Getting to know

Contact allergy is produced by sensitization to a chemical substance used in everyday life or in occupational activities.
A large number of products may be allergenic, and the major ones are listed below.

Cosmetic products (creams, soaps, sprays, antiperspirants, hair lotions, hair colouring dyes, make-up products, nail varnish, perfumes etc) are a complex mixture of various chemical substances which act as preservatives, fragrances, bactericidal, colouring products, etc. These substances are very often a cause of allergy in hairdressers and cosmeticians. 
Allergy to cosmetic products can manifest as respiratory allergy (rhinitis and asthma) or skin allergy - very often as contact eczema or as urticaria. 

Metals and metal compounds are frequently involved in allergy. Below you can find a list with most frequent causes of metal allergy and the professions at risk. 

• Nickel is used in mining, milling, smelting, refining processes, jewellery, as well as in food industry for hardening fats. Persons involved in jobs involving any of these processes can become allergic to nickel.   

• Chromium: present in a large array of construction materials such as cement, glues plasters but also in tanned leather, chrome plated metals. 

• Cobalt: used in electrical industry, in car and aircraft building, razor blades and surgical instruments as well as in paint industry. 

Allergy to metals can manifest either as respiratory disease, predominantly or as contact allergy, most frequently contact eczema 

Latex allergy can be considered a stigma of the modern society. Latex is the basic compound present in rubber. Rubber has became one of the most frequently used materials nowadays being used for a very large variety of objects such as rubber, adhesives (including cold glue used on the majority of packaging such as chocolate bars, all kind of snacks etc), balloons, toys, erasers, condoms, clothing, elastic bands, gloves, and a wide number of medical and dental devices. Consequently exposure to latex is very common and more and more people suffer from latex induced allergy. Professions with the highest exposure to latex are those involved in the production of the above mentioned products as well as healthcare professionals (surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses) exposed to latex in gloves, therapeutic or investigational devices, scientists and laboratory technicians.

Latex can cause both respiratory allergy - asthma and rhinitis - and contact allergy – urticaria and eczema. Latex can also cause very severe generalized allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).