Random Things You Didn’t Know You Could Be Allergic To

1. Cell Phones & Tablets

imagesource/themirrorElectronics that contain metals like nickel are known to cause contact dermatitis - a condition which results in a rash or swollen, itchy skin, and its more common that you think, In fact, results are finding more rates of nickel allergies have actually risen a lot over the last 50 years.

2. Jewellery

imagesource/researchgateEver noticed the skin on your hands and ears going green after wearing jewellery? Thats usually a good way to tell it contains Nickel. Well, another side effect can be itchy, red & raw skin from wearing the jewellery.

3. Pants

imagesource/cottonique “The button on the waist of jeans and other pants is usually nickel,”

says Dr. McGrath. “For people who wear low-rise underwear, that metal can be exposed directly on the skin and cause a little circular red rash.”

Tucking your shirt in and creating a layer between your pants and skin can help the issue.

4. Condoms

imagesource/self.comPeople allergic to latex, will also be allergic to the latex in condoms. Its not a very common allergy, but doctors often find out they have an allergy to latex when they start wearing latex gloves in medical settings, so before you and your partner get down and dirty, make sure one of you aren't going to come out with a big rash from wrapping up.

5. Semen

imagesource/insiderSymptoms can be confined to the area of contact. “It’s pretty unusual but people can be allergic to semen,” says Philip Halverson, MD, of Allergy & Asthma Specialists in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Women can develop vaginitis and oral sex can cause irritation in the mouth and throat.

6. Exercise

imagesource/abcnewsThis allergy is incredibly rare, but it is one to state on the list, if not a great excuse to skip the gym. This bizarre allergy is triggered by the food you eat before the gym. “Exercise heats your body up and your immune system reacts to the proteins breaking down in your stomach,” says Dr. Lavi.

7. Pancakes

imagesource/twitterKnown as pancake syndrome, this allergy could ruin anyones Sunday breakfast. But no need to give up your pancakes just yet, unless you're allergic to the ingredients in the batter or pancakes, pancakes themselves aren't they things that cause this. “Pancake mixes and other powdery ingredients that sit in boxes in the pantry can get contaminated by dust mites. Then you essentially eat a whole meal of dust mites and breakfast in bed becomes breakfast in the ER,”

says Dr. Lavi.

8. Sweat

imagesource/themirror“It’s called cholinergic urticaria and pops up out of the blue. You get little bumps that itch like sin and when you cool down they go away real fast,”

says Dr. Lavi. So if you break out in hives on a hot day, you could actually be allergic to sweat.

9. Chamomile Tea

imagesource/twitterAllergic reactions to chamomile tea can often cross-react with ragweed. Both contain proteins that are similar enough that allergic people can react to both. So you have hayfever, youre more likely to experience itching, running nose or even hives drinking this herbal tea.

10. Alcohol

imagesource/allergiesandhealthWine is known to trigger symptoms in people with asthma which causes them to get a stuffy nose, sneeze, cough and wheeze after drinking just a sip of wine. Other alcoholic beverages can also set off peoples allergies - which would be a real shame for booze lovers.

11. Water

imagesource/theroyalballetschoolAquagenic Urticaria is a rare condition that causes skin to break out in hives as soon as it comes into contact with water - very bizarre! Scientists are still unsure as to why this happens, but its through to be a substance dissolved in the water, which triggers an immune response in the body.

12. Nipple Cream

imagesource/mamageekBreastfeeding mothers will know all too well how sore the skin around their nipples can get. But many balmes contain Lanolin, which can actually cause more harm than good! So if you notice a rash or swelling that seems more severe than from ordinary breastfeeding, then look for a lanolin-free product.

13. The Cold

imagesource/LADbibleWho can actually say they like the cold? I definitely don't! "With cold urticaria, exposure to cold temperatures causes redness, itching, swelling and hives on the skin that has been in contact with the cold."

According to the Mayo Clinic.

14. Wool

imagesource/worldsfinestwoolWool contains Lanolin, which is a wax secreted by wool-bearing animals like sheep. So if you're allergic to Lanolin, you should stay well clear of any wool products, especially clothing containing wool.

15. Cosmetics & Skincare Products

imagesource/availdermatologyCosmetics with fragrance can contain components of Balsam of Peru, found in Central America, the tree can often be an allergen. “Balsam is extracted to use in some cosmetics and people can get rashes due to their makeup,”

says Dr. Levi.

16. Lice Treatments

imagesource/healthlineLice treatments can contain pyrethrins, which comes from flowers which kills live lice but can also trigger and allergic reaction in people. So if you notice redness on the scalp or swelling around the face, consider using home remedies for lice instead.

17. Raw Produce & Nuts

imagesource/strawberryplants“People think that it must be a chemical or something used in the growing process, but it’s actually part of the food—not something you can wash off,”

says Dr. McGrath. However, once these products are cooked, most people can eat them without experiencing symptoms.

18. Sunlight

imagesource/metroVery rare, but still worth mentioning, is people can be allergic to the sun - breaking out in hives, blisters or a rash when in direct sunlight. Solar Urticaria, according to the British Association of Dermatologists can be painful and itchy.

19. Household Cleaning Products

imagesource/indiamartReactions from cleaning products are almost always immediete, skin starts to look red and irritated and over days, the skin can become sensitized with more of a chronic rash appearing. Skin reactions are generally never life threatening, but can cause soreness and discomfort for some time.

20. Cleansing Wipes

imagesource/cafemom.comMany companies use preservatives such as paraben and formaldehyde in pre-moisturised wipes which brought them to chemists attention in recent years. Many babies and mothers realised they were allergic to wipes when they came out in rashes on their hands and private parts.

