Allergic Reactions To Latex Gloves

Latex Allergy




By: Christopher H. Waters -

The natural rubber latex is a milky fluid which is derived from the rubber tree known as hevea brasiliensis. The gloves made from this natural rubber latex are known as Latex Gloves. These latex gloves can cause allergic reactions due to the proteins released by the latex.

Health Problems Caused by wearing Latex Gloves

For the past few years it can be observed that there is an increasing incidence of allergic reactions among the latex gloves users. According to current estimation up to 17% of health care workers, who are regular users of latex gloves, have developed an allergy to them. The more time the health care workers spend in contact with latex the more they are likely to become allergic patient. The three main types of health problems which can be caused by wearing regular natural rubber latex gloves are 1) irritant dermatitis, 2) allergic contact dermatitis and 3) immediate latex allergy.

1) Irritant Dermatitis: The Irritant dermatitis is the most common disease that is associated with wearing of latex gloves. It is mainly caused by repeated washing of hands and especially wearing of powdered gloves. Dry, itchy, irritated areas on the skin are the main symptoms of this disease. The Irritant dermatitis is not actually a true allergic reaction. The irritation may be caused both because of the powder in the gloves which acts as an irritant and because of the skin which stays moist for many hours during the day as we wear them. Washing of hands may also cause an irritation because of the strong scrubbing agents, soaps and detergents.

2) Allergic Contact Dermatitis: In case of allergic contact dermatitis which is also known as chemical sensitivity dermatitis the hands, wrists and even forearms develop a red, itchy rash, blisters, sores and cracks. This disease is an allergic reaction of the skin which is caused by the chemicals inside the latex gloves. The chemicals which are mainly responsible for the disease are the residues which were not completely removed during manufacturing process. The more one is exposed to these harmful chemicals the more he is likely to react with them.

3) Immediate Latex Allergy: The most common symptoms of this disease are skin redness, rash, hives and eczema. Sometimes more severe symptoms can be life-threatening such as respiratory symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, red itchy eyes, swollen face, scratchy throat, asthma and anaphylaxis. One is more likely to develop an immediate latex allergy as long as he is exposed to the proteins released by the latex gloves.


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A Remedy For Seasonal Allergies

Allergy Remedy


By: Mark Dodd

Are you one of the millions that suffer from allergies? Are you looking for information on allergy remedies? If you are a chronic victim of the distressing effects of allergies then it’s high time you found an effective allergy remedy. There are several allergy remedy medications available on the market.

In order to effectively treat your allergies, you need to find the allergy remedy most aligned with your symptoms and needs. You have several avenues to choose from when searching for an allergy remedy. These avenues include: home remedies, allergy medication, environmental modifications, and a consultation with an Allergist.

Let’s start with home remedies. Home allergy remedies were used before allergy medications surfaced on the medical scene. Be wary of many home remedies. Many of these remedies are based on “old wives tales”.

However, there are some steps you can take at home that do work. For example, if you have an allergy to pollen you can minimize its effects by washing your clothing and hair when come home. Make sure to do this before you go to bed, so that you won’t spread any of the pollen onto your bedding.

Allergy medications are a wonderful allergy remedy. You can use over the counter antihistamine pills, lotions, and ointments. If you have a chronic allergy you can consult your physician for a stronger prescription allergy remedy. Nasal sprays are also a great tool against allergies. They act as a direct allergy remedy to your nasal passageways.

There are a few environmental modifications you can make as an allergy remedy. Wash bedding in hot water to remove dust mites. Use mattress and pillow covers to fight against dust mites. Keep your home clean and carpets vacuumed.

If you have severe allergies that can’t be managed with basic allergy remedies then head to your physician or allergist. They can take you through a series of allergy testing and provide the best treatment options for your situation. This may involve removing the allergy culprit from your environment, food plate, or clothing drawer. They can provide prescription allergy medication to knock your allergy out cold.


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A Quick Guide To Food Allergy Treatment

Food Allergy Treatment


By Allen Matthews

This article has been written for those readers who have already been diagnosed with a food allergy. If you are worried that you may suffer from a food allergy, then your best course of action, is to contact your Doctor or GP and have them help determine whether or not you have a food allergy. They will do this by taking a series of tests to help gauge your reaction. Remember to bring a detailed case history of your previous reactions with you, so that the doctor has a better idea of your condition.

An allergy to food is when you have an adverse physical reaction to a food item after eating it. The most common food allergy is a Peanut Allergy, which affects from 1% - 1.5% of the population. It is also possible to outgrow a food allergy over time, however with a peanut allergy, this is rather unlikely.

