Do you have trouble breathing or a skin reaction when you come into contact with latex? Latex allergy first became prevalent in the 1980s. Since the 1990s, more products are being made with synthetic latex, such as vinyl or nitrile, and the allergy is less common as a result. Yet, people in the healthcare and rubber industries and individuals who have had multiple medical procedures are still at an increased risk of developing a latex allergy.
How Latex Allergy Happens
You can have a latex allergy from a young age or you can develop an allergy to latex with frequent and prolonged exposure. When an allergy to latex is present, the body sees the latex as an invader. It then sends specific antibodies (igE) that can react with the proteins in latex. These antibodies travel to cells that release mediators which causes an allergic reaction. [Read More]
