Facts About Hazardous Latex Allergies

Latex allergies are one of the more common allergies in the world. While latex might seem like a synthetic material, it is actually produced from the sap of the rubber tree found throughout Africa and Southeast Asia. Because latex isn't native to the rest of the world, many people's bodies are not acclimated to latex and mistake it for a harmful substance. These individuals can experience powerful allergic reactions when they come into contact with the rubber. Latex allergies might be common, but they aren't well understood. If an individual thinks they might have a latex sensitivity, they may benefit from checking out these facts about this common allergy.

Other Medical Conditions Can Put One At Risk

As stated, latex allergies still aren't fully understood, but clinical studies have found they appear to be linked with other medical conditions. Individuals with asthma are found to have a higher prevalence of latex allergies, and so are those who suffer from other allergies. For some reason, patients born with spina bifida have been found to have some of the highest rates of latex allergies. Skin conditions such as eczema are also a common co-occurring condition alongside latex allergies. If individuals have any of these conditions, they should consult their doctor to get a screening for latex allergies.

Symptoms Can Take Many Different Forms

The symptoms of latex allergies and exposure can present themselves in many different ways. The most common symptoms linked to this kind of allergy are rashes on the skin called irritant contact dermatitis, which result in dryness, burning, itching, scaling, and painful lesions. More severe reactions to latex are accompanied by flu-like symptoms including fever, rhinitis (runny nose), pink eye, cramps, and hives. In the most extreme cases, latex allergies can trigger potentially deadly anaphylactic shock reactions. If individuals experience any of the above symptoms when they come into contact with latex, they likely have a latex allergy.

Repeated Exposure Can Trigger Allergies

Healthcare workers are at the highest risk of experiencing latex allergies due to the fact latex gloves and other latex products are so prevalent in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In fact, reports indicate up to fifteen percent of healthcare professionals experience latex allergies at some point in their careers. Individuals who are not in the healthcare industry but undergo frequent medical procedures are at risk due to repeated contact with latex used in medical facilities. Heavy industry professionals are also at risk due to the presence of latex in safety equipment. So while latex gloves and other products made of this material are meant to help keep patients and the healthcare workers treating them safe, allergies to latex are still a major concern.

Latex Allergies Share A Connection With Some Food Allergies

As mentioned earlier, individuals with other allergies and similar medical conditions, such as asthma, are more prone to experiencing an allergy to latex. This is particularly the case when it comes to food allergies. For an unknown reason, latex allergies have been found to be quite prominent in individuals who experience a wide variety of food allergies. Latex allergy is commonly diagnosed alongside allergies to certain foods such as avocados, bananas, chestnuts, kiwis, and passion fruit. These foods are found to have some of the same allergens found in latex. Avoiding these foods can help individuals avoid triggering allergic responses to latex.

Avoidance Is The Only Treatment

Unfortunately, there are no known preventative treatments or medications for allergies to latex. While topical antihistamines can help relieve some of the symptoms associated with latex allergies, they do not treat the root of the problem, which is the allergy itself. Severe reactions to latex sometimes require the administration of epinephrine or adrenaline to prevent anaphylaxis. The only foolproof way to avoid allergic reactions to latex is to avoid exposure to latex itself. There are many latex alternatives used to manufacture gloves, safety equipment, and even condoms. Thus, individuals who have this allergy should look to these alternatives to lead a safe and reaction-free life.

Types Of Latex Allergic Reactions

Individuals can experience three types of latex allergic reactions. The first is called irritant contact dermatitis. This reaction tends to be mild and doesn't cause potentially threatening side effects because it doesn't trigger the immune system. When individuals touch the latex, the area that came into contact with it might experience lesions, scaling, burning, itching, and dryness. With allergic contact dermatitis, patients have an allergic reaction to the additives that manufacturers use in latex processing. Individuals get the same irritating skin reactions, but they tend to be more serious and spread to more parts of the body. These reactions also last longer than irritated reactions. Immediate allergic reactions are the most serious. When these occur, affected individuals may experience hives, cramps, serious itchiness, conjunctivitis, a runny nose, and stuffy sinuses. In rare cases, these symptoms can cause patients to go into anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Blood And Skin Diagnostic Tests

It can be difficult to check for a latex allergy. If latex allergies run in an individual's family, and they notice they react strongly to latex, they may not need an official diagnosis. But if individuals are not sure what's causing their allergic reactions, blood and skin diagnostic tests can be used. With a blood test, the doctor will order a blood draw to see if the patient has a latex sensitivity. A skin test will let patients know whether their skin shows increased reactivity to the proteins in latex. The doctor will insert a tiny amount of latex underneath the patient's skin using a small needle. This is typically done on the back or forearm. Individuals who are allergic to latex will develop a raised skin reaction at the injection site. They shouldn't try to perform this test themselves, as only allergists and other doctors with experience in skin testing are qualified to perform it safely.

Hypoallergenic Products May Not Work

Hypoallergenic products may not work for individuals dealing with a latex allergy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement advising manufacturers to stop labeling their products as 'latex-free' when they still can cause hazardous allergic reactions. The biggest problem is that the FDA doesn't regulate how the term 'hypoallergenic' is defined. This means some products may contain allergens other hypoallergenic products don't. There's no way to tell what allergens are included in a product simply because of the hypoallergenic label. Research has shown some of these products do indeed contain allergens that can cause skin reactions. One study showed nearly ninety percent of children's skincare products called 'hypoallergenic' actually had at least one common skin allergen included.

Latex Can Be Substituted With Vinyl

In many cases, latex can be substituted with vinyl. Vinyl gloves are an option if latex gloves irritate an individual's hands. It's popular for individuals in the food industry to use vinyl gloves, especially if they don't need the same level of durability latex gloves provide. Vinyl gloves are latex-free and tend to have a looser fit. They're more affordable than latex gloves, and they're good for short-term tasks that don't include hazardous materials. Since the gloves have a light powdering, they're easier to put on than some others because they don't stick to skin. As long as individuals don't need heavy-duty protection and durability, vinyl works as a great substitute for latex.