Treatments For Food Allergies

As of today, the only treatment available for someone with a food allergy is prevention. That simply means they must carefully watch what they eat, to make sure that they avoid the food that causes their allergic reaction. Your GP or a professional dietician can sit with you and list what types of food you may need to remove from your diet (moreover, they can show you what kinds of food alternatives you can replace them with).

Sometimes however, being careful, may turn out to not be enough. Especially in the case of a peanut allergy, an unwanted food item (or even food trace) can slip into your meals by mistake (in one well documented case, a peanut allergic school girl had an adverse reaction to peanuts after her chicken sandwich was mistakenly made using a knife that had previously been used to make a peanut butter sandwich). Adverse reactions, such as swelling around the mouth or a severe rash, must be immediately treated with emergency antihistamines.

When it comes to food allergies, the best treatment is to always be cautious, carry a card or a bracelet that details your allergy, and always carry emergency antihistamines.

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A Guide To Allergies

About Allergy


By Ken Marlborough

Allergy is a condition in which the body tends to react due to hypersensitivity to some substance such as food, drugs, drinks, pollution, flowers, and others. An allergen could be anything under the sun that might cause a reaction in one’s body if the body disagrees with that substance. Even a common thing such as sunlight and air might cause sever reactions in some if the skin is susceptible to allergies due to the same.

People suffering from food allergies are many. Although most of these individuals do not have very severe reactions, some might find instant severe reaction to some foods. Some of the allergic reactions are caused due to seafood, regular food such as rice, soy, wheat, nuts, flowers, sunlight, metals and many such items.

Certain allergic reactions that are caused can be given temporary treatment to sooth the itchiness and provide some relief to the patient. However, most allergies have no permanent cure and the individuals suffering from these will need to avoid coming in contact with certain items that might cause reactions.

Itchiness and irritation along with blotches are caused in most reactions. Body lotions can sometimes soothe these although severe ones need to be treated with immediate effect. Drug reactions must be immediately taken care of as they can turn out to be quite severe with delay and might even result in death of the patient if an alternative to stop the reaction is not immediately administered to the patient.

People suffering from respiratory problems such as asthma, sinusitis can use inhalers for temporary relief. Such individuals need to have the medicine on hand at all times in anticipation of an attack due to some reason or other. Other preventive medicines must be taken without fail for avoiding the attacks at inappropriate moments. Antihistamines and decongestants also help with respiratory problems.

Allergies tests must be taken to fist diagnose the problem. Although most of them do not have a temporary cure, allergy shots, supplements and other medication would help in stopping the attacks when least expected. Most allergy medication causes drowsiness and can impair driving. It is usually suggested to rest when on medication because of this. Allergy shots also help a great deal in the long run as they can reduce the chances of attacks drastically if proper care is taken.

Seasonal allergies are most common in children and even in a few percentages of adults. Taking a few precautions at the initial time of seasonal change can help a great deal in avoiding such allergies. Although spring is the most beautiful season, all that pollen in the air might result in respiratory and skin allergies. Children’s immunity system must be strong to be able to encounter these changes in the weather. Vitamins, particular the vitamin C can help a lot avoid respiratory allergies.

One important thing to consider before getting a prescription filled is to find weather the patient can take that medication without further allergy because of that medication, as many are allergic to sulfur and other ingredient in the medication composition.


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3 Steps To Managing Skin Allergies

skin allergies



By: David Kane

An effective approach to managing skin allergies has three components. Firstly you must understand the condition, then you must discover if anything is triggering your skin reaction, and thirdly you must look after your skin.

Many people think that allergies only affect the respiratory or digestive systems, but they can also affect your largest organ- your skin. As with other allergies the immune system overreacts to the presence of certain substances and releases inflammation-producing chemicals. Do some research and talk to your doctor. You can be confident of controlling your skin condition better if you are sure you understand what causes it.

The second component in managing a skin allergy is identifying then eliminating the allergens and irritants that start the itching/scratching cycle. There are over three thousand known triggers for skin allergies. Many are natural, but there are plenty of man-made ones too.

A common man-made trigger is latex, which comes from the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree. The natural proteins and those added in the manufacturing process can trigger an allergic reaction. Most people are aware that this can lead to reactions if you wear latex gloves. However latex is also present in baby pacifiers, balloons, pencil erasers and elastic bands in undergarments. There can also be problems when latex particles become airborne and are inhaled. If you have a latex allergy try to avoid the material and use vinyl or plastic where possible.

