What are the signs and symptoms of a latex allergy?
Signs and symptoms depend on how much your body reacts when exposed to latex. The following three types of reactions may occur: • Irritant contact dermatitis: This is the most common reaction to latex. You will have signs and symptoms only on the part of your skin that touched latex. Signs can appear minutes to hours after being exposed to the latex. If you have this reaction, your skin may be itchy, or feel like it is burning. You may get bumps, sores, blisters or a skin rash. Your skin may feel dry. This type of reaction can lead to another type of reaction at a later time. • Allergic contact dermatitis: Signs and symptoms are the same as those of irritant contact dermatitis, but also affect skin that has not touched latex. Signs and symptoms include facial swelling, especially around your eyes. Skin areas may crack, and peel away or flake off. Signs and symptoms may appear 24 to 48 hours after touching latex, and go away in 3 to 4 days. • True latex allergies: This is the most serio
