World’s Most Uncommon Allergies

Group of people sneezing using a tissue paper

We are all aware of the surrounding most common allergies, what causes them and how they present. For example pollen allergy with the sneezing and the itchy eyes; contact dermatitis with the red and itchy skin; animal allergies and so on.

However, there are some very unusual allergens you would have never thought to be causing health problems.

1. Water

Aquagenic urticaria is a rare condition that causes itchy and painful hives to break out whenever the sufferer comes into contact with water. Basically, it pains whenever one takes a shower, so think twice before judging that guy on the bus who smells skunky. Not everyone has the privilege of taking a decent shower. When I come to think of all the people persistently refusing to take a bath regularly… maybe it’s not that uncommon.

2. Exercising

Although regular exercise is advocated as part of a healthy regime, there are a few people who have a good reason not to hit the gym. Exercise-induced urticaria is an extremely rare and severe allergic reaction caused by exercise, with symptoms including a breakout of hives, gastrointestinal problems, and even anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, and is potentially life-threatening, including symptoms such as light-headedness, a narrowing of the airways and even collapse.

So there’s a very good excuse for you, lazy fucks, for why you won’t hit the gym. You would actually die if you do so. Pretty convenient and perhaps some names crossed your mind as you read about it so … probably also not that uncommon.

3. Money

As crazy as that may sound, some people develop allergic reactions from just handling loose change. The cause of this allergy is the nickel sulfate that is found in coins and other objects. The allergy presents with a hand rash after handling coins.

Maybe that’s why jews don’t like to give change back. They must be experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Poor guys…

4. Human touch

Watch out, introverts, there’s a very good excuse for your misanthropy coming your way.

There’s a condition called dermographism (meaning “skin writing”), which is another form of urticaria, caused by simply a touch.

You can write your name or whatever you wish on a person’s skin with the touch of your finger, except not in the romantic way, where you playfully write on each other’s backs and that kind of shit, but in the very sadistic way of causing pain, skin redness and change of skin relief (unless you’re into that).

In a way, this makes me think of cows and branding.

5. Sunlight

Okay, this one is for our friends – The Hermits. Everyone has at least one of those.

Solar urticaria, symptoms include an outbreak of hives when exposed to the sun. It’s important that sufferers don’t expose large areas of their bodies to sunlight, as this can cause nausea and lightheadedness. In other words, those people are advised to stay home and avoid going outside.

I wonder which came first – the solar allergy or the hermit?

banana mama