mens health > allergies > latex allergy

Latex Allergy

Latex allergy is becoming more prominent in the United States. A matter of fact over 1% of the entire population of America has Latex Allergy. There are two major reasons this is being seen

One is that the way in which latex is being produced in the factories has changed over the years. To keep up with the demand shortcuts are being made in by skipping or shortening the washing process. This washing process is needed to ensure that all of the proteins are completely washed out of the latex. The second reason we are seeing more latex allergy in America is from the increase in using latex gloves to avoid blood diseases such as HIV and other viruses.

Legacy of Latex

There are over 40,000 products in today’s society that contains some amount of latex. Latex is a milky rubber fluid that is created by the Hevea tree. It is strong, elasticity and does not cost very much to produce so it is the favorite substance to use for creating many household and medical products.

Latex allergy increases the more you come in contact with products that contain latex, such as a nurse that uses latex gloves to exam patients or a housekeeper that uses latex gloves while cleaning rooms at a hotel, school, or other public facilities.

The major reactions that are seen with Latex allergy include Irritant dermatitis, Type IV contact dermatitis, and Type I immediate hypersensitivity.

Irritant dermatitis is not really considered an allergic reaction. However, it does contribute to latex allergy. Strong detergents, hand washing often, not drying your hands completely, abrasive glove powder, emotional stress, and climatic irritation can cause irritant dermatitis. This can bring on breaks in the skin where latex protein can enter. Once latex has entered through the skin, a person can develop, at a later date, a latex allergy. This may take time, but people that wear latex gloves should be aware of the danger.

Type IV reaction contact dermatitis is more often seen on the hands but can occur anyplace where latex comes in contact with your body. The symptom of a latex allergy of this type normally appears within 12 to 24 hours after contact. It is usually seen by a mild irritation to severe blistering.

The most severe reaction to latex with a person that has a latex allergy is Type I immediate hypersensitivity. Symptoms include asthma, allergic rhinitis, and conjunctivitis bronchospasm among others.

Drew Voight