I can’t stand him, I’m allergic to him. It is not uncommon for such a sentence to be uttered in everyday life. What is behind it? Are there really allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, reddening of the skin or swelling of the mucous membranes to fellow human beings? Is the worldwide increase in allergies possibly accompanied by an increase in mental illnesses? Professor Rainer Richter, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Eppendorf University Hospital: “Allergic reactions to fellow human beings are rare and then have little to do with a personal aversion. In contrast, it is very likely that existing allergic diseases can be triggered, intensified, or maintained by psychological factors.”
Allergy to the partner
Even in German divorce courts, there have been cases of women citing an allergy to their husband as the reason for separation. The case of a baker’s wife who immediately developed breathing problems when the husband gave her a welcoming kiss at home after work is vouched for. The culprit, however, was not the husband in the true sense of the word, but the flour dust with baking enzymes in his hair. His wife had developed an allergy to these enzymes over the years. One kiss as a greeting and the enzymes had already reached the respiratory tract via the mucous membranes. Taking a shower beforehand would have easily remedied the situation and saved a trip to the divorce judge. Before one classifies a partner as an “allergen”, one should therefore urgently consult a specialist in allergology.
Allergic reactions during sex
A careful clarification of the real causes also applies in particular to allergic reactions during sex. The much-cited classic allergy of women to sperm of their partner is extremely rare. Only about 50 individual cases have been published as genuine sperm incompatibilities. Much more frequently, known allergens such as penicillin or food components, e.g. from nuts or cola, have been detected in the semen. Most women with allergic reactions to components of semen are between 20 and 30 years old. Professor Johannes Ring, President of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology: “About 40 percent of hypersensitivity reactions to semen occur after the first sexual intercourse. More than half of the affected women also have other allergic symptoms such as hay fever, atopic eczema or asthma.” Much more often, a supposed sperm allergy hides perfumes sprayed on before intercourse, soap products or lubricating creams with allergenic ingredients. Who suffers from allergic reactions during sex with a partner, should first also think about quite known allergens. For example, anyone who suffers from a dust mite or animal hair allergy should take this possibility into account when meeting new partners in their home. Those who react to grass pollen or mold spores should not choose a hay shed for love. The so-called latex allergy is also not uncommon. Condoms, but also the latex-juice-containing fashion plant Ficus benjamina in the environment of a bedroom can lead to allergic reactions. Prof. Ring: “Allergic reactions during sex usually have a known cause. The affected person should have the occurring problems clarified immediately by an experienced allergist. In the vast majority of cases, help can be provided very quickly.” In any case, there is no reason for affected allergy sufferers to panic; rather, education and clarification are called for.
Allergy and sex in adolescents
This also applies to allergy-suffering adolescents. Allergies in adolescents have increased particularly sharply in recent years. Parents should talk to allergy-plagued teens about the issue of sex and allergy if problems are suspected. However, one should proceed very sensitively, because teenagers in love may react sensitively if one only talks about theoretical risks without having had a corresponding experience so far. It would be worse, however, if allergy-suffering teenagers felt frightened and isolated. A visit to an allergist, possibly with the involvement of a psychologist, is then strongly advised to clarify the problems that arise.
Psychological factors and allergy
The apparent connection between the simultaneous increase in allergies and mental illness in the Western world is, according to the prevailing expert opinion, a statistical coincidence.It is comparable to the simultaneous decline in stork populations and the number of babies in different countries: statistically significant, but without a causal relationship. So far, there is no conclusive evidence that mental illness triggers allergies. In contrast, there is clear evidence that allergic reactions led to more severe symptoms if the affected person was simultaneously exposed to psychological problems. Prof. Richter: “Allergic patients then reacted more strongly with hay fever if they were confronted with conflicts during the pollen season.” The course of neurodermatitis can also be worsened by subjective stress factors such as social stress or negative reactions from fellow patients. In addition, in larger samples, asthma attacks were found to be triggered by emotional factors rather than allergens or physical stimuli in more than half of the cases.
Impact on quality of life
According to current knowledge, the occurrence of allergic and asthmatic symptoms is favored or intensified by psychological factors. In addition, the allergy disease itself can lead to psychological problems. In addition to adequate therapy – still only 10 percent of allergy patients in Germany are considered to receive optimal care – attention to the psychosocial consequences of allergic diseases is therefore becoming the focus of medical care. The effects of allergies on partner relationships, family, leisure time, school and work, on the overall quality of life, must finally be taken seriously. Otherwise, there will be a mutually reinforcing effect of allergic and psychological factors in this widespread disease: a vicious circle.
