3 allergens that could be causing your bathroom woes

19th July 2023

3 allergens that could be causing your bathroom woes

While our homes are our place of comfort, they can also contribute to our allergies if we aren’t careful. Just ask anyone with hay fever in the summer. It becomes a tough choice between opening the windows and letting the pollen in or sitting in a stuffy box. When it comes to allergies, we have to be careful of how our homes can aggravate them.

One place this can happen is in the bathroom. You may not even realise it’s the cause of your reactions. But there’s plenty in there that could be causing issues. Let’s look at some strange allergy triggers in the bathroom and what they could mean for you.

Toothpaste

We know what you’re thinking: what could possibly be in toothpaste that triggers an allergy? It’s just a minty paste for brushing your teeth. But toothpaste is a collection of a lot of ingredients, and there’s a chance one of them could be an allergen.

It’s tricky to pin down which one it is without further investigation. But some of the most common triggers will be fluoride, essential oils, and even gluten, which is used to thicken the toothpaste. Symptoms can include inflammation or a rash around the mouth and lips. The best way to tackle it – at least in the short term – is to choose a different brand and see if that helps.

Shampoo

Similar to toothpaste, shampoos are made up of a wide range of ingredients, making diagnosis difficult. It might even be tough to trace it back to the shampoo in the first place. Since it can touch a lot of areas, you might not even realise that the rash around your ears comes from the shampoo.

And you’ll run into a similar issue in finding which specific ingredient is causing the problem. If you suspect your shampoo is causing an allergic reaction, stop using it and talk to your doctor. You could also research fragrance-free alternatives, as these may eliminate some of the more common triggers. But it isn’t a guarantee; medical advice will always be your best bet.

Water

Yes, it sounds stranger than fiction, but it is possible to be allergic to water. It’s incredibly rare, with only a handful of documented cases. Its medical name is “aquagenic urticaria” and happens when water comes into contact with the skin. This leads to red, itchy rashes – also known as hives.

Because it’s so rare, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly causes this reaction. The leading theories are that it’s either a certain chemical in the water or something on the skin that reacts badly with water. Either way, it makes bathing difficult. But the chances of you having the condition are incredibly slim.

The chances of there being allergy triggers in the bathroom are low. But there’s no harm in being cautious, looking out for changes in your body, and staying safe. If you ever notice an unusual reaction after using a bathroom product, talk to your doctor immediately.

Alternatively, talk to one of our allergy specialists. Our team is well-versed in getting to the bottom of your condition and suggesting changes to lead an easier and happier life. Get in touch with us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient today.

Aquagenic urticaria: could you be allergic to water?

24th August 2022

Aquagenic urticaria: could you be allergic to water?

We’re having one of the hottest summers on record here in the UK. And for many, this means more time spent in water – whether it’s a swimming pool, the sea, a paddling pool in the garden, or a refreshing cold shower. But what if you didn’t have these luxuries on a hot summer’s day?

This is the reality for any aquagenic urticaria sufferers out there. In short, this condition is a skin reaction to water. You heard that right. Despite being around 60% water, humans can experience an allergic reaction simply from coming into contact with it. 

It’s a rare allergy, but it’s still worth knowing about just in case you ever experience symptoms. Or if you’re simply interested in hearing about some of the more niche allergies out there!

What causes aquagenic urticaria?

Aquagenic urticaria is a specific form of urticaria – a common skin condition associated with hives, rashes, weals, and welts. People experience a reaction after coming into contact with an allergen. The body releases histamines to fight the harmful substance. And these are what set off our allergy-like symptoms. 

In the case of aquagenic urticaria, the allergen triggering the reaction will, of course, be water. There are plenty of times we come into contact with water. But some of the more common triggers will be swimming, bathing, rain, sweat, or tears. 

What are the symptoms?

People with aquagenic urticaria can experience a range of symptoms. These include rashes, itching, red skin, burning sensations, lesions, welts, and inflammation. In more severe cases, drinking water can cause issues. With this, someone might experience difficulty breathing, swallowing, wheezing, or a rash around the mouth. 

Symptoms will kick in shortly after exposure, usually around 15 minutes. And luckily, mild symptoms don’t tend to stick around for long either. After drying yourself off, symptoms can fade within the hour. 

Is there a treatment?

While some triggers are easy enough to avoid, others are impossible. You can’t exactly tell your body to stop producing sweat or to never cry. So where it’s unrealistic to avoid contact with water completely, the key is to prevent or minimise your symptoms post-exposure.

Antihistamines can be taken daily to reduce your body’s allergic response. Severe cases that impact your breathing may require an EpiPen. And you may also need to be mindful of the water content in the foods you eat. 

You’ll also want to reduce your contact with water wherever possible. For example, taking shorter, less frequent showers. You can also opt for moisture-wicking clothing to prevent long contact with sweat. And become more mindful of the rain forecast.

Aquagenic urticaria is an incredibly rare condition. And if you experience symptoms, it’s easy to blame something else. The chlorine in the pool or a new product you’ve used in the shower. But if you’re noticing a persistent pattern between water contact and skin irritation, it might be worth investigating it a little further.

You don’t have to navigate your allergies alone. Our experts are always on-hand to answer any questions or concerns you might have. To get in touch with us, or to book an allergy test, call 02031 433 449, or register as a new patient.

Stranger than fiction: strange allergies you might not know about

21st November 2018

Stranger than fiction: strange allergies you might not know about

Allergies can affect different people in different ways, and there are plenty of common allergies we all know about. You’ll probably be familiar with hay fever, asthma, and eczema, but what about the strange allergies in the world? From exercise to water, there are plenty of surprising things an individual can be allergic to.

Exercise

All allergies can feel overwhelming if there’s a high risk of anaphylaxis, the life or death reaction to a trigger. But what if exercise-induced anaphylaxis? Unfortunately, this is a reality for some people and can trigger through physical activity. Usually caused by higher intensity exercise, in rare cases it can lead to an anaphylactic shock.

Symptoms of the allergy include hives, inflamed skin, and fatigue. Although these symptoms are uncomfortable, they are considered to be minor. Severe symptoms include difficulty to breathe or swallow, and wheezing, along with the aforementioned anaphylaxis. Treatment for the allergy is usually an EpiPen.

Water

Water allergy (or aquagenic urticaria) although rare, with only an estimated 35 cases in the world, is a real thing and is difficult to navigate as humans require water to stay hydrated and wash. In as little as 60 seconds after exposure to water, the skin can break out in a rash.

It is usually inflamed and itchy, and can cause the skin to feel uncomfortably hot. It can even be triggered by sweat or tears. Although treatment in the form of antihistamine is common, there is only so far this will go in cooling the effects of this awkward allergy. Unfortunately, the cause is a mystery, but it’s thought to be a reaction to substances in the water.

Sunlight

Believe it or not, some individuals are allergic to sunlight. While the UK try to soak up every sunbeam come summer, for some people this isn’t possible. The condition, known as polymorphic light eruption, is a surprisingly common allergy that results in itchy rashes that can last to up to three days and can take two weeks to heal. Estimates say the allergy affects 10-15% of the UK.

The cause of the allergy is possibly due to the UV light altering a substance in the skin which causes the immune system to react negatively. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for the disorder and treatment includes sunscreen, avoiding the sun especially between 11 am to 3 pm, and wearing long sleeves and trousers.

The odds of you having one of these strange allergies is extremely low, but you never know what you could be allergic to. We highly recommended testing for allergies so that you don’t risk any of the symptoms mentioned, allowing you to live comfortably.

Don’t risk it; request an allergy test today to start your allergy-free journey, or visit our website to find out more about allergies, intolerances, and skin conditions.

3 strange but very real allergies and sensitivities

14th June 2018

3 strange but very real allergies and sensitivities

The release of the film Midnight Sun this year, had a lot of people questioning “are sun allergies real?” It’s about a girl who has a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight. We should point out that allergies and sensitivities are not the same things, although both can produce very similar symptoms. In the case of Midnight Sun, the character has neither. Rather her condition is based on xeroderma pigmentosum. It’s a rare genetic disorder where the skin cannot heal itself after damaging exposure to UV light. Any exposure to the sun is forbidden.

Despite this, allergic reactions and sensitivities to sunlight do exist. It’s strange that something so natural and fundamental to life can cause such nasty reactions in people. But, this is the case with a lot of common allergies. For example, food, pollen, and medicine are all vital to our lives, but for many people, they can be fatal. Interestingly, there are some allergies and sensitivities to things most of us would never suspect, but they are real nevertheless. These are a few of them.

