Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: caityj on 07/12/2010 23:28:38

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: caityj on 07/12/2010 23:28:38

Hey!
  I am allergic to my boyfriend, and I am trying to figure out what exactly I am allergic to.  Whenever my boyfriend kisses me I break out in hives/rash/welts etc.. It's nothing huge. The irritation will fade in 20 to 30 min,  but it's itchy and bothersome.  We have found that I only have a reaction on my face, neck, and arms. I don't wear any body lotion so we have eliminated that.  It is only when he kisses me!  I have had him switch shampoos, soaps, shaving gels, everything and the reaction still happens.  I even had his father kiss my face to see if it was a family thing. Nope, just the boyfriend. I have no other allergies other than penicillin.  I think it is something in his saliva because I can't think of anything else we can change that we haven't.  I have never had this happen with anyone else.  Please help me! I will appreciate any feedback that I get. Thanks.

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: peppercorn on 08/12/2010 00:38:18

Welcome caityj [:)]

We've had something like this Q before.

Quote from: Karen W. on 11/07/2010 19:19:01

I am no Doctor but have seen this thing happen before.. I am allergic to Walnuts so the oil from them really give me the business...! Are you allergic to nuts, walnuts, peanuts, etc...... as sometimes if you are and he has eaten any nut they you mey be allergic too the oil could cause a problem and it sounds like a serious reaction to something he either has had against his lips or perhaps you may put lipstick or chapstick on before kissing him and kissing just presses it in.. you could be alergic to that.. I would hazard to guess thats its more likely you are either allergic to something he is eating or something one of you wears on your lips....Check those possibilities then go see a Doctor and take him with you....

from
www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=32707

Hope this helps...

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: Geezer on 08/12/2010 00:46:34

And here

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1582.0

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: caityj on 08/12/2010 00:50:24

I am not allergic to any foods at all. I am only allergic to Penicillin.  He never wears chapstick, and if he does, it's because he just kissed me and mine rubbed off on him.. We both eat the same foods...i'm just baffled. But, thanks for your input and suggestions!

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: CliffordK on 08/12/2010 02:44:27

I assume you're saying that it only happens with a kiss...  and not cuddling & hugging.  Smelling his breath?  Does either of you smoke...  anything?
Are you living together?  Vacationing together...  long enough to make sure you truly are sharing the same food, detergents, and hygienic stuff?

Have you tried mouthwash?
Dentist Appointment?

It is potentially an autonomic reaction to say the act of intimate kissing...  It might explain it if he was your first...  but not as likely if say it was 1 out of 10.

Have you ever developed similar hives from anything else such as strep throat?  How is your penicillin allergy manifest?  When was it diagnosed?

It is possible you are dating Typhoid Mary!!!  Maybe not with typhoid, but there are many diseases that can colonize a carrier, and not affect the carrier.  If you are immune, it would just generate an immune response in you.  And, if he is a carrier, it can be extremely hard to cure, and reinfection rates might be high.

I would encourage caution, and perhaps talking to a physician.  If this is a true immune response, it could get better or worse with time.  It might not be a bad idea to ask your physician for an epinephrine pen as an allergic reaction can be fatal, especially when manifest around your head.

With that in mind, have you tried a good antihistamine like Claritin or Allegra?

You will have to consider your future carefully...  it should be possible to have a loving, intimate relationship without kissing, but it could cause future difficulties.

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: CliffordK on 08/12/2010 02:58:13

If it is actually "saliva"...  it would be easy to diagnose...  although perhaps a bit crude.   [xx(]

You create a tablespoon of your own saliva, and have your BF do the same.
Have a third-party friend administer one of them to you without identifying which one.  Swirl it around.  You don't need to swallow, and you can spit it out, but don't rinse.  [xx(]

Repeat the experiment a couple of times so you would always have "fresh" to experiment with.

Make sure the one mixing the samples doesn't give away the identity.  Perhaps isolate them if it is likely to be a problem.

As mentioned above...  if you are expecting an allergic reaction, I'd procure an epinephrine pen just to have in case the experiment went terribly wrong, or do the experiment in a clinical physician's office.

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: Don_1 on 08/12/2010 08:30:50

Although highly unlikely, it might be worth testing your BF's toothpaste.

If no reaction, try getting your BF to clean his teeth and rinse well with an anti bacterial mouthwash immediately before you kiss.

If you still get a reaction, I think can be assumed that you are reacting to his saliva or it just might be a psychological thing.

If all else fails, dump the BF, pop around to my gaff and we'll conduct some practical experiments! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fevil%2F3.gif&hash=0ece0c60d4fafad186e71ebdd538e4ca)


(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fhitting%2F7.gif&hash=e6353eb01da74af44d5cde972ec84d5a) Now what have done wrong?

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: caityj on 09/12/2010 15:46:09

hahaha, okay, don't get me wrong..I should have specified a little more. I get a reaction when he kisses my skin!!! i can kiss him on the mouth all i want to and be perfectly fine. It's just when his mouth interacts with like,..my face or neck.. then i will get a rash or hive. 

We both use the same toothpaste. Wouldn't i have a problem with it when i use it?? And we both use mouthwash. He is a very clean person, so I have a doubt that this would be the problem. 

And no, i don't think it's a psychological thing. I get hives, I can't turn it off my telling myself to think that i don't.

hahah :) sorry! He wont be going anywhere just because i have a small reaction.

Thanks for all of your help..

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: rosy on 09/12/2010 15:56:49

It's not just that he's got 'designer' type stubble that scratches you, is it?

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: caityj on 09/12/2010 15:59:32

haha, that's funny. No that's not it.

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: CliffordK on 09/12/2010 17:17:36

Cheek to skin, or mouth to skin contact?

I'd try the Claritin or Allegra.

Title: Am I allergic to my boyfriend?
Post by: caityj on 09/12/2010 17:26:09

mouth to skin. it's not like i break out whenever he touches me, that's not the case. it's only mouth to skin contact that makes me get an irritation. 

I'm going to need a lot of Claritin. :)