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Allergies and Sheep's Wool

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology estimates that between 15 and 25 percent of the U.S. population will experience hives at some time in their life. This rash, called acute urticaria, is often a result of exposure to something that irritates the skin.

Wool, the fiber from sheep, is often the cause of this allergic reaction, but there are several allergies associated with sheep's wool.

  1. Wool fiber

    • If wool makes you itch, you may be reacting to the fiber. Under a microscope, wool fiber looks like fish scales with sharp barbed edges, with more than 2,000 scales in one inch of fiber. If you react to other fibers like linen that are coarse, this may account for your reaction.

    Lanolin Allergy

    • Some people are allergic to lanolin (wool grease), which is secreted by the sheep, and is a common ingredient in many cosmetics. This is a rare allergy and the sufferer will be allergic to lanolin products as well as sheep's wool. A patch test will confirm this condition.

    Processed Wool

    • Some allergies are reactions to what happens to the wool during processing. After shearing, wool is washed with harsh soaps to remove dirt. Dyeing the wool, even with natural dyes, can leave irritants. Some wool is treated to reduce shrinking, and this too may be the cause of some allergic reactions to wool.

    Treatments

    • The best treatment is avoidance. However, that does not mean you have to give up on wool sweaters. Try wearing a cotton tee shirt or turtleneck under that Christmas sweater to keep the wool from touching your bare skin. If you suspect a sensitivity to the dye or other processing chemicals, get some unprocessed wool and see if you react.

    Another Allergen

    • If you sneeze every time you put on a wool sweater, it may what is attached to the sweater, not the wool. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology reports on the results of a study by the University of Sydney that shows that people who wear wool sweaters are exposed to 10 times more cat dander that people who wear other clothing.

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