Water

That’s right. Even though water makes up 60% of our bodies, for some, contact with water means a painful skin rash, known as aquagenic urticaria. The understanding of why this happens is patchy at best. Most scientists don’t believe it to be a true allergy to water, but rather speculate it as a reaction to unknown, dissolved substances in the water. Or, they say it could be a reaction between these dissolved substances with some in the skin which creates a new allergen. This sensitivity, although rare, is more common in women and symptoms often start around the onset of puberty.

Semen

Again, something that is so vital to life can cause itching, redness, burning, and swelling. It is thought to be a type-1 allergic reaction, the same as hay fever or cat dander, and is believed to be a result of allergenic proteins produced by a man’s prostate gland. Like most allergies, this issue can appear at any time in your life, and it can be mild or severe. Severe enough to cause anaphylaxis in an unlucky few. Luckily, skin prick tests and blood antibody profiles can determine a semen allergy as doctors sometimes mistake it for a case of chronic vaginitis in women.

Allergy medicine

In what seems to be a cruel twist of fate, some people with allergies can be allergic to the allergy medicine. People can be allergic to any medication, but this one is particularly rare as it causes the problem it is meant to prevent. Usually, dyes and other chemicals in the medicine are responsible for the reaction. If this is the case, a person with this allergy will need to visit an allergy centre to explore other treatments, for example, immunotherapy.

At London Allergy and Immunology Centre, we’ve seen it all. No case is too strange for us to tackle. If you are experiencing symptoms that you think may be the result of an allergy or sensitivity, book an appointment with one of our specialist consultants today online or by calling 02031 433 449. We can do all the tests you need to determine the cause of what you’re experiencing to ensure you can live your best life.

The relationship between swimming pools, asthma, and allergic rhinitis

25th March 2018

The relationship between swimming pools, asthma, and allergic rhinitis

Swimming is one of the best activities to improve physical fitness. But studies show that doing it in chlorine pools can increase the risk of asthma, eczema, respiratory allergies, and allergic rhinitis, particularly in children.

One study found that for children who were already susceptible to allergies, the risk of hay fever was up to 7 times higher if they swam in chlorinated pools for more than 100 hours. The risk of allergic rhinitis was up to 3.5 times higher for children who spent more than 1,000 hours in chlorinated water, compared to children who did not.

The study showed the more time spent in chlorinated water, the more likely the children were to develop allergies. In comparison, children who swam in pools that were copper-silver sanitised did not show an increased risk for allergies.

Why?

The possible reason for these trends is related to the formation of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals that chlorinated pools produce. People are not usually allergic to chlorine, but rather they can be sensitive to the chemical. But chlorine can contribute to allergic reactions by irritating the respiratory tract and producing byproducts that aggravate symptoms.

These chemicals include nitrogen trichloride, which forms when chlorine reacts with urea from urine in pools. It also includes other disinfectant byproducts which form as chlorine reacts with organic matter like skin and hair. One toxicologist at the Catholic University of Louvain claimed that the impact of these chemicals on the respiratory health of children and adolescents is more than 5 times worse than those associated with second-hand smoking.

These chemicals hover at the water’s surface, right where you breathe while swimming. This increases the risk of asthma and respiratory issues in swimmers. Swimming pool workers have also shown an increase in susceptibility to asthma from breathing in these chemicals around the pool. So what can be done about this? Swimming is a great form of exercise, particularly for people who cannot do high impact exercises. But that shouldn’t mean swimmers have to endure increased risk to their health to do what they enjoy.

What else can you do?

There are alternatives to the chlorine pools that allow you to exercise without increasing the risk. Disinfectant methods that don’t involve chlorine are becoming more popular, such as copper-silver ionisation. Also, UV filtration and the use of ozone are two methods of killing bacteria in water. But, they can not kill bacteria that enter the pool as new bathers arrive. A small amount of chlorine is used with both these methods but the concentration is lower than traditional swimming pools. This may be a healthier alternative to purely chlorine disinfected pools.

If you want to avoid chlorine-based fumes altogether, the riskier alternative of swimming in natural bodies of water may be an exhilarating alternative. Remember these activities can be dangerous, particularly in the sea. They may not be suitable for children and you should always make sure you are fully capable of swimming in these areas before you do.

The findings from studies which investigate the relationship between allergies and swimming pools highlight a need for further research into how exactly these chemicals sensitise children and adults alike.

If you are experiencing allergy symptoms like asthma and rhinitis, book an appointment with one of our specialist consultants today. They will help you determine the cause and solutions to your symptoms to increase your quality of life.