Some people are allergic to a fluffy little cat, widespread pollen, or even the dreaded peanut and shellfish reactions. However there are individuals that are highly allergic to Sulfur, I happen to be one of them. Sulfur allergy sufferers should be very cautious about exposing themselves to mass amounts of this element because reactions can range from miniscule to life threatening.
What is Sulfur and Where Would You Ever Encounter It?
Sulfur is an element that is not only on the periodic table of elements (symbol S, and atomic number 16); it is often used as a preservative and as a sneaky ingredient in many food and body products. Sulfur comes in many forms and goes by many names some of which include but are not limited to: Sulfur, Sulphur, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulfide, Sulfate, and Sulfur Oxide. On top of being mixed into many ingredients in foods, you have likely encountered sulfur many times in your life if you were to use your nose as your guide. Sulfur emits a strong rotten egg odor that is very recognizable in nature. If you have for example ever been to a naturally occurring hot spring, or been near recent volcanic activity you would find that those areas are very rampant with sulfur.
How Do I Avoid Mass Consumption or Contact if I Am Allergic?
Reading the label on products is the most reliable way to know what exactly you are ingesting into your body, or putting on it. For example most dried fruits are preserved with sulfur dioxide to keep their desirable coloring and to extend their shelf life. If you did not read the label on that bag of apricots, blueberries, or cherries then you may take in enough sulfur to cause a reaction. Sulfur is easily slipped into foods as a name that is blurred into another ingredient name. For example sulfur would not clearly be written alone, but would be written as something like methlsulfate, which you can see is not written by itself, but is included in another word. Most fragrant lotions you can purchase at your favorite bath store or even your nearest megastore include Laureth Sulfate as mix-in so be aware that you may smell wonderful but you may also break out in hives if you are not cautious. Wine and all of those girlie bottled sparkly drinks contain sulfites, as do Epsom salts, which is really just “Magnesium Sulfate.
How Do I Know I Allergic and What Do I Do If I Am?
Sulfur allergies may develop at any point even if someone was never allergic to sulfur at a younger age. The most common reaction to this allergy would be hives, skin irritation, fever/chills, and in the worst of instances trouble breathing which can lead to shock if not treated. As with all reactions seeking medical attention is critical and should not be taken lightly. Call your medical center or physician immediately if you think you are allergic to anything.
Better Safe than Sorry
When it comes to allergies it is always better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully you will never say “Geez, I wish I never read that label”, and in the instance that you do it will only be because you may miss out on some of your favorite foods that you did not realize contained sulfur. Err on the side of caution if you are unsure, and have a plan ready that your family and friends understand in the instance that you have a reaction. I am a strong advocate for label reading so most importantly never forget to check what is in products before you throw prevention out of the window.
