Wool Allergy
Wool is a clothing material derived from sheep. It contains a natural oil called lanolin, which is the cause of many people's wool allergies. People who show allergic reactions to lanolin in wool will also exhibit the same reactions when exposed to other products that contain lanolin.Wool Allergy Symptoms
- Skin Irritation - because wool products often come in direct contact with the skin, the most common symptoms are rashes and hives.
- Eye irritation - real wool allergy can also affect the person's eyes. This can come in the form of redness, itching and puffiness of the eyes.
- Nasal Problems - runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion and other respiratory problems are also symptoms of wool allergy. This may be due and other chemicals present in the wool.
Wool Sensitivity
Although a lot of people are sensitive to wool, medical experts agree that real wool allergy is rare. Some of the people claiming to have wool allergy just have sensitive skin.It's important to know whether you have wool allergy or wool sensitivity before getting any treatment.
Wool Allergy Test
1. To find out if you're just sensitive to wool, try wearing a layer of clothing between your skin and the wool clothing. If you don't experience any allergic symptoms, it's clear that you only have a sensitivity. This also means that you can continue using products that contain wool, as long as it doesn't come into direct contact with your skin.2. If you had an allergic reaction, even if the wool didn't come in direct contact with your skin, you should go to the doctor to have a patch test done. They will conduct a test using wool alcohols to determine if you really have wool allergy.
Things Mistaken For Wool Allergy
Irritation from clothes with coarse fibers - some people who have wool sensitivity are also sensitive to other rough fabrics. The quality and roughness of the wool will depend on how it was combed and spun. Wool combing removes shorter and weaker wool fibers. If this is not done properly, the weaker fibers will stick out of the finished product. These are the tiny strands that poke you, causing your skin to get irritated.Dye and other cleaning materials - making wool products is a long and tedious process. There are many chemicals used to remove the oils, clean the wool and add coloring to it. Some people complain about wool allergies, not knowing that their allergic reactions were caused by the chemicals used to process wool. Both synthetic and organic dyes may trigger allergic reactions. Contrary to what most manufacturers say, natural dyes are not 100% safe.
Wool Allergy Sources
- Wool clothing, particularly sweaters, scarves, bonnets, socks and gloves
- Wool wax
- Cosmetic products and personal products with lanolin