Nickel is another trigger. In addition to the obvious nickel-containing metallic objects like coins and jewelry, nickel is also present in everyday objects like scissors, bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, and zippers. Mascara, eye shadow and eye pencils also contain nickel. Experts estimate that the number of people suffering from a nickel allergy has risen about 40% in the last decade. Much of this is believed to be due to the popularity of body piercing. Some foods also have natural nickel content and people who suffer severe symptoms may need to restrict their diet under medical supervision. At present there is no way to desensitize a person with a nickel allergy. Avoidance is the best strategy.

The third component of effective management is looking after your skin. The easiest thing to do is to keep your fingernails short to reduce the damage caused by scratching.

Managing your skin's condition means firstly moisturizing and softening the skin to ensure it does not dry out. Your doctor may recommend you use topical corticosteroid preparations to control the inflammation.

When you take a bath soak in lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not have hot baths or showers, as the heat will increase skin dryness and itching. You can add oatmeal or baking soda to the bath for a soothing effect, though it does not help moisturize the skin.

Use a mild soap or a non-soap cleanser with neutral pH (pH7). If you wish to add bath oils do so after you have been in the water so that it can seal in the moisture. Do not use bubble baths as they can form a barrier that stops the bathwater moisturizing your skin.

After the bath dry yourself by patting your skin with a soft towel. This helps retain moisture. Immediately after drying your skin apply a lotion or emollient cream to help your skin retain the moisture.

To look after your skin you will also need to avoid situations where you will experience extreme physical contact, heavy perspiration, or heavy clothing. This may mean avoiding some sports. Swimming is permissible if you rinse the chlorine from your skin as soon as you leave the pool, and use a moisturizer after drying yourself.

Follow these three steps and you will be able to control your skin allergy and minimize its impact on your everyday life.


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A Brief Information About Dust Allergy

Dust Allergy



Some people sniffle or sneeze whenever they are in a dusty place. But this is not surprising. Some people are really like this, they are extremely allergic to dust. Dust allergy is regarded as the over reaction of a person’s body to an element in the dust.

These small particles are usually found in the air which people eventually inhale. Now, if your body is sensitive to such allergen, you body will stop to produce histamine.

What are the common symptoms of dust allergy?

The symptoms of dust allergy are just the same as the symptoms that occur with hay fever. It usually includes:

• Itchiness

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose

• Stuffy nose

• Asthma

• Muffled hearing

A person with this allergy need not have to worry because there are treatments available that he can use to battle this type of allergy. Medication treatments like antihistamine, decongestant and benadryl are the common prescriptions advised by a doctor or an Allergist.

If you do not have this allergy, then good for you, but for those who do, you need to know what needs to be done in order to suppress an allergic attack to happen. Follow the listed preventions below for your home to be dust-free and dust allergy-free as well.

• Wash the pillow and your bed sheets regularly using a detergent in hot water.

• Clean your mattresses and carpets weekly.

• Buy an allergy-free mattress.

• Use blinds as a replacement for curtains.

• Spray blinds or curtains with water mist to stop dust.

If you are thinking of frequently cleaning your house, then do it. It would greatly help you a lot in making your house free from dusts and other allergies.




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Allergy Asthma: Can You Live A Healthy Life?

Allergy Asthma


By Chelsea Aubin

Most people with allergy asthma know that when the pollen starts falling, things are going to get a little crazy. People with this condition have asthma that is triggered by pollen and particles floating around in the air. There isn't much you can do about this during this time of year but take your allergy medication, and also the inhaler that you may use to control your asthma.

When you have this condition you may notice that you get it during certain times of the year, and that it may have different triggers. Pollen is not the only allergy asthma trigger. There are also other known triggers associated with this condition. You can be allergic to everyday dust found in your house. You could also have problems with mold in the air or even on foods. There are also many other things you can encounter in your everyday life that could trigger you allergy asthma. Allergy Asthma is not something that should be taken lightly as it could quickly develop into a life threatening situation. If you do not find out what triggers your asthma, you could inadvertently walk right into a death trap.

Asthma is something that will never go away. It would also be very hard to keep the dust and pollen out of your life as well so you may ask what you can do about it then. If this person is you, you need to get to a doctor and see if he or she has any suggestions on how to control it. The doctor will most likely prescribe a medication that will help control the attacks. Sometimes after being on the medication for awhile you will never have an attack again. If you can get the medicine you will be able to control it.

You don't have to suffer because it is allergy season. You can control your asthma and still be able to enjoy the great outdoors. If the attacks prove to be that bad, you can ask for a stronger medicine that you can take twice a day to prevent attacks. You can also get an inhaler that you can take once a day, or at the beginning of attacks and feel better in a matter of minutes. The trick is to figure out if it is allergy asthma you have, so you can fix the problem.



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