21. Artificial Nails

imagesource/wileyonlinelibraryIf you're allergic to the resin that goes into artificial nails, then your manicure may not go as planned. The allergic reaction can lead to redness and swelling in and around the nail bed and in some rare cases, nails can fall off. People with weak nails should also be careful of nail strengtheners that use formaldehyde, which can also be found in glue, tape and polish.

22. Books

imagesource/dailymailBad news for book worms, but people with dust allergies can have serious problems in spaces where books are often stored. To keep these allergens away from your home book collection, surfaces need to be wiped down daily and people with these allergies may want to wear a mask whenever they're around books.

23. Reptiles

imagesource/nationalgeographickidsWe've heard of cat and dog allergies, people sneezing and coughing when they're around them, but reptiles can also trigger your allergies too. “Your immune system senses that all the little proteins in their skin are bad, so it goes after them and causes allergy symptoms,”

says Richard Lavi, MD, of the Allergy Asthma & Sinus Relief Center in Twinsburg, Ohio.

24. Stuffed Animals

imagesource/stuffedpartyAnother place dust mites can accumulate are stuffed toys. They can cause a runny nose, wheezing and coughing which may trigger asthma attacks in children. People with these allergies, should buy toys they can place in the washer and dryer - same goes with pillows. Anything like this should be washed very regularly.

25. Leather

imagesource/twitter“People can break out or get redness and itchiness on their feet if those chemicals leak into their socks and get against their skin,”

says Dr. McGrath. Good news is that not all leathers have these additives which may just mean just using a different brand.

26. Meat

imagesource/twitter“Anything with four legs can cause a delayed food reaction that doesn’t happen right away like with typical food allergies,”

says Dr. Lavi. “Most people say ‘Oh boy, I’m in Hell’ within a few minutes, but in this unusual case it takes between four and six hours for a horrible reaction to occur.”

Symptoms include a rash, nausea, cramps, sneezing, headache and stuffy nose.

27. Vacuuming

imagesource/herfavouritefood&travelHate vaccuuming? So do I! This allergy could be the perfect excuse for why you haven't done any housework for a while! “Cleaning of any sort really tends to stir things up,”

says Dr. Hummell. People who are sensitive to dust should however, wear a mask when doing any sort of vaccuming or sweeping.

28. Marijuana

imagesource/thewashingtonpostAs this herbal drug has become legal in more states, more and more cases are rising. Doctors recommend staying away from the drug and anoyone who uses it. But, antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants can help treat symptoms.

29. Chlorine

imagesource/wikipediaThis may not come as too much of a surprise to you, but pool waters can often cause reactions to the skin. People can be sensitive to the fumes, having stong reactions on the airways, eyes and skin. So saltwater pools may provide some relief to people with this issue.

30. Laundry Detergent

imagesource/thenewyorktimesIngredients in some laundry detergents and fabric softeners can cause people to break out in contact allergic reactions. “We’ve also seen reactions caused by dryer sheets,”

Dr. McGrath adds. “Often when people stop using dryer sheets for a while or change up their detergent, their rash goes away.”

31. Second Hand Furniture Items

Image Source / TreehuggerThere's nothing better than finding an absolute bargain when it comes to second hand goods, and especially large furniture items. But when you don't know the history of an item, you could be exposing yourself to things like dust or mold, especially with fabric furniture. So you could end up being allergic to this, too.

32. Potting Soil

Image Source / RedditIf you're a fan of houseplants - like most people these days, and why not because they're awesome - then you may actually be allergic to the soil they're planted in. Soil is at risk of mold spores, which is a common allergy trigger for a lot of people.

33. Physical Stimuli

Image Source / RedditYou can actually cause an allergic reaction just by the physical stimulus of movement. This could be if you're rubbing at something, a reaction to vibrations or even just the strap of your top moving against your skin. It's a condition known as dermatographism, and it's not the item itself (such as the fabric), it's the actual movement.

34. Pine Trees

Image Source / The SpruceIf you're a fan of real Christmas trees in the house during the festive season, you may want to think again if you have this allergy! The chemicals in tree sap called terpenes - which give them that lovely pine tree smell - can actually cause a reaction. And the tree itself, when a real one, could have mold spores.

35. Your Dehumidifier

Image Source / WikipediaIf you're running a dehumidifier in your home it might be because you're trying to control mold, dust and humidity - which is great for tackling allergies, right? Wrong! Because if you're not cleaning your dehumidifier correctly and leaving excess moisture in it, you could be creating your own mold.

36. Or Your Humidifier!

Image Source / HealthlineIf you have a dry home and use a humidifier to achieve the opposite, then you could still risk the problem of mold. That's because humidifiers, too, can grow mold if you don't look after them properly, so this is important if you have a specific mold allergy.

37. Hypoallergenic Dogs

Image Source / Simple WikipediaDog allergies are a very common thing, but you may have thought you'd be safe with a breed labelled as 'hypoallergenic'. But the truth it, these don't really exist. For example, you can still have an allergic reaction to a poodle that doesn't shed hair, and that's because pet allergies are triggered by a protein in their skin glands, urine and saliva rather than the fur itself!

38. Tattoo Ink

Image Source / PinterestThis is bad news if you're someone who was planning to get inked all over their body, because tattoo ink can cause an allergic reaction, too. The most problematic is apparently red ink, and reactions can include itching and swelling (more severe than the usual redness that's normal after a tattoo).

39. Hair Dye

Image Source / Adel ProfessionalSomething that's supposed to be a celebration of good times could actually end up causing a pretty bad reaction. This could be anything from a small rash to a full anaphylactic shock. Of course, the balloon allergy comes from a general latex allergy, which can also apply to things like gloves and rubber bands.