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One Woman’s Incredible Story of a Chronic Allergic Reaction to Latex

Another great post from itchylittleworld.com – Natural remedies for eczema to soothe your itchy little world..

Last week, we received a truly incredible story from Renee, a long-time sufferer of eczema with a chronic allergic reaction to latex. She thought she had been avoiding latex for years, but discovered she’d unknowingly been exposing her body to latex in two hidden ways. Her story is quite shocking! See for yourself.

“I’m 60 years old.  When I worked in an OB/GYN lab in my 20s, there were no nitrile gloves, only rubber.  I became allergic to latex and so learned to stay away from rubber products, even supposedly latex-free elastics, and bromeliads (cross reactive with latex).  In my early 40s I began to have joint pain and skin rashes.  The joint pain was so bad. There were nights where I had to stop on the way to the restroom and just breathe, to try to let the pain ease a bit, before continuing on.  Eventually, my breathing became an issue as well and I was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease and exercise-induced asthma.  The joint pains were never definitively diagnosed and I went on the usual merry-go-round of diagnoses, e.g. lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.  But then suddenly, in my early 50s, the problems disappeared.  The joint pain left, the breathing was no longer a problem, and my skin improved.  I didn’t understand why, but I was so grateful.

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In my late 50s, my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. 2016 was full of stress and sadness. My skin problems returned with a vengeance and I found I could not eat many foods that were rich in hevein and its cousins.  Hevein is the protein responsible for latex allergy.  If I ate coconut, palm oil, nuts, etc, the eczema patches flared and oozed.  The itching was non-stop, in spite of a daily regimen of antihistamines.  It was torture.  Everyone said “Stress!” and I thought it was as well, until the symptoms got even worse after my husband passed.  I was only able to eat 17 things and realized I had graduated to a full latex food allergy.  Any other food made my eczema and itching flare.  There were patches of infected skin all over my body.

A few weeks after the funeral, I had a molar pulled.  The oral surgeon showed it to me, saying yes, there had been a hairline fracture just like a previous molar he had pulled when I was in my 50s.  The tooth that he showed me had pink stuff in the root canals and I asked what it was.  He said, “Oh, it’s a resin from a tree called gutta percha.  It’s used to fill in the empty canals after the tooth’s roots are removed in a root canal job.”  I looked at that gummy resin and asked if it might be related to the rubber tree?  The oral surgeon suddenly looked really shaken and went to his computer.  Sure enough, gutta percha is related to the rubber tree.  I was being poisoned by my own tooth?  Incredible.

So looking back, my first autoimmunity started after my first root canal and resolved after the tooth was pulled, and now my second bout of autoimmunity started after the second root canal and would resolve just as quickly?  Sure enough, by that evening my inflamed skin and itching were about 1/2 of what they had been.  But even so, my eczema did not fully resolve and I was not able to add any foods back.  I thought okay there must be something else inside of me that is overstimulating my immune system.  The more I thought about it, the more I suspected a trans-urethral mesh, the “Sparc sling” that had been put in during my hysterectomy in 2004.  It’s the one you see on late-night TV, with lawyers asking if you’d like to join a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers.  I had also suffered some of the symptoms they said on TV but it was the suspected autoimmunity that bothered me the most.

So on October 9th of this year, during abdominal surgery, the surgeon removed the mesh.  She was able to get it out totally, fortunately.  The rest of my skin began to clear on the operating table – seriously. The head OR nurse had been watching the eczema patches on my arm and chest because of the fear of my reactivity to their tapes, adhesives, etc.  Those things, especially the “inert ingredients” are all partially sourced from coconut and palm oils, and they were concerned of anaphylaxis.  Since I had told them that the patches would flare bright red if I were reacting to something, they were using those patches as their ‘canary in the mine shaft’.  After they wheeled me into PACU and I came out of anesthesia, the head nurse said, “Mrs. McMurray, look at your arm!”  It was totally clear.

