What unusual allergies have you heard of?

[Soubriquet]

I mean most people know about things like peanut allergies but what else do you know is an allergen?

Someone I know (on here btw so hi if she sees this) her ds is allergic to tomatoes

I’ve never heard of a tomato allergy before so that was interesting

@QueenPaw I just swear my way through exercise whilst trying not to claw off my skin. I have found that sticking an ice pack in my bra and in the waistband of my leggings really helps reduce the hives.

I have PLE which is basically an allergy to sunlight.

@BeeHaveBeeQuiet

My son is allergic to chicken. If he eats it he gets hives around his mouth, then swollen lips (double size), and eventually eye lids swell to closing. We've also discovered he can't eat turkey or any other game meat, although could be a cross contamination issue at the factory. Quite a rare allergy so I've been told. I'm allergic to avacado, my lips swell up. I've also got a touch allergy to the starch in potatoes, peeling them without gloves makes my hands red and incredibly itchy.

It’s clearly genetics at play here - I don’t think his allergies are weird after knowing about yours. It runs in the family, you passed it down to him which makes him more susceptible to having intolerances even if it’s not the exact same as yours

My son - horses, cats, probably quite common though

I carry an EpiPen for....... mould allergy. Seriously. Penicillin, blue cheese, and quorn have all set it off in the past.
I'm also allergic to willow trees/aspirin. That's more of a wanting to scratch my face off thing as opposed to a blue lights and A and E affair

All of these have been diagnosed via a NHS allergy clinic. Apparently my skin prick reaction to mould was off the scale unreadable.

@Graphista you can get latex free washing up gloves. Nitrile are probably the most common ones but you can get other materials as well. I think Amazon sell the nitrile ones.

@Babdoc that sounds like medical negligence, did the consultant get reprimanded?

My Ds has a whole array of very serious allergies.
He is allergic to all types of fish, peas, chick peas, lentils, raw egg and nuts.
The nuts one isnt rare. The raw egg is weird as he's fine with cooked. Fish I knew of people with shellfish allergies but not all fish.
It's fun feeding him I can tell you

Something that’s only found in certain hard, strong cheeses. Get a prickly, hot sensation across my face and scalp. Never happens with soft cheese or even all types of hard cheeses. Never worked out what the link is so I just eat it anyway!

Yes, really.
I'm ok with some mild things, but running, swimming, cycling, sometimes fast walking, and more sets me off.

Had a psychotic pe teacher in secondary for a few months who had me pegged as an attention seeker.

Latex is another fun one. Like egg it's in a lot of medical stuff.

I'm allergic to aspirin and I think I have have a mild allergy to Christmas trees as they make me sneeze a lot and give me sore eyes like hay-fever symptoms.

I'm allergic to pineapple proper anaphylaxis if I have it or the juice. Not a problem generally but have to be careful with sweets, juices and Far Eastern food.
I wasn't allergic until I was in my 30s, found out one day when I was cooking for the kids and tasted a bit of pineapple, and almost instantly my mouth, tongue and throat swelled up. Luckily my DH is a dr and realised v. Quickly what was going on.
I'm on immunosuppressants, they changed one of my drugs and after that I became allergic. I'm no longer on that drug but still allergic, they think that it just triggered my immune system which is screwy anyway hence the immunosuppressants.

I have so many it’s something I feel I’m making it up:
Sunlight (big red sore and itchy lumps that eventually weep pus)
Penicillin
Strawberries
Raw tomatoes
Avocado (mild)
Brazil nuts (serious)
Kiwis
Pears
Some kinds of cabbage
And weirdest of all -
Something in Brylcream!

Horses ( it's their coat that causes the problem)
Kiwi fruit
Coffee
All different people.

With me, it's perfume or certain fabric conditioner or strong deodorants. Makes my eyes water or come out in a rash.

Oh and terrier type dogs/rough haired dogs

just yesterday heard of a lady allergic to hamsters! The family have never owned one even before finding this out

I have a rare condition where my body thinks so many things are allergens & is pretty much in a constant state of allergic response (managed with copious daily medication).
It includes chocolate, wine, jelly, dried herbs, perfume, chemicals & loads more.
www.mastcellaction.org

OMG, this thread has given me a lightbulb moment. I get frequent outbreaks of hives all over my arms and legs, hands and feet. Been dismissed by GP as they couldn't find a reason - I've kept food diaries, changed all washing powder and other toiletries but it still happens. it started around two years ago and can go away for weeks - sometimes months - and then comes back again and lasts for just as long. I'm now wondering if temperature could be an issue. Will start paying attention to the weather now.

Aside from that, I am just like a family member described in a PP. Developed an anaphylactic shellfish allergy overnight in my 30s despite it being my favourite food until that point. I'm pescatarian too and this has made things quite tricky.

I am allergic to Kiwi. Makes my tongue swell slightly!

DD has oral allergy syndrome and flares to quite a few things. Hazelnuts are the worst, so we avoid them like the plague!
We have Piriton to hand, 24/7!

I also have allergies to cats. Again , it's the fur.
My eyes swell up.
My friend has to put her cat outside if I go round ( in pre covid days) it used to stare at me through the window! ( cat is loving lockdown !)
I know it's not unusual though and many pets can cause allergies etc.
I used an over the counter spot cream once and they caused my face to swell up.

I am allergic to melon and my husband allergic to nuts and avocados

@Babadoc when I was a child I was allergic to water in a place we lived for a bit. It was the hardness of the water that was an issue - very hard water, every time I washed with it my skin blistered immediately as if I'd been horrifically burnt.
Thankfully It wasn't a problem when we moved to a softer water area. I'm still sensitive to hard water but it's more just mild eczema now, I grew out of the extreme reaction.

@Claphands

I knew someone who was allergic to horses!

I'm allergic to horses and balloons but not latex.

My friend is allergic to vinegar

I also know someone allergic to alliums so no onions, garlic, leeks etc. Think that one is more common though.