Top 10 Unusual Allergies That You Might Have

You’re probably familiar with common allergies from pollens, molds, food, or pets. You, a friend, or a family member may have experienced allergic reactions to those allergens before. But have you heard about individuals that have allergic reactions to water, leather, or exercising? Yes, we know that it sounds bizarre, but rare allergies exist.

We’ve collected ten weird allergies that you did not think you may have. We’ll discuss the top 10 uncommon allergies in detail and the tips on managing them. So, let’s dive in and start our discussion. 

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is your body’s reaction when your immune system attacks normal proteins and treats them like harmful compounds. Studies say that an estimated 17 million adults and 7 million children suffer from allergies in the United States alone.

Allergy symptoms range from mild to moderate and often differ from one case to another. Some may experience a skin rash, sneezing, or watery eyes. In contrast, others may have severe reactions like trouble breathing or anaphylaxis.

The typical causes of allergies come from pollens, molds, food, or pets. People with seasonal allergies often experience symptoms during spring or summer. However, allergies could also come from weird triggers like water, exercising, etc. 

Here is our top ten list.

Unusual Allergy Number One: Water

What is the rarest allergy? The answer is water. Water is essential to our survival. However, some people experience allergic reactions to water, like itchiness and hives. This skin condition refers to aquagenic urticaria. It predominantly affects women. Hives and itching develop almost immediately after skin and water contact, regardless of the temperature. 

Management tips:

The symptoms of aquagenic urticaria typically go away after 15 minutes. In addition, over-the-counter medications like an antihistamine reduce the symptoms. 

Unusual Allergy Number Two: Shoes (Leather)    

Some people may experience a poison-ivy-like rash on their feet after wearing leather shoes. It is because of the chemicals used in the shoes’ tanning process. 

Management tips:

Avoid wearing leather shoes as your best bet. However, if you prefer leather, wear a thick pair of socks to prevent skin contact. Antihistamine also works with managing its symptoms. 

Unusual Allergy Number Three: Exercise

Although exercising is beneficial to your health, some individuals may experience adverse reactions. Mild symptoms of allergic reactions to exercising cause urticaria. What’s more, a severe case may lead to anaphylaxis. Allergies in exercises have been reported since the 1970s. It may sound obscure, but it does happen to people occasionally. 

Management tips:

Reports say that eating approximately 2 hours before exercising triggers an allergic reaction. In addition, not eating at all before exercising may also trigger the symptoms. Whatever your case may be, stop exercising altogether. Antihistamine helps, but you may need epinephrine for severe cases. 

Unusual Allergy Number Four: Sunlight

Some individuals cannot withstand extended periods of sun exposure. It is because of an allergic reaction called solar urticaria. This type of skin condition causes hives, stinging, and itching sensations on the skin. Although the symptoms disappear gradually, it still causes discomfort. The symptoms appear within 30 minutes of direct sun exposure. 

Management tips:

Avoiding direct exposure to sunlight does the trick. Antihistamine also works, but it does nothing to prevent the symptoms. 

Unusual Allergy Number Five: Cold

Cold urticaria is very rare. However, it is potentially life-threatening. People with this allergic reaction may experience a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially if exposed to a freezing temperature. 

Management tips:

Do not expose a large portion of skin to freezing temperature. In case you like swimming, do not swim alone. You’ll never know if the cold water might trigger an allergic reaction. Antihistamine reduces the symptoms. In addition, omalizumab – a drug for asthma, works well too.

Unusual Allergy Number Six: Money (Coins)

Money, especially coins, contain nickel sulfate. A compound that causes skin rash for people with allergies to it. Other objects that may include nickel sulfate are jewelry, hairpins, metal parts in clothes, lighters, or door handles. 

Management tips:

Avoid carrying loose change. Medications like: 

• Corticosteroid creams 
• Non-steroidal creams
• Oral corticosteroids 
• Antihistamines

Works well in soothing the symptoms.

Unusual Allergy Number Seven: Henna Tattoos

Henna with lighter colors rarely causes an allergic reaction. The darker colors, on the other hand, tell a different story. Dark henna contains an additional chemical called p-phenylenediamine (PPD). It may cause severe skin problems, including itchiness, redness, inflammation, blistering, and scarring. 

Management tips:

The typical treatment includes corticosteroids and antihistamines. However, worse cases require antibiotics. 

Unusual Allergy Number Eight: Caterpillars (Hairy)

Some caterpillars have hairs containing toxins that may cause allergies. Those hairs can become airborne. Inhalation and skin contact of these rare allergens triggers allergic reactions.

Management tips:

You can remove the caterpillar hairs from your skin using adhesive tape. Antihistamine works well in soothing the itchiness. In addition, applying hydrocortisone cream soothes the irritation as well. 

Unusual Allergy Number Nine: Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles

When inhaled, the body parts of these insects can cause allergies. Unusual allergy symptoms include

• Rhinitis
• Conjunctivitis
• Angioedema
• Asthma
• Chronic cough

These insects dislike cold weather. Watch out for swarms during winter. 

Management tips:

Antihistamines or other allergy medications do the trick. On the other hand, there are no specific treatments for the symptoms. Wear a mask during the colder season to avoid triggering an allergic reaction. You can also use a vacuum to get rid of these bugs. 

Unusual Allergy Number Ten: Cancer Medication

Some cancer medications have a high toxicity rate and may trigger a severe allergic reaction. Cancer drugs are well-researched before administration. So, you don’t need to worry if you’re a cancer patient. Oncologists know what they need to do in cases of allergic reactions. 

These sums up our top ten unusual allergies compilation. We hope that you’ve learned a lot from this article. Whenever you experience an uncommon allergic reaction, contact your allergist ASAP. 

Live an Allergy-Free Life

Learn your allergies and reduce the risks of triggering an allergic reaction. At Brazos Valley Allergy and Asthma Clinics, we offer the most reliable allergy management services for you and your family. Our allergists have years of experience under their belt. We use only proven methods to help treat and manage all kinds of allergic reactions. 

We offer accurate allergy testing to determine the type of allergy you’re suffering from. Whether you live with common allergies or unique allergies, we guarantee top-notch treatment for everyone. Click on this link to find a clinic near you. Or you can reach us by dialing 979-485- 9287.