The most common allergies include pollen, peanuts, mold, and animal dander, but there are rare food allergies to allergens like beer and coffee beans. These are not the only rare allergens; for instance, one of the rarest things to be allergic to is water. Other people’s skin might also be hypersensitive to other factors, such as cold weather or their sweat.
Even with rare allergies and sensitivities like these, it’s also rare not to have allergies—millions of Americans are allergic to something.4 Here’s what you need to know.
1. Coffee Beans
Coffee bean allergy is very rare. There are not many large-scale studies about this allergy, but one case report indicated that a person was allergic to the particles from roasted coffee beans.
The individual had airborne allergic contact dermatitis, meaning their allergic reaction was skin-related after exposure to the coffee beans. The person experienced skin redness and developed papules on their face, neck, hands, and arms.
Notably, individuals might confuse a caffeine intolerance with a coffee allergy. Although caffeine intolerances are a lot more common and don’t imply an immune response, they present when individuals consume excessive amounts of caffeine from various sources: in the form of coffee, tea, or soda, with symptoms often presenting as abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
2. Beer
Another rare case is an allergy to beer. There are not many reported cases. Some of the available evidence on beer allergy has suggested that allergens could include proteins from barley, maize, and hops.
It is of interest that those who have a beer allergy need not necessarily stay away from beer altogether. This is because according to researchers, some of them can take a certain type of beer without causing any reaction at all.
3. Red Meat
Red meat allergy is referred to as the tick bite meat allergy or alpha-gal syndrome. Alpha-gal is the term for one kind of sugar molecule found in the Lone Star tick’s saliva. An allergy or even just a hypersensitivity to alpha-gal might occur in persons bitten by a Lone Star tick.
This allergy can cause potentially life-threatening reactions after consuming red animal meat, including pork, beef, lamb, and venison. Cow milk and gelatin—a common coating for some oral medications—may also trigger a reaction.
Usually, it manifests two to six hours following the consumption of alpha-gal. Cases vary from mild to severe. However, if a person has such an allergy, he or she is not usually reactive every time they consume food containing alpha-gal, while in extreme conditions, it could induce anaphylaxis.
4. Wine
There are people who can be allergic to red wine and other wine types. Wine allergy symptoms may include itchy eyes, stuffy or runny nose, and a red, itchy rash. Some people who have an allergic condition, like asthma or hay fever, may have a higher risk of having a wine allergy.
It is not known what causes an allergic reaction to wine. Some people may be allergic to the proteins in grapes. Others may react to yeast or other ingredients for processing and cleaning wine. Proteins from insects that can contaminate crushed grapes may also trigger a reaction.
5. Water
Water is vital to your health: Approximately 60% of your body is comprised of water. It helps get rid of toxins within your body while maintaining the body temperature. However, some people might break out with hives and rashes immediately after touching the water. That water allergy has been termed as aquagenic urticaria.
The scientists do not know what the causes of aquagenic urticaria are. In some reported cases, there has been a suggestion of a history of the allergic condition within the family. Scientists could not identify certain genes that trigger this condition.
The reactions will occur only after direct contact between the skin and the allergen source. Any source of water, whether it be:
- Distilled (purified) water
- Rainwater
- Saltwater
- Sweat
- Tap water
- Tears
6. Sunlight
Sunlight and other forms of ultraviolet light may trigger a hypersensitive reaction in the immune system that exacerbates some types of skin conditions. These photosensitive disorders are categorized as photodermatoses, and the symptoms will depend on the disorder.
Polymorphic light eruption (PMLE): It is the most common form of photodermatosis. It has been traced to multiple genetic mutations.
Solar urticaria: In this, an individual affected will develop recurring rashes on the skin after minutes of exposure to the sun. This generally begins early adulthood, although no one is really sure why this happens to certain people and not others.
Photoallergic dermatitis: It is a very rare eczema-like rash causing redness and scaling. Photoallergic reactions are induced when the chemicals used in sunscreen interact with light.
7. Sweat
Of course, a sweat allergy is rare; however, people can become pin-sized, raised bumps (weals) from sweating. This condition is called cholinergic urticaria. If a patient suffers from atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema or chronic inflammatory skin disease, they may experience exacerbation of itchy rashes while sweating.
While the causes of sweat allergy remain unclear, for some people who have AD or cholinergic urticaria, they also become overly sensitive to their sweat. The outpouring of water, sodium, and toxins and changes in skin pH, for example, induce an allergic response in some individuals, who may have preceding skin damage and rashes in AD.
Another reason may be differences in skin microbiome-the bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that naturally live on your skin. There are probably other sweat allergens that scientists have not discovered yet.
8. Cold Temperatures
Although extremely rare, it is possible to be allergic to the cold. Cold urticaria, also known as cold urticaria, has common symptoms, including hives, which can appear as red, itchy welts (bumps) or swelling on the skin. Hives can also develop on soft tissue areas, like the tongue or throat.
Symptoms usually start within one to five minutes after exposure to the cold and may resolve within one hour or longer. In severe cases, it can be potentially life-threatening when anaphylaxis occurs.
The exact cause is unknown, but some people might be genetically predisposed to it. They may have certain gene mutations that cause the immune system to overreact to colder temperatures, which inflames the skin. Common allergy triggers also include:
- Air conditioning
- Cold foods and beverages
- Cold showers or swims
- Cold winds
- Winter weather
Allergies vs. Hypersensitivities
At times, you may hear the terms allergies and hypersensitivities used interchangeably. That may be in part because, essentially, allergic reactions are also known as hypersensitivity reactions.
In addition, allergies are a subset of hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from type I to type IV reactions. For instance, food allergies fall under type I hypersensitivity reactions. Type I hypersensitivity reactions refer to reactions that happen right away—within minutes of contact with an allergen.
When to see a healthcare provider
If you have an allergy or hypersensitivity, see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
You can manage symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose and itchy throat with over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines used for seasonal allergies. Mild reactions can worsen unexpectedly, so seeing a healthcare provider is still important.
For more severe reactions, a health care provider might prescribe steroid drugs to help in reducing inflammation. Depending on your allergy type and severity, a health care provider might also recommend immunotherapy.
Although it is a therapy for allergies caused by pets or pollen, it is sometimes applied to food allergies. In this therapy, a small amount of the food allergen is given to you, under the care of an allergist. The objective is to develop your tolerance for the food and decrease the sensitivity of your immune system.
In addition, consider getting an allergy test—such as a skin prick test—to know your exact triggers. A skin prick test checks how your skin (usually your forearm) reacts to an allergen like pollen and certain foods.
When To Get Emergency Medical Care
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these symptoms of anaphylaxis, especially if they are severe or affect other parts of your body:
- Diarrhea
- Trouble breathing
- Hives all over your body
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- A tight throat
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
In case of an allergic reaction, the health care professional will administer epinephrine shot, otherwise known as adrenaline. It works to offset the severe reaction of an allergy by raising the blood pressure and also relaxing muscles around the airway.
A provider may prescribe a supply of epinephrine autoinjectors you can have on hand in case of an emergency if you are at known risk of a serious allergy. Talk with a provider about how to use it, and be sure people in close contact with you are prepared to use it as well.
