What Are Some Of The Most Common & Obscure Allergies?

An allergy is a reaction from your body’s immune system when it comes into contact with a harmful substance. Allergens can be very far-reaching, from things we eat/drink to substances we breathe. When someone is allergic to something, it creates a hypersensitive reaction which could be anything from a runny nose to not being able to breathe

Here is a list of some of the most common and obscure substances that people are allergic to.

Common – Pollen

A pollen allergy, also known as hay fever, is a really common allergy. Around 1 in 5 people suffer from it at some point in their life. The proteins in pollen can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses to become inflamed, irritated and swollen. Sometimes these symptoms are minimal, but some people are deeply affected by it.

Obscure – Sunlight

While uncommon, some people are actually allergic to sunlight! Solar urticaria is a rare form of urticaria (also known as hives) where the skin begins to swell when exposed to sunlight or even artificial light sources emitting UV radiation.

Common – Food

One of the most common allergies is simply food. There are plenty of different foods one can be allergic to, but some of the most common include nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and lactose. Symptoms of these can be mild to severe, with some people having to carry medication around with them in case of sudden exposure.

Obscure – Sweat

While being allergic to exercise is normally a funny way to get out of working out, it can be true for some people. A condition called cholinergic urticaria can lead to sufferers coming out in an itchy, bump rash when they sweat.

Common – Medication

Have you ever wondered why the doctor will always ask if you’re allergic to penicillin? It’s because a lot of people have allergies to certain medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin and even antibiotics. That is why it is vital to know if you are before you are given medication that might do more harm than good.

Allergy Panel Testing From Independent Healthcare Specialists

Here at Duality Health, we know how important it is to pinpoint your allergy, so you can avoid that allergen in the future. This is why we offer a wide range of tests for different allergens. As private doctors, we can check for both specific substances and a plethora of potential allergens.

This allows us to quickly and easily identify the specific allergens that are troubling you. We can verify this through a blood lgE skin prick test, which measures the antibodies your body produces to see if they correlate with an allergic reaction.

If you’d like to book in for allergy panel testing with a private GP, give us a call on either 028 308 33666 (Newry) or 028 252 56093 (Galgorm).