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If you or a loved one has a latex allergy or sensitivity, think twice before reaching for a product that says 鈥渓atex free鈥� or 鈥渄oes not contain latex.鈥� That鈥檚 the , which says no existing tests can show that a product is completely free from latex. Labeling that suggests a product doesn鈥檛 contain the substance could cause trouble for individuals with a latex allergy or sensitivity.

The original latex came from the sap of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), earning it the designation of 鈥渘atural rubber latex.鈥� It is used to make a host of stretchy products, including adhesive bandages, condoms, gloves used in health care and dishwashing, balloons, rubber band, elastic used in waistbands and socks, baby bottle nipples, pillows, and more. Natural rubber latex contains proteins that set off some people鈥檚 immune systems, leading to an allergic reaction. An alternative, synthetic latex, doesn鈥檛 contain these proteins and so doesn鈥檛 provoke allergies.

Although anyone can develop a latex allergy, it usually occurs in people with repeated exposure to the rubber proteins. Allergies to latex skyrocketed in the 1990s as a more and more people (mostly in healthcare and associated professions) were required to use gloves to avoid getting and spreading infections. Although the use of alternatives has decreased latex allergies, up to 12% of healthcare workers and up to 6% of the general population may have a latex allergy or sensitivity. 鈥淭he most common patient is a healthcare worker or frequent surgical patient,鈥� says Dr. Peter Schalock, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

According to the , the signs of a latex allergy, which is really a system-wide immune reaction, include

• hives or welts
• swelling of the affected area
• a runny nose
• sneezing
• reddened, itchy, or teary eyes
• headache
• sore throat, hoarse voice
• abdominal cramps
• chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath (asthma)

Sometimes the reaction is so powerful it can put a person into , which can be deadly.

There鈥檚 no cure for a latex allergy. That makes avoiding latex a must.

Inflames on contact

Not everyone who is latex sensitive has a full-blown allergy. Some people get contact dermatitis鈥攁 skin rash and itching that start one to several days after contact with a latex product. With repeated exposure, it can get pretty nasty, with dry and crusted scabs on the skin. 鈥淢ost of what we see in the allergic contact dermatitis clinic is hand rashes from the rubber accelerators in latex and some non-latex gloves,鈥� Dr. Schalock says.

Accelerators are a type of chemical used to manufacture latex products. The person鈥檚 skin reacts to the chemical, not the latex proteins. For these people, Dr. Schalock says, the remedy is antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) and 鈥渃omplete avoidance in the future.鈥�

Shopping to avoid latex

Since latex is found in so many products, latex-sensitive consumers have to trust labels. But the FDA鈥檚 warning highlights that products advertised as 鈥渓atex-free鈥� may not always live up to the claim. That鈥檚 because products that are made without latex can be contaminated with latex proteins during the manufacturing or packaging process.

Instead of 鈥渓atex free鈥� and 鈥渄oes not contain latex,鈥� the FDA wants labels to say 鈥渘ot made with natural rubber latex.鈥� That still leaves the latex-sensitive crowd at risk, because it鈥檚 not possible to certify that a product is truly 鈥渓atex-free.鈥�

For anyone with latex sensitivity, it鈥檚 best to approach potential triggering products with caution.