggering ingredients on food packaging. This was the conclusion of the 2018 food report issued by the German Federal Ministry of Food and

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18. December 2017 in Interview

Cold urticaria

Our skin reacts to the cold: rosy cheeks and goose bumps are visible signs of this reaction. But low temperatures can trigger extreme, unusual reactions in certain people. Their skin starts to swell and red, itchy hives appear. How does

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17. October 2017 in Everyday tips

How can I prevent mould growth in my home?

Mould is a type of fungus that can pose a risk to human health when it grows indoors. Mould spores and fungal toxins can trigger allergy symptoms such as sneezing fits, runny nose, coughing, fatigue or gastrointestinal disorders. Mould spores

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10. August 2017 in Interview

Allergy-Friendly Holiday: Interview with Julian Schmitz

The bags are packed and anticipation mounts as the holiday approaches. Everyone wants to spend some time relaxing, enjoying nature and culture, and having a great time. And people with allergies are no exception. ‘Allergy-friendly municipalities’ certified with the ECARF […]

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9. August 2017 in Everyday tips

Can one be ‘allergic’ to mosquito bites?

For most people, mosquito bites are a harmless nuisance. But in certain individuals, large hives can develop on the skin where they have been bitten. Do these reactions indicate an allergy? ECARF spoke about this with Marcus Maurer, Professor of

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27. July 2017 in Everyday tips

What Do I Need to Know About Henna Tattoos?

Henna tattoos are a popular holiday souvenir that street artists draw onto people’s hands or feet. Since the colour fades after a few weeks and the application doesn’t hurt, they seem like a great alternative for children. But temporary body

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13. July 2017 in Everyday tips

What to Pack in a Travel Health Kit

Fever, diarrhoea, muscle strains – accidents or illnesses are not the first things that come to mind when planning a holiday. People with allergies need to be prepared so that they do not have to resort to inappropriate medications while

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11. May 2017 in Recipes

Onion and Tomato Relish

We prepared a delicious onion and tomato relish with none of the 14 main allergens. It is easy to make and can be used on meat, burgers, grilled vegetables, cheese, cream cheese, or as a spread.

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8. May 2017 in Everyday tips

How to Plan a Trip with Allergies

Sunny days are fast approaching. You can get a lot done ahead of time by planning your summer travel. Have you thought of informing your hosts about your allergies? Our checklist will help you plan your trip.

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6. May 2017 in Everyday tips

How can I exercise if I have asthma?

Not only can asthmatics exercise, they actually should. Movement is the best respiratory therapy. Regular physical activity strengthens pulmonary function, improves endurance and the respiratory muscles, eases depression and helps you relax.

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30. March 2017 in ECARF News

Allergy App Review: Allergy Journal

We test allergy apps for you on smartphones and tablets. Allergy Journal is the second application in our review series. Allergy Journal is a food and symptom diary that helps users identify intolerances. Allergy Journal is currently only available in […]

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28. March 2017 in Interesting facts

Allergy App Review: The Pollen App

We test allergy apps for you on smartphones and tablets. The Pollen app is the first application in our review series. The Pollen app offers much more than just pollen forecasts. It allows users to log their symptoms. The app […]

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11. January 2017 in ECARF News

We have a busy year ahead of us!

2016 was an exciting year for ECARF. For our new website, we did a lot of research, worked on a new design and spoke with many people. For our retirement home project, we toured Berlin and gathered information from caregivers

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28. June 2016 in Recipes

Mamma Mia: Pizza with Prosciutto and Rocket

For many people, a crispy pizza is the quintessential Italian food. With this ECARF recipe for homemade pizza with prosciutto and rocket, you can enjoy an evening with family and friends. The recipes use ingredients that are free from the […]

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20. May 2016 in Column

Restaurants visits for people with allergies

Depending on the allergy or other dietary restrictions such as coeliac disease, histamine or fructose intolerance, there are a number of things to watch out for. It’s not always easy. But there’s no reason allergy sufferers can’t eat out like

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6. May 2016 in Recipes

Lemon-Buttermilk Wreaths

This yeast dough recipe is great for beginners learning to bake with yeast. The dough only needs a short rising time, stays nice and moist, and also freezes well (without the glaze). The best thing about it is that the […]

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27. January 2016 in Column

Help – I’m Going on a Date!

How much should I say? What should I keep to myself? Should we go out to eat, or is that not a good idea? Should I just tell all and get it over with? So many questions!

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