Top 10 Strangest Allergies in the World

Top 10 Strangest Allergies in the World

Many things can trigger allergies. The most common allergens are pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect stings, latex, and certain foods and medications. However, some people react to some very unusual allergens!

Number 1: Water This allergy is extremely rare, and it affects only 1 in 23 million individuals. Brief contact with water is so dangerous that even the sufferer’s tears and sweat can cause painful and itchy rashes that take hours to subside. Drinking water can cause the person’s throat to become inflamed and blistered. People who have this allergy can only handle a minute of bathing, and can only drink carbonated or distilled water.

Number 2: Semen This is one of the most unusual allergies. It’s a condition which mainly affects women. The reaction occurs as a result of contact with the proteins in men’s sperm. Symptoms include itching and redness in the vaginal area, but in extreme cases these symptoms can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can develop suddenly, without any warning. But what’s even stranger, is that sufferers may experience symptoms with one partner, while not with another!

Number 3: Own Child / Pregnancy Women can develop this strange condition during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, and it can extend to a few months after giving birth. The mother suffers excruciating blisters on the abdomen, which may extend to other areas in the upper torso. Their babies may also be born with a similar rash. The blisters usually disappear a few months after, but may leave unsightly dark scars.

Number 4: Kissing For some people, kissing can result in hives, rashes, puffy lips, itchy eyes, blisters on eyelids, wheezing and respiratory distress. Though this allergy doesn't mean one is allergic to another's lips or tongue. The person who suffers from this type of reaction is usually one with a severe food or medicinal allergy. Due to the close contact and sharing of saliva, food particles or traces of medicine can be left in the mouth, causing the allergic reaction.

Number 5: Exercise This severe allergic reaction is seen in people who are allergic to grapes, shellfish, wheat, hazelnut and some medicines. Attacks happen following an exercise activity after consumption of any of these foods. Symptoms include fatigue, warmth, itching and redness of the skin with large hives, even collapse and unconsciousness. Swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing or choking, nausea and vomiting are also common.

Number 6: Cold Temperatures Nobody particularly enjoys cold temperatures, but some people react in worse ways than others. Exposure to cold food, cold air or cold water can lead to itchy, swollen skin, and in more serious cases, collapse and death. The causes aren’t known, but experts believe sufferers could have hyper-sensitive skin cells. And it’s also thought that the condition is hereditary.

Number 7: Sunlight This is another rare condition where people break out in hives in certain parts of the body after exposure to sunlight. The UV rays emitted by the sun cause chemical alterations in skin cells, which leads to allergic responses. Hives can appear in both covered and uncovered areas of the skin.

Number 8: Wood Some people are allergic to certain types of wood or sawdust. But, there are cases when people are allergic to any type of wood in many types of forms - whether it is dust or solid. People with wood allergies can't touch paper or use a pencil. In most cases, wood allergies cause skin irritation, hives, coughing, and sneezing.

Number 9: Underwear People who are allergic to underwear are actually allergic to the fabrics used to create underwear. Mainly polyester, latex and cotton. The underwear allergy can be rather troublesome. Sufferers of this allergy often develop itchy rashes and red skin. Even to the extent that it is painful while touching or rubbing that area.

Number 10: Caffeine Caffeine is an ingredient found in many of our favourite foods and beverages. But, there are people who cannot ingest even the smallest amounts of caffeine, without having to deal with life threatening allergic reactions. Those allergic to caffeine can experience delusions and hallucinations, rashes, hives, anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, and blurry vision. Some experience muscle jerks, and even seizures which can be deadly. Do you have a weird allergy, or do you know someone who does? If so, let us know in the comments below!