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The next day, a hospital official came to my room and asked to see the arm and my chest.  Both were totally clear.  Then the surgeon sent her Nurse Practitioner the day after that – it was still clear.  Everyone said the same thing – that in all of their years of working on patients, they had never seen an allergic reaction, especially something as tenacious as eczema, clear so quickly.

I am home now, three weeks later, and am a little bit red.  No eczema, but just a tinge of redness and a small amount of itching.  This is due to the corset I must wear.  Try as I might, I can’t stop the elastic bits from touching my skin.  But let’s put this in perspective – when that mesh and gutta percha were in my body, elastic sent me into absolute misery.  My skin would become red and weepy.  The sores itched like crazy, usually for 24 hours per day.  At night I’d wake up in respiratory distress because the swelling would reach my neck.  I slept with a rescue kit.  A little bit of redness and mild itching is nothing.  I am so, so happy.  I have to wear this corset for two more weeks and then I can take it off for good.  Then, after a few months, maybe I will start to experiment with slowly adding foods back.

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I feel like I have a future now.  Frankly, when I was in the middle of the misery, I could not see me lasting 30 more years like that.  I did not want to live with that misery. Life is good. There is hope.”

Today, Renee’s skin is clear and healthy. She’s working every day to introduce foods back into her diet, but still experiences hives here and there from negative reactions. Although a nuisance, as she states, they are in no way as intolerable as her chronic eczema was. She also does not need to take as many antihistamines as she used to. By sharing her story, Renee hopes that she can help someone else suffering from a latex allergy.

 

For ideas to soothe your skin, start here for eczema relief!

 

Do you suffer from eczema as an allergic reaction to latex? We want to hear from you in the comments below!

One Woman’s Incredible Story of a Chronic Allergic Reaction to Latex appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!

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Your Guide to Textile Dermatitis: Latex Hypersensitivity & Polyester Allergy Explained

Another great post from itchylittleworld.com – Natural remedies for eczema to soothe your itchy little world..

By Laura Dolgy (see bio below)

Imagine this scenario…you just get back home from shopping and purchasing that adorable blouse you’ve been eyeing for a while. You’ve purchased the blouse for tonight’s dinner party and cannot wait to show it off to your friends and family.

You rip off the tag in haste, throw it on and start getting ready, but something is…wrong. Not long after throwing on the top do you realize your neck is covered in hives and itching uncontrollably. You immediately take the blouse off and notice that your skin is inflamed and hot to touch. What the ****!

If this scenario is at all familiar to you, then you may have textile dermatitis and you’ll want to read on. This week we discuss latex hypersensitivity as well as the sometimes lesser known polyester allergy. Learn how to identify symptoms AND get some tips and discover alternative clothing to try!

Please keep in mind that although these tips and information have worked for several eczema sufferers, I am in no way a medical professional. If you’re experiencing severe eczema or have a topical infection, it is always best to seek medical advice immediately.

What is Textile Dermatitis?

Many people who have sensitive skin can develop contact dermatitis, as well as several allergy symptoms due to certain chemicals in clothing and from specific fabrics used in clothing. This is called textile dermatitis. Polyester allergy and an allergy to latex are some of the most common causes of textile dermatitis.

Although symptoms are usually temporary and topical, some individuals can develop more severe systemic reactions such as:

  • swollen and red skin, lips, or tongue
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • shortness of breath (with or without wheezing)
  • abdominal pain and much more

If you develop a more serious reaction, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Which Products Contain Latex/Polyester?

Although latex can be found in several household supplies, polyester is usually more difficult to avoid. Check out our list below to get a good understanding of which products or clothing tend to contain these two allergens.

If you think you have an allergy to latex or a latex sensitivity, you should try to avoid the following products:

  • Clothing containing elastic bands such as pants, underwear, running shoes and coats with fitted cuffs.
  • Certain household products such as zipper storage bags, bathmats, rugs and rubber gloves.
  • Craft supplies, certain make-up, adhesives, erasers and much more.
  • Anything containing Lycra, Spandex or Elastane.

