As a person with an unexplained allergy that causes me to look like a toad and itch after napping in a field of nettles from time to time, I find these weird allergies so very relatable. Really, you can never know what your not-so-loyal body will throw at you next sometimes! Are you going to have an allergic reaction to pollen that comes from trees that are merrily spread all over the location you live in? Is it going to be your own sweat, for chrissakes?! The sun?? The smell of your significant other?!? Really, body, sometimes you outdo not only yourself but the fruits of our wildest imaginations, too, with these unusual allergies.
Anyway, this is our list dedicated to the weirdest and rarest allergies ever documented. If you have any of these, we feel truly terribly sorry for you. Even if it’s something as ridiculous as cockroach waste or showering, we do understand how hindering these extreme allergies might be in trying to just go about your day. Hopefully, though, you are an allergy-free person, and these weird food allergies (well, not only food - you can literally be allergic to everything) listed here will cater to your scientific curiosity rather than the hope of finding your mystery ailment listed here. If it’s the curiosity-feeding part, you’re in for a definite treat! And if you thought that people are basically allergic to just oranges, peanuts, and shellfish, your existing idea of allergies will be trampled to dust. Not to spoil the fun, but, among a myriad of other things, you can also be allergic to your own child. Your. Own. Child!
So, ready to check out the curiosities that we’ve gathered in this list? If so, scroll on down below and have a look at these highly unbelievable yet very true allergies that people have. And, if you have any words of condolence to those actually living with these sad allergies, share them in the comments section.
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Bandaids - if you're allergic to adhesive bandages, you'll often react to acrylate and methacrylate - the chemicals commonly used in tape adhesives to make them adhesive. The two types of reactions to such allergy are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
Vibrations - For people who suffer from vibratory urticaria, coming into contact with something that's vibrating—a lawnmower or, say, a motorcycle —can cause itching, swelling, blurry vision, and headaches.
Being touched - For people with dermatographia, even a light scratch becomes a raised red line and causes the skin to swell. Approximately five percent of the population suffers from dermatographia, though many people with it don't ever seek medical treatment.
Going outside - People with solar urticaria - sun allergy- can take medications for symptom control, but if left untreated, exposure to sunlight can cause everything from a skin rash to nausea.
Coins - Nickel allergy is often associated with earrings and other low-quality jewelry. But nickel can be found in many everyday items, such as coins, zippers, eyeglass frames, cosmetics, detergents, and even some electronics, including cellphones and laptops. Coming into contact with nickel might cause itching welts that usually settle down once the culprit is out of sight.
I have that. All my jewelry has to be either a solid precious metal like silver (and plated/filled isn't good enough, I still get a mild reaction) or something like surgical steel. Anything else turns my skin green and makes it itch like crazy. I have a really hard time shopping for belts, too, since the buckle always seems to find it's way into my belly and I hate tucking in my shirts. Lucky for me, I can touch nickel for a moment and be fine. I just can't have long term contact with it, like with something you would wear for the day.
Tomatoes - Now this one isn't as rare, but imagine being Italian and allergic to tomatoes?! Major clinical manifestations of this allergy include Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), urticaria, dermatitis, systemic reactions, rhinitis, abdominal pain, and anaphylaxis.
My husband and I both have this allergy. Makes for some interesting pizzas!
Books - Used bookstores and libraries are known for their musty sweet smell—but people with dust allergies can have serious problems in spaces like these! The same goes for attics, basements, storage rooms, and, yes, the bookshelves in your house. Basically anywhere there's dust!
Wool - There's a thing called textile or clothing dermatitis and it's a form of contact dermatitis. Your skin is reacting to the fibers in your clothes might cause an itching sensation.
My mum has this. I have it a little bit too, but only in products that are really woolly. It feels like something is crawling all over my skin and needling me wherever it goes.
Wine - When someone says that they're allergic to wine, they are actually allergic to sulfites. Well, usually. Sulfites are the compounds found in wines and dark beers that can trigger itchy eyes and a stuffy nose.
Just smelling wine causes me to have a mega migraine taste it and I end up in the er
Your own child - Pemphigoid gestationis is a painful pregnancy-related skin allergy. This autoimmune disease causes itchy bumps and blisters on the abdomen that can spread all over the body.
Showering - People suffering from aquagenic urticaria get a bout of hives every time their skin comes into contact with water. On the upside, the symptoms usually fade within an hour, but once they're in contact with water, it all starts up again.
I have aquagenic pruritus which is a little different. My skin literally itches when I shower, sweat, or on humid days. There's no visible hives and the itching/prickly feeling goes away within an hour. I hate it very much...
Steak - A certain type of tick—the Lone Star tick—can cause its victims to develop an allergy to red meat. According to research in JAMA, these ticks make their victims allergic to the alpha-gal carbohydrates found in cows, pigs, and other game.
I knew someone allergic to beef, pork and poultry but they were born that way; the beef was the least reactive for him though and he was fine with fish
Hey, I've got this one! It sucks, beef makes me sick as a dog and so many places don't believe me when I tell them that I'm allergic to beef and everything needs to be sanitized when it comes to my meat portion. As you can imagine, I don't eat out much and if I can, I take the vegetarian option.
I know someone who developed this. Their meat options are basically chicken and fish.
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Seems ironic that it is the lone star tick when the stereotype about people from the lone star state is that they eat a lot of steak and meat in general.
