Everything you need to know about your latex allergy
Posted: 7th December 2022 | Posted by Costa
Everything you need to know about your latex allergy
Sometimes, allergies come from the strangest, most unexpected places. We’re all likely familiar with the most common ones. There are some who are allergic to certain foods. Others react to the pollen in the air. You might even have an allergy like that yourself. Those ones we’ve definitely heard of.
But what about something like a latex allergy? The idea of putting on some rubber gloves and breaking out in hives might seem bizarre, but it can certainly happen. According to some estimates, around 4% of people can have the condition. That might not sound like much, but that’s 1 in every 25 people. So what is a latex allergy, what are its symptoms, and what can you do about it?
What is a latex allergy?
When you react to latex, it is your reaction to certain proteins found in natural rubber latex. This will come from a rubber tree typically. As with any allergy, your body is responding to something it sees as a threat, even though it isn’t. Note that there are synthetic forms of latex, but people don’t tend to react to this. So we’re focusing on the natural variety.
Believe it or not, latex is very prevalent in our lives. Many common objects will be made out of latex. If it’s made from rubber, for example, the chances are it will have latex in it. Some of the products you might come across include:
- Rubber gloves
- Medical gloves
- Balloons
- Condoms
- Erasers
- Rubber bands
- Elastic (used in clothing)
- Adhesive plasters
Symptoms of a latex allergy
So how do you know if you’re having a bad reaction to latex? There are some symptoms that are likely to show up, and they will be familiar to anyone dealing with contact dermatitis. These include:
- Itching
- Rashes
- Hives
- Redness on the skin
- Swelling
You may notice that these happen around the area where the latex has touched. So if you blow up a balloon, you may notice your lips start to swell. If you have intercourse with a condom, you may find it uncomfortable around those regions.
At its worst, a latex allergy can even cause anaphylaxis. This is a significant reaction that can cause breathing problems, loss of consciousness, and even death. You should always take an allergy like this seriously.
How to live with a latex allergy
The most obvious piece of advice – but one we’ll give all the same – is avoid latex where you can. Even if you only suspect an allergy for now. It’s not such a critical part of life that it can’t be put to the side, even temporarily.
As latex is common in medical gloves, this might be an issue for any doctor or dentist visits. Make sure to let them know ahead of time that this will be an issue. Give them a good 24 hour warning as a courtesy, though they should have a plan in place for situations like this anyway.
And as soon as you can, get yourself tested for the condition if you haven’t already. You don’t want a severe allergic reaction to catch you off guard. Once you know for sure that you have a latex allergy, you can take the appropriate steps to protect yourself.
If you ever have concerns about a potential latex allergy – or any allergy period – then get in touch with our team of allergists today. Our experts can guide you through your condition and help you with any lifestyle adjustments. Feel free to register as a new patient, or simply call us on 02031 433 449.