Latex Allergy Overview

Latex allergies are relatively common – up to 4% of the population(1), and 10% of health care workers.

Avoiding latex products is the best strategy to avoid latex allergy symptoms. The trick is knowing products that contain latex.

This is more complicated than it seems because certain foods also contain latex-related chemicals and can also cause reactions for some people.

Latex Allergy Symptoms

The most common reaction is caused by direct contact with items that are either 100% latex (e.g. latex gloves, condoms etc.) or contain latex (elastic in socks, under garments etc.). This is called contact dermatitis.

Typical symptoms for contact with latex are similar to poison ivy. A red itchy rash breaks out 12 to 24 hours after direct contact with latex, and only in the area of the skin that touched the latex.

More severe symptoms occur in some cases, including blisters and crusted sores. This is more typically caused or accelerated by chemicals added to latex during production. Talc, used to make some latex products come on and off more easily, can also make symptoms worse.

Extended symptoms occur for some people, including shortness of breath, hives, stuffy nose, sneezing, asthma and itchy eyes.

Severe symptoms (type 1, anaphylactic shock) can occur in a small number of cases.

Latex Allergy Cause

Over-exposure to latex can sensitize your body to latex, and eventually cause a reaction. The reaction is caused by certain proteins in latex sap.

Children with Spina bifida (myelomeningocele) have a very high chance of being allergic or severely allergic to latex (figures range from 40% to 100%).

Industrial workers that process latex or are involved in producing latex-containing products have an elevated risk of developing a latex allergy.

Latex and Food

People who are allergic to latex are sometimes also allergic to certain foods. Foods related to the rubber tree include:

• Banana
• Avocado
• Celery
• Chestnut
• Hazelnut
• Peaches
• Papaya
• Potato (raw)
• Stone fruits (e.g. plums)
• Strawberry
• Tomato
• Kiwifruit

If you are allergic to latex, do not be paranoid about consuming these foods. If you are experiencing unexplained symptoms, try eliminating these foods and see if the symptoms disappear. If so, introduce each food one by one, waiting 48 hours before determining if that food is OK or not. Try each food one at a time until you know which you can tolerate, and which (if any) you can not.

Foot Notes

1: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (facts and figures)

Internal Links

• Products Containing Latex

External Links

• Wikipedia on Latex
• Wikipedia on Latex Allergy
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

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Here is a partial list of products that contain latex.

If you know of anything that is missing from this list, please leave a comment with your suggestions.

• Adhesive tape
• Baby-bottle nipples
• Balloons
• Bandages
• Condoms
• Clothing (in some cases, especially if it has an elastic)
• Diapers
• Elastic bands
• Foot wear (e.g. cork beds)
• Pacifiers
• Pet toys
• Rubber gloves (especially medical)
• Sanitary pads
• Tire dust (especially residents living near a busy road)
• Under garments
• Self-Seal Envelopes
• Napkin Wraps
• Currency Wraps
• Protective Wrapping Materials
• Bandage Wraps
• Candy Wrappers
• Medical Packaging
• Luggage Tags
• Apparel Wraps
• Halloween Masks
• Flexible toys
• Halloween props & special effects
• Doll Bodies
• Architectural Restoration
• Manufactured Stone Veneer
• Ornamental Concrete / Statuary
• Wax Candle Making
• Plaster Statuary

Note that according to my research, synthetic latex, such as is found in latex-based house paints, is not known to cause allergic reactions(1). This is disputed by at least one person who has left a comment below.

Foot Notes

1: College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Internal Links

• Latex Allergy
• Latex in Clothes

External Links

• Safe Sex
• AAFA
• American Latex Allergy Association

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