Help! Allergic reaction to loom bands anyone?

[Blueskiesandcherrypies]

Sorry to post here everyone, I just know it's the place I'm most likely to get a reply....

My ds has been playing with loom bands for weeks now, we ordered some more which arrived on Friday. I'm not sure of the actual make. On Sunday he came out in a rash from head to toe. Took him to docs this morning, doc said it's an allergic reaction to something but who knows what - take piriton. Kept ds off school and he kept himself amused most of the day by playing with.... loom bands. This evening, lots of tears, itching and swollen eyelids. Doing a bit of googling has led me to believe that loom bands (or imitations thereof) could be the culprit. Any advice/thoughts please?

Take the bands away and see if he improves. If he doesn't or gets worse, it's something else.

If he has any problems breathing or swollen lips of anything take him to A&E.

It sounds a bit extreme to be from rubber bands, I imagine that would be more localised irritation, but allergies can be funny.

Have you changed soap powder, shower stuff, shampoo, bubble bath?

Could they contain latex? You can buy latex free bands. Not uncommon to be allergic to latex. Hope he feels better soon.

I know some bands are latex, which is a well known allergen, not dire if that is a local or general reaction though. I think it can be general.

Dire = sure

Are the bands latex free? If not they could certainly cause a reaction if he is sensitive/allergic to latex. Latex allergies can be quite serious and can also get worse with repeated exposure, so it's worth getting him tested if it looks like a possibility.

I think allergic reactions are also more immediate. I'm not saying it isn't the bands, but I'd look out for things he came into contact with on Sunday.

I am allergic to latex I get a localized rash/irritation though. It might be a severe allergy though if it has done what you describe :(

Like others have said, I would take the bands off him and take the antihistamines. Hope he gets well soon!

(Yes yes, you can all guess how I found out I was allergic to latex lol )

Thanks all, I'm going to try and keep him away from them for 24 hours and see what happens - easier said than done when they are everywhere in our house (ds is one of three of my DCs that play with them) and everyone at school has them too.