Ana,  many of us seem to have issues with things like bandaides and surgical tape, especially the kind that is thick, white and heavy.  The micropore tape seems more tolerable, but most of us will have raised welts from things like the stickers used for EKG monitors, etc.   And yet we seem to tolerate latex for surgeries and tubes, etc.   Only some of us seem to be latex intolerant.

Why this is, I, for one haven~t the slightest and prior to my masto coming out of hiding I never had an issue with bandaides or anything like that.   But once it did, I began reacting.   All I can figure is that there is something about the higher levels of histamine in our skin tissues which makes us more sensitive to these things causing things like contact urticaria.  It may not be the rubber in and of itself nor even the glues used, but the physical process of constricting or stressing of the skin tissues that create the problem, like a waistband which is too tight or socks with the elastic that is too tight - the pressing of the skin itself may be the issue here and not the thing which is pressing it.

This is my theory anyway.   And for me it would explain the welting when I use a bandaide or a tape or a skirt or bra which has the rubber covered up by material, and why I can have the doctor use latex gloves and can be given catheters which are made of latex, etc.

Does this make any sense to you???


Lisa

Some bandaids also  have lanolin in the adhesive, which you might be allergic to.  There are sensitive skin plasters which you might be safe with, Cam can use these but not the regular ones.

Latex comes from the "rubber" trees in the middle of the AMAZON!!  hehehe!!!   Rubber trees are found around the world.  Latex is the REAL thing.  It´s the sap of the rubber tree just like Maple syrup is the sap of the maple tree.  

However, most "rubber"  today is synthetic made from crude oil processing.


This is why we can react to real latex for it has enzymes in it I believe, but I´m sticking my neck WAAAAAY out there and am only supposing that this is why some react to it.   I would think that those who are reactive to latex also can´t eat certain tree nuts.  But then, that´s just a supposition of my own and I´m showing my ignorance here!!

I'm not allergic to any tree nuts.  I am, however, triggered by bananas, which share a protein called "chitinase" with latex.

Here's a website that's a great resource if anyone wants/needs more information (it's the best one I've found):

http://www.latexallergyresources.org/

Heather

Great info thx!

I think I moreso fit into the OAS food wise but also have a sensitivity to  latex. Bizarre