Can You Develop Allergies as an Adult?

You may remember a care-free childhood free of allergic reactions, but now suffer from allergies as an adult. It is possible that something has changed to make you allergic to things you once loved. Knowing what symptoms are typical in the various allergies, as well as some of their causes, is crucial to protecting yourself from irritation or worse. As with any medical condition, if you suspect you have an "adult-onset allergic reaction," you should speak with a physician who specializes in allergies as soon as possible.

Causes

• Adult-onset allergies covers a wide range of allergic reactions which spontaneously occur after puberty. Sometimes these changes coincide with hormonal changes (such as pregnancy), but other times they happen without visible precondition ("out of the blue"). Adult onset allergies are often associated with food, but not always.

Food Allergies

• The most common allergy that adults develop is food-based. Basically, your body's immune system has suddenly confused food with a toxic invader, and is over-reacting to the presence of once-safe food stuffs. Food-based allergies include berries, nuts, legumes, wheat, milk and honey. These allergies can be especially dangerous, as they may manifest between one meal and the next, and progressively get worse, sometimes resulting in anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.

Pollen Allergies

• Some allergies to pollens which manifest in adulthood are the result of changing locations; some people who have never been exposed to certain pollen allergens have no built-in defense or resistance to them, resulting in an allergic reaction. These symptoms are usually characterized as a swelling and/or itchiness of mucus membranes in the eyes, nose, throat and mouth.

Materials Allergies

• Some materials allergies, such as latex, can develop spontaneously during adulthood. Latex is a rubber-based material used in examination gloves and condoms. Allergic reactions to latex include mild to moderate rashes, itching and other skin irritations, or can become more severe, resulting in anaphylaxis, in some cases. Other materials include nickel, rosin, thiuram and some anti-oxidant chemicals used in lotions and creams.

Prevention/Solution

• There is no prevention of spontaneously-generated allergies, but once allergies manifest, it is possible to diminish their effects. For example, adult onset pollen allergies are usually controlled with over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications. On the other hand, with some allergies such as to food or materials, it is generally advised that the patient avoid using products which contain (or may have been exposed to) the allergen in question. For example, people with peanut allergies should avoid eating products processed on the same equipment which was used to process peanuts or other legumes.