Allergies are a damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially a particular food, pollen, fur, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive. These are some of the common allergens, we all are familiar of. These can be seasonal such as pollen grain allergy that’s gets worse in springs and summer, or perennial, such as an allergy from cats or peanuts persists year-round. The most efficient way to overcome allergic reactions is avoid contact with the allergens. Some of many symptoms of an allergy includes rashes, sneezing, cough, running nose, itching etc. Allergies are common to humans. Our desperate urge for ‘newness’ brings us to this article. These weird bodily reactions can be a response to something very common. Being allergic to water or even fruits is not just concept of cartoons, it is a real thing! Apart from the some of the other uncommon allergies are listed here that will leave you astonished.
1.Leather Allergy
This allergy is reported in the form of a poison ivy-type rash on the feet after wearing leather shoes. It is caused by the chemical used in the process of tanning of leather. This type of allergy is called contact dermatitis (a form of eczema) and can be diagnosed by performing a patch test. Contact dermatitis is a catchall term for a common skin condition that can result from contact with many possible allergens or irritants. Its rashy reaction leads to more than five million doctor visits every year. The first symptom of this allergy are often delayed. They can also occur after prolonged exposure rather than instant contact. The symptoms of contact dermatitis are also very similar to eczema, highlighting the importance of getting a diagnosis by a board-certified allergist. The solution to a shoe allergy — contact dermatitis of the feet — is to wear socks or shoes made with something other than leather. Antihistamines can help with the rash, which usually clears up in a few days.
2.Water Allergy
How can be anyone is allergic to life-saving water?! Weird but true, water allergy is called aquagenic urticaria. It is one of a group of hive-related conditions known as physical urticarias. Urticarias is the medical term of hives, which are red patches, wheals that appear on the skin and are very itchy. Usually, these hives go away within 10-15 minutes of water exposure. Antihistamines are used for some relief from this allergy. Hives can be triggered by many sources such as rain, snow, sweat, tears etc. Precautions are always better than cures. According to a 2011 report, there are fewer than 100 cases of aquagenic urticaria reported in medical literature. Allergic individuals should restrict their contact with water. Wearing moisture-wicking clothes, infrequent showers and being mindful of the weather are some of the many measures that can be taken to avoid these allergic reactions.
3.Semen Allergy
This is a very rare medical problem. It is usually seen in women in the form of hives and swelling in the vaginal area after sexual intercourse. The rare condition is more common in women, affecting up to 40,000 women in the United States. It’s unclear how extensively this condition affects men who have sexual contact with men Using a good physical contraception (for example a condom) is always a better option. Women to want to conceive may have to get allergy shots before hand. Treatment to desensitize your allergic reaction to your partner’s semen may allow you to conceive naturally. If the patient has a severe sensitivity to semen, intrauterine insemination — using sperm washed free of semen proteins to prevent a reaction — or in vitro fertilization may be options for conceiving.
4.Allergy to Exercise
Apart from laziness people can genuinely be allergic to exercises. Exercise allergy causes not only urticaria, or hives, but in a more severe form, it can lead to anaphylaxis, a dangerous condition in which your blood pressure drops suddenly and you have trouble breathing. There are two types of exercise allergy. One type occurs after eating food, within two hours of exercise, and the other occurs without eating food. In either case, you should stop exercising, but you can prevent the food-related type by not eating before exercise. Treatment of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency, may require injections of the drug epinephrine. In rare cases, anaphylaxis is caused by physical activity. A combination of exercise and other contributing factors such as food, weather conditions, or medications can cause exercise-induced anaphylaxis.
5.Allergy to the Sun
One of major source of life on earth is also an allergen to many surviving there. Also known as Solar urticaria. This unnatural allergy’s symptoms include hives which are treated with antihistamines and avoidance of sun can prevent this reaction to some extent. Stinging and itching is felt within 30 minutes of sun exposure and clear up within minutes of getting out of the sun. Solar urticaria is supposedly caused by ultraviolet light. Some people have a hereditary type of sun allergy. Others develop signs and symptoms only when triggered by another factor — such as a medication or skin exposure to plants such as wild parsnip or limes. Mild cases of sun allergy may clear up without treatment. More-severe cases may be treated with steroid creams or pills. People who have a severe sun allergy may need to take preventive measures and wear sun-protective clothing.
6.Allergy to Electricity
Some people claim to suffer from electro sensitivity. In clear words they are allergic to electric fields generated by appliances such as cell phones, microwaves, computers and power lines. Symptoms include headache, ringing in the ears, fatigue and many more. This bizarre condition is also perceived as electromagnetic hypersensitivity or electrohypersensitvity (EHS). Despite these reports, EHS is not a recognized illness in the medical field. Studies have failed to find a strong clinical relationship between EMFs and the reported symptoms. Additionally, objective criteria for diagnosing EHS is lacking. As a result, EHS is a self-diagnosed condition. Let’s look at what the science says about the condition and how it’s treated.
7.Allergy to Coins
Coins are usually made of nickel, a silvery metal that is mixed with other metals to form alloys. Rashes on hands as soon s the coins are held is a major symptom of this allergy. Like all other allergies best treatment includes use of antihistamines. Atypical steroid cream can be applied when the rashes develop. Some people develop this allergy while other do not, mainly because of the exposure time variation among them. People like bankers, cashiers, etc. constantly have coins in hand which makes their body resistant to such infections.
8.Touch Allergy
Contact dermatitis occurs when skin touches something that a person is sensitive or allergic to, such as an individual is sensitive to perfume, ivy or cleaning product. Red, itchy, bumps are some of the symptoms of skin allergy. These symptoms can range from mild too severe, and they can appear anywhere from a few hours to 10 days after coming in contact with the allergen. Precautions that work well in avoiding the allergy are maintaining your personal hygiene, avoiding the allergen, hydrocortisone cream over the allergy prone areas and histamines.
9.Allergy to Cold
It gets very difficult for the person to differentiate between general body reactions to cold surroundings and allergy from cold. Assistance from a doctor is always the best choice for any consultancy. Cold urticaria can life threatening if the person is suddenly exposed to extremely cold environment. This can lead to massive release of histamine in the body which can severely drop blood pressure. Affected skin develops reddish, itchy welts. Worst reactions occur when the entire body is exposed to cold altogether, in such situation the person might faint and might drown. This ailment is common in young adults. Treatment usually includes preventive steps such as taking antihistamines and avoiding cold air and water.
10.Allergy from Pollinated Fruit
Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome (PFAS), also known as oral allergy syndrome. This allergy occurs when the affected person eats pollinated fruits containing the same protein as the pollen. This is called cross reactivity, and it can occur between red weed and bananas, grasses and tomato and birch trees and apples. Symptoms include itchy mouth, throat and sometimes swollen lips. These symptoms usually go away as soon as to swallow to spit the fruit. Infection is not that severe and patients do not report any major damage thus treatment not really required. Avoiding raw food is one of the best ways to manage PFAS.
