Chlorine allergies can cause reactions when ingested, smelled, or in contact with the skin. Prolonged exposure can make some people more prone to allergic reactions, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. Treatment includes antihistamines and inhalers, but avoidance may be necessary in some cases. Chlorine allergies are rare, and alternative salts may be recommended.
A chlorine allergy can mean several things. It could mean some form of allergic reaction to chlorine, whether it’s ingested, smelled, or in contact with the skin, such as occurs with swimming and possibly showering. Alternatively, it could be referring to the fact that prolonged exposure to chlorine can make some people more prone to allergic reactions to the chemical or other things. These allergic reactions could have symptoms such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. In any of these cases, some people appear to have sensitivity to chlorine and should be monitored closely or given different forms of treatment as needed.
The true histamine reaction to chlorine could come in many forms. Some people need only minimal exposure to develop things like asthma from this chemical, and could be in trouble if they’re constantly exposed from swimming or drinking chlorinated water. A number of water companies sanitize their water by adding chlorine, and drinking it could cause symptoms like stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting for someone who actually has a chlorine allergy. As this same water would be used for bathing and showering, other symptoms could emerge such as skin rashes or allergic dermatitis.
Many people have no problem with ingesting chlorine, but show chlorine allergy symptoms because they spend a lot of time swimming. After swimming, asthma or hay fever-like symptoms develop. It is suggested that this is not always an indication of a chlorine allergy, but that exposure to chlorine on a frequent basis can cause some people to be more prone to asthma and hay fever. Either way, if these conditions seem to occur in conjunction with swimming in chlorinated pools, treatment is recommended.
When an allergy or a trigger to chlorine is suspected, doctors treat it as they do many other forms of allergy. They may give you antihistamines, which help stop the histamine reaction. This could treat both skin and rhinitis symptoms. Given your treatment, you may not need to avoid chlorine in the future. Asthma that develops from exposure should also be addressed, and doctors may do so by recommending both short- and long-term inhalers. A combination of antihistamine treatment and asthma inhalers can allow many people to have continuous exposure to chlorine.
Sometimes continued exposure isn’t advised, even with treatment. This can especially be true when reactions occur if a person drinks substances treated with chlorine. In this case, treatment and avoidance would be recommended. People might drink bottled water if ingestion is the biggest problem, and they might use filters to remove chlorine from the water they use for showers.
It should be noted that an allergy to chlorine is quite rare and the medical community doesn’t have much to say on this matter. However, it is important to mention it as a possible allergen to doctors if it is suspected. There is treatment for most of this allergy and a growing awareness that using chlorine in swimming pools is not always the best choice. Alternative salts that promote less reaction could be recommended as safer.
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