According to statistics, up to 30% of adults and 40% of children in the US are allergic to something. And while everybody knows about food, pet, and dust allergies, there are some allergies that are so rare that you have probably never heard about them.
We at Bright Side have compiled a list of 15 such unique allergies to everyday items.
In a world full of technological devices like smartphones and tablets, it is hard to imagine a life without them. But some people are just forced to live without those devices because they are allergic to metals like nickel or cobalt, which are used in the majority of modern phones.
Allergic people get itchy and covered with rashes on their hands, ears, and cheeks. If you have these symptoms when using a mobile device, get yourself a case and try to talk on the phone less often. If necessary, use the speakerphone option.
Just like with the cell phones, the problem with the buttons occurs because of the allergy to nickel. For allergic people, the touch of this metal on their skin can become a real problem, causing itchiness and erythema. If you are allergic, wear an extra layer of clothing between the button and the skin (tuck in your shirt, for example).
A small bite of meat and you feel sick: your nose is stuffed and you are constantly sneezing; your body is itching all over, and you feel nauseated. Does this sound like you? Then you are probably allergic to meat. This allergy can develop at any age. It often develops after a bite of the Lone Star tick, a small mite living in the Eastern part of the United States.
If you are eating a pollinated fruit (such as apples, kiwi, peaches, and much more), and suddenly feel burning on your lips and in your throat, then you are probably suffering from the Oral allergy syndrome, also known as the pollen-food syndrome. This allergy usually does not affect young children; it develops during the pre-teen and the teenage years.
What can be worse than being allergic to the sun? People who suffer this allergy experience itching, inflammation, and scratching of the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Sometimes this can be affected by taking certain medications but sometimes the causes of the disease remain unclear. If the allergy does not go away for a long period of time, it's better to consult your doctor.
"Aquagenic urticaria" is a rare disease in which human skin does not tolerate any contact with water. The slightest drop can cause rashes and hives all over the skin. The allergy affects more women than men.
It may sound like an excuse, but exercise-induced anaphylaxis does exist. If you suffer from this rare disease, then your body is unable to split protein from food, so when the body temperature goes up during the workout, you experience shortness of breath, rash, throat swelling, and, in some cases, angioedema.
How to stay healthy in this situation? Choose more relaxing and calmer training – substitute cardio with yoga and etc. Also, avoid foods that are rich in protein, especially before exercising.
If on a hot, sunny day you have a rash where you perspire, then you may be allergic to your own sweat. This type of allergy is called "cholinergic urticaria" and it goes away right after you cool down.
Chemicals contained in cosmetics, creams, and lotions may cause allergic reactions that occur within a couple of hours or even days after application. If you're unsure about a certain component of your makeup product, it's better to consult an allergist or dermatologist and find an alternative.
Some components of laundry detergents can also cause allergic reactions. People who suffer from this allergy get itchy when they wear clothes or sleep on sheets washed with the cleanser.
Like in the previous case, this allergy is caused by certain ingredients contained in household cleaners. The symptoms include rashes and redness in the places where the cleaner touched your skin.
We all think that wool is itchy. But some people do not tolerate it at all because of their allergy to lanolin. Lanolin is a natural waxy component produced by sheep. It is also added to some makeup products, so people with an allergy to wool should carefully read the ingredients of cosmetic products and should avoid lanolin.
Another fabric on our list is leather. Most people can tolerate it but there are also those who are allergic to this material. If you feel itching and burning when putting on a leather jacket, it's probably time to think about leatherette.
We have already mentioned the allergy to nickel contained in cell phones. The same nickel can also be found in jewelry. If you notice redness and itchiness when wearing rings and bracelets, then you may be allergic to this jewelry.
For a bookworm, the smell of a newly printed book is the best thing in the world. But for an allergic person, such a smell will cause nothing but a stuffed nose and a headache. If you are hypersensitive to book dust, do not stop reading – just switch to electronic devices.
Do you have any of these allergies? What other unusual allergens do you know? Let us know what you think in the comments below!