Four bizarre allergies that actually exist

5th June 2019

Four bizarre allergies that actually exist

Getting people to understand common allergies, such as peanuts or pollen, is difficult enough. Try explaining that you’re allergic to any surface a cockroach walks on or you’re allergic to the proteins found in raw fruit and vegetables.

There are many allergies that sound stranger than fiction. But it’s time to separate myth from fact and reveal some uncommon allergies that may not get the spotlight they deserve.

Cockroaches

For those of us that live in the UK, cockroaches are rare and shouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, holidays in hotter countries may cause a bit of bother. If you’re allergic, cockroach bodies and their waste can induce symptoms similar to hay fever, along with skin rashes.

Raw fruits and vegetables

For those wishing to eat a healthy diet, being allergic to raw fruits and vegetables can be a nightmare. Sadly, many people will question whether you’re allergic and say you’re being fussy.

The problem is called ‘oral allergy syndrome’ and causes itching, burning, and pain in the throat. It occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to the proteins found in fruits and vegetables.

Mobile phones

What could possibly cause a mobile phone allergy? Unfortunately, for some of us, our bodies react to the presence of nickel or low levels of radiation. It can lead to a skin reaction that causes redness, welts, and itching.

Allergy medicine

Being allergic to the very thing that can treat your allergies is a cruel twist of fate. Some people’s immune systems react to the dyes or other ingredients used in common allergy medication. Thankfully, allergists can provide alternatives to help you treat your allergies.

These are just a small handful of bizarre allergies that many people don’t even know exist. If you’re experiencing any allergy symptoms you’re unsure about, it’s worth visiting a professional who can diagnose and treat you.

If you need help understanding your allergies, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with The London Allergy and Immunology Centre. Our specialist consultants can help you find the best treatments to make sure your allergies don’t take their toll on your daily life. Give us a call on 02 031 433 449 today.

Everyday items that could be causing allergy symptoms

4th May 2018

Everyday items that could be causing allergy symptoms

Experiencing skin irritation, rashes, watery eyes, and a runny nose is annoying. But what is even more annoying is experiencing these allergy symptoms and not knowing why. Is it an allergy? If so, what are you allergic to? Is your detergent a bit too strong for your skin? Are you developing hay fever? You just don’t know. Luckily, allergy tests are available to identify the cause of your symptoms. If you haven’t gotten around to being tested yet, here are some everyday items that you may never have suspected could cause allergy-like symptoms in you or your child.

Your phone and electronics

This isn’t just our way of telling you to stop spending so much time on your phone. Some handsets and other electronics contain metals like nickel and cobalt which cause skin irritation at the point of contact. Allergic Living found a surge in the number of reported nickel sensitivities/allergies. Not helpful as we succumb further to the digital age.

Jewellery and accessories

Similarly to the above, a lot of jewellery and accessories contain metals that cause skin irritation or rashes. Nickel, for example, is found in glasses, belts, earrings, coins, keys, and underwire in bras. If you’re experiencing skin irritation on your body as it comes into contact with a suspicious metal, it is worth finding out if this could be caused by contact with a metal that you’re sensitive to.

Clothing

It may be unusual for a person to be allergic to clothes fibres but sometimes it does happen. People have been known to be allergic to lanolin, a fatty substance found on sheep’s wool. But, more commonly, people are allergic or sensitive to finishing resins, dyes, glues, and chemicals found in clothing, bags, and shoes. This can cause skin irritation.

Latex

Latex allergies are not unheard of, but sometimes you may not realise which household products contain latex and can trigger a reaction. These include children’s toys, balloons, rubber bands, shoe soles, gloves, paint, bandages, condoms, baby bottles, raincoats, sports equipment, and buttons. That’s a lot to look out for, but it may be necessary if you think you have a latex allergy.

Alcohol

Sulphites in wine have been known to trigger asthma symptoms in people with asthma. Also when coming into contact with alcohol, some people experience rhinitis, sneezing, and coughing.

Trees

It is no secret that pollen from trees causes hay fever and nuts from them can cause severe allergic reactions. But you can also be allergic to sap from trees such as Pine. Usually, you have to touch the sap to experience the allergy symptoms or irritation. But, for example, if you burn a lot of pine at once, allergens can also travel through the air.

Not all of these allergy symptoms will be a result of having a true allergy to these common items. Nor is a complete list, missing off things like cosmetics. Sometimes, irritation can occur if you are sensitive to a substance, without going through the physical process of having an allergic reaction. But, symptoms of sensitivity may mimic those of an allergic reaction.

To be on the safe side, you can book an allergy test with one of our consultants. We offer a range of simple, accurate allergy tests that test you for over 100 allergies at once so that you can have peace of mind when it comes to your health.