I'm already lactose intolerant. I'd hate to not be able to eat steak too!
My mom and sister have this. My mom couldn’t even cook red meat for the longest time
I am allergic to beef people never believe me. Even if I touch it I break out in red welts hives and itch like crazy.
Allergic to all mamal Meat. It can kill me. But fish and bird is fine.
Heat - When a person with this allergy is exposed to heat or gets sweaty, they may develop small, terribly itching welts. It's called cholinergic urticaria.
Oh God I had this for a short while. It was insanity. First I had this allergic reaction for a few days from homemade church wine brought back from Italy. That cleared up but then every single time I got hot or sweaty I'd break out in the most itchy rash and it lasted for about 2 years. It was the most bizarre thing
Hypoallergenic dogs - The fact is, “hypoallergenic” dogs may produce just as many allergens as their shedding, furry cousins. So, do a thorough research before you adopt!
To me it's marketing under the guise that less shedding means less allergies. Most dog allergies are because of the protein in their spit. I personally react to dogs with oily fur like a lot of labs have. I guess it is because the protein stay glued to the fur longer and transfer to me while petting. If you want to be safe check the exact dog you want by petting or have it testen (as an adult, since pups and kittens can produce less of said protein)
Exercise - Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a rare disorder in which anaphylaxis occurs after physical activity. Flushing, hives, wheezing, nausea, and many more symptoms may emerge.
Laundry detergent - If you are allergic to the dyes or scents in your laundry detergent, then so much as wearing a shirt straight out of the laundry will trigger an antihistamine response. Best use hypoallergenic ones!
Vacuuming - When you vacuum, dust and mold that has settled in your carpet will be uprooted and blown around your house. And that's when you might experience a spike in your allergic reactions.
Hot dogs - Hot dogs are highly processed foods with numerous sketchy additives. An allergic reaction after eating hot dogs could be due to any number of these ingredients, but usually it's believed that nitrate and nitrite additives are to blame.
Allergy Medicine - Sure enough, it is possible to develop an allergy to allergy medicine. However, people who suffer from this allergy are usually sensitive to the dyes and additives found in the medicines and not the anti-allergy chemicals themselves.
Grass - Grass allergy is often followed by symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or thunderstorm asthma after exposure to grass pollen. Allergic rhinitis caused by grass allergy can cause itchy eyes and throat, sneezing, and a runny nose.
Pants buttons - Nickel strikes again, this time on your clothing. “The button on the waist of jeans and other pants is usually nickel,” says Dr. McGrath. “For people who wear low-rise underwear, that metal can be exposed directly on the skin and cause a little circular red rash.”
Marijuana - Yup, it can cause allergic reactions, including nasal congestion, itchy eyes, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma and seasonal allergy symptoms, triggered by exposure to cannabis plants themselves.
Semen - Its pretty rare, but it has been documented that women can have an allergic reaction to their partner's semen, which can include redness, burning, itching, and swelling in areas where the fluid was exposed to their skin.
It's thought to be massively underdiagnosed because the symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed as thrush (Candida infection). If a woman gets recurrent and frequent episodes of thrush, it's worth considering seminal hypersensitivity as a possible differential diagnosis (I've no idea if the incidence is the same in hetero couples and gay couples, presumably men can also have the same allergy).
Pancake mix - If you have a known mold allergy, then be careful about consuming old pancake mix—or any old dry mixes, for that matter. According to a case study published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, one man suffered anaphylactic shock and died after eating a two-year-old pancake mix, seeing as the dry mix was tainted with mold. So, be careful out there!
I would rather just mix flour, egg, milk, together than use a TWO YEAR OLD dry mix.... WTF... But still unfortunate poor bloke
Mango peels - The mango can also cause itching of the skin when touched. In mango, urushiol is found in high concentrations in the peel and the fruit just beneath the peel. In most people, contact with it might induce contact dermatitis.
It's common for people who've recently been exposed to poison ivy, oak, or sumac to develop allergies to mangoes and cashews as well. They're all related plants. My mom has come home from the grocery store covered in rashes because the last person to use her shopping cart handled mangoes.
Cockroach Waste - Nearly everybody gets grossed out by the mere thought of a cockroach, but it can get even worse if you're allergic to them.
I had Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches as pets. Coolest pets ever, until I developed a severe allergy after a couple of years and had to have an epi shot.
Hairy caterpillars - According to one study published in The Scientific World Journal, one species of fuzzy caterpillars called the Pine Processionary caterpillar, "causes dermatological reactions in humans by contact with its irritating larvae hairs." So, think twice before petting these fuzzy worms!
We have something called a "oak procession caterpillar" that sports fuzz that is so allergy inducing even normal folks will geval heavy rash if they touch justva few hairs.
Tattoos - According to a study published in Contact Dermatitis, four percent of people who got tattoos experienced a short-term rash right after the process with six percent of people experiencing skin problems that persisted for more than four months.
My one tattoo occasionally flairs up like my skin is allergic to it, none of my other ones do, just the one. Been happening for years. I must have weird skin.
Beanbags - One case study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reported that a six-year-old with a soybean allergy suffered from mild respiratory distress due to none other than a beanbag, which is filled with dry soybeans. So, a soybean allergy can absolutely catch you off guard!
Hair dye - Allergies to hair dye only affect about 1 in every 250,000 people, but when they do occur they