“It wasn’t contact dermatitis in the traditional sense,” she explains. “There was nothing directly touching my face. I was reacting to things just being in the air
In Becky’s case, patch testing was conducted to identify chemical sensitivities. However, the standard acrylate panel did not include the specific proprietary compound used in the workplace, which introduced a diagnostic gap. Despite this limitation, expert review pointed to acrylates as the most likely cause of sensitization based on the exposure history and symptom pattern.
So, because acrylates are found everywhere, she was affected beyond work. Walking past a freshly painted fence, strolling by a nail salon, or entering a hotel room with scented cleaning products could trigger a flare. Even spending time outdoors near lawns sprayed with pesticides was risky. Over time, the list of triggers grew longer—and her world smaller.
Invisible Illness, Visible Impact
Despite her growing symptoms, Becky struggled to get support. “My company assigned me an attorney for my disability case,” she says. “But I was told, ‘I’ve never won a case for allergies.’” She was denied two or three times for Social Security Disability before finally being approved. “People would say, ‘You’re the healthiest person I know on disability,’ because I looked fine. But my life was unrecognizable.”
For Becky, the emotional toll was as real as the physical symptoms. “I was heartbroken,” she says. “I lost my career. And the hardest part was that no one really understood what I was going through.”
The Turning Point: treating chemical sensitivity with infrared sauna
After months of research, she began working with integrative physicians who helped her piece together a more complete picture of her condition. One explained that all diseases start in the gut and advised her to focus on healing internally. Another emphasized the concept of body burden—the cumulative effect of toxins over time—and how once that burden exceeds what the body can manage, systems begin to break down.
Becky began looking for ways to help her body offload some of that burden.
One of those doctors suggested an infrared sauna. At first, Becky resisted. “It felt like overkill. I was already in such a fragile place,” she says. “But then I realized I needed to be proactive. I wasn’t getting better just by avoiding things—I needed to help my body heal.”
In 2019, she purchased a Sunlighten mPulse Believe infrared sauna. It quickly became her safe haven. “I didn’t want to go to a public sauna and be surrounded by other people’s toxins. With my own, I could control the environment.”
How infrared sauna helps detox and manage VOC sensitivity
Infrared sauna therapy is unique in that it penetrates deep into the body, stimulating sweat and supporting detoxification at the cellular level. For people like Becky, who are sensitive to airborne toxins like acrylates and VOCs, that gentle, daily detox is life changing.
“Whenever I travel, I come home and immediately get in the sauna,” she says. “Airplanes, hotels, new cars—they all expose me to chemicals. The sauna helps reduce the body burden and keeps me functioning.”
Now, it’s a daily practice. “If I don’t do it, I feel the difference. I can’t afford to skip it. Whether it’s stress, pollutants in the air, or exposure at the gym, I need that reset every day.”
Even her husband, an architect who designs fire stations, advocates for infrared sauna use. He now includes saunas in his firehouse designs to help firefighters detox after exposure to smoke and chemicals. “He’s seen how powerful it is—not just for me, but for others in high-exposure professions.”
A voice for awareness and advocacy
Becky hasn’t just quietly suffered through her experience. She’s become a voice for others in her industry, sharing her story at work and trying to raise awareness about chemical sensitivities in the workplace. “It’s been swept under the rug for years,” she says. “But I’ve met so many others with similar issues.”
Before retiring in 2022, she helped form a small work support group for those who had been chemically injured at work, building a sense of solidarity among colleagues. “I wasn’t the only one. There were people quietly struggling, just like I was.”
A New Way Forward
Today, Becky still lives with chemical sensitivity. She still avoids hair salons, nail polish, perfume, scented detergent—even her dog’s shampoo must be fragrance-free. But she’s also found a path toward resilience. Daily sauna use, informed lifestyle choices, and a commitment to advocating for change have helped her reclaim her life.
“Chemical sensitivities are real,” she says. “They’re misunderstood, and they’re affecting more people than we realize. But there are things we can do—things that make a real difference.”
Her story is a reminder that wellness doesn’t always come in the form of a prescription. Sometimes, it’s about understanding your environment, listening to your body, and using the right tools to support healing. For Becky, her infrared sauna is more than a wellness accessory—it’s a daily act of survival, self-care and strength.
Editor’s Note:
Due to the sensitive nature of this story and at the request of the individual’s attorney, we have chosen to use only her first name and to omit the name of the company involved. Chemical exposure and occupational health are complex topics, and individuals who speak out about their experiences can face intense scrutiny—particularly when those experiences challenge widely held assumptions. In the interest of privacy and to minimize potential legal or professional repercussions, we have kept company references generic and focused on helping her share her experience with this issue. It is her desire to help educate the world and we want to honor her personal story.