There are many accounts of induvial with a latex allergy also reacting to shea butter products. While there is no scientific connection between shea and latex, if you have an allergy to latex, be cautious when trying products containing shea butter.

Read More: The Allergy Scoop: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter & Cocoa Butter

Read More: Should You Worry About a Shea Butter Allergy?

Alternatively, for a polyester allergy, you’ll want to try to avoid the following products:

  • Certain exercise clothing, pajamas, shirts, blouses, etc.
  • Certain toys that include doll hair or plush faux furs.
  • Certain carpets and bed sheets.

Make sure to always read labels before purchasing new household products or clothing. You’ll be surprised at how much stuff out there contains these two allergens!

Latex & Polyester Free Alternatives

Although latex is easier to avoid, it can be a little more difficult to find clothing or household products that do not contain polyester.

Some excellent alternatives to this allergy prone material are fabrics such as Cotton or Silk.

If you are searching for pajamas that are polyester and latex free, 100% Organic Cotton fabrics are an excellent alternative. Check out this One-Piece Footed Pajama for Kids, as well as a Pajama Top for Adults that not only provide comfort, but can help heal your skin by preventing scratching with attached protective mittens. Both are made with latex free elastic.

For the feet, these Hypoallergenic Socks are fantastic! And yes, they are latex and polyester free! The tube sock style comes in white or black and multiple sizing options.

For latex free underwear, opting for 100% Organic Cotton is also a great choice. But it can be difficult to find safe elastic! But we’ve got you covered…these are contain latex free elastic! These Women’s Bikini Briefs are slim fit and perfect for sensitive skin. For men, you can avoid any sort of elastic all together with these Drawstring Boxers. Make sure to also check out Boy’s Latex Free Underwear as well as Girl’s Underwear for Sensitive Skin and Latex Allergy in case your child is experiencing contact dermatitis from either latex or spandex.

If you’re experiencing groin eczema due to a latex hypersensitivity, definitely check out our blog post: 4 Ways to Relieve Groin Eczema.

Other Causes

Aside from latex and polyester allergies, there are several other factors than can contribute to textile dermatitis.

It is not a secret that some clothing contains harsh chemicals and dyes to achieve a desired effect. For example, formaldehyde is used to make clothing that is wrinkle resistant. Yes, that’s the same chemical used in embalming fluid. Yuck! Chemicals are also used in fabrics that are color-fast, stain resistant, as well as in corduroy and shrink-proof wool. None of the clothing above contains any of these harsh chemicals.

Read More: Why Natural Fibers Are Essential For Eczema Clothing

A Latex/Polyester “Elimination Diet”

If you’ve read any of our past blog posts, you’ll notice we discuss food elimination diets very often because we believe in healing from within big time.

An elimination diet is carried out by eliminating food allergens for a certain period of time and reintroducing each individually to determine which food is causing the reaction.

Like a food elimination diet, you can choose to run a latex/polyester “elimination diet” as well!

  1. Start by separating your clothing or household products by allergy prone materials such as latex, polyester, and Spandex. Nylon allergy is pretty common too – so eliminate nylon as well just to be sure.
  2. For the first few days (and to treat possible flare-ups) wear only hypersensitivity-approved materials such as 100% organic cotton or silk.
  3. Slowly, reintroduce one allergy prone material such as latex or polyester over a several day period to determine which material is causing a reaction.
  4. Make sure to track your results in a health diary or journal like this one to really understand what is causing the flare-up.

If you’re not able to determine the allergen or you’re experiencing severe flare-ups, make sure to seek a medical practitioner to get a proper diagnosis on your possible allergy.

Although latex and polyester allergies might be annoying to deal with, thankfully there are several safe alternatives to manage your allergies. Find out what’s safe for you and you can be free from textile dermatitis.

Do you have a latex or polyester allergy? Let us know what safe materials you opt for below!

Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.

Your Guide to Textile Dermatitis: Latex Hypersensitivity & Polyester Allergy Explained appeared first on itchylittleworld.com. Come read more about natural remedies for eczema!

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