Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 29/11/2007 15:19:02
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Dear All,
Here's some platinum .
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Platinum is usually always at least 95% pure and is well known as being very hypoallergenic as compared to gold which is an alloy in 9,14 and 18 carat form.
So, is it possible that even the most benign of elements can still cause an allergic reaction ?
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As far as I know, it is possible to be allergic to anything! I do know that there are people who are allergic to water or sunlight. It's just very rare.
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As far as I know, it is possible to be allergic to anything! I do know that there are people who are allergic to water or sunlight. It's just very rare.
Thank ewe VERY MUCH Carol !
CRIPES !!!
How do people who are allergic to water survive I wonder ?...they must ingest it somehow, perhaps it's just on the skin that the reaction occurs and not internally !!
I have seen a documentary about being allergic to sunlight......incredible the extent to which the precautions have to be taken
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As far as I know, it is possible to be allergic to anything! I do know that there are people who are allergic to water or sunlight. It's just very rare.
Are these technically allergies? I know people can react against sunlight, but I would not have thought it was an immune response, which was what I thought an allergy was?
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Sunlight can make SLE (lupus) much worse in some cases. Since lupus is an auto-immune condition, presumably there's an immune response there somewhere (possibly to something the skin cells secrete when in sunlight)? I don't know...
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As far as I know, it is possible to be allergic to anything! I do know that there are people who are allergic to water or sunlight. It's just very rare.
Are these technically allergies? I know people can react against sunlight, but I would not have thought it was an immune response, which was what I thought an allergy was?
It begs the question of just what is an allergy?
According to Wiki:
Strictly, allergy is one of five forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody, known as IgE, resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.
{bold added by me}
And then there is also the issue of 'low tolerance' e.g. where a certain amount of a substance is tolerated but once that amount is exceeded a full blown allergic response occurs. Technically, an allergic response occurs with *any*, even a minuscule amount of the 'offending' substance involved.
People involved in handling certain substances can sometimes over time 'over-expose' themselves and become allergic. Classical example of that is e.g. the hairdresser allergic to hair dyes etc., farmer allergic to pesticides or fertilizers.
The case of the woman allergic to sunlight got quite some coverage. e.g. Nasa suit for mother allergic to sunlight (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=377714&in_page_id=1774&in_a_source=)
Pretty much anything can, given the right circumstances, become an allergen.
Allergy to water however, that I seriously doubt. An allergy to water would be death IMO
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymorphous_light_eruption
Polymorphous light eruption (PLE), or polymorphic light eruption, is a skin complaint caused by sunlight. Symptoms include skin irritations, which may be itchy or painful, and are sometimes confused with hives. These irritations appear upon exposure to sunlight—sometimes as little as 15 minutes of exposure to the sun can bring onset of the condition—and may last from 1 to 7 days. Generally, PLE resolves without treatment; also, PLE irritations generally leave no scar. The cases of this condition are most common between the spring and autumn months in the northern hemisphere.
Typically, 10-20% of the population are affected and it is more common in females than in males. The condition can affect all ethnic groups and research suggests that 20% of patients have a family history of the complaint. Those suffering from PMLE usually do so by age 30.
The cause of PLE is not yet understood. It is thought to be due to a type IV delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy
Allergy is a disorder of the immune system that is often called atopy. Allergic reactions occur to environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable and rapid. Strictly, allergy is one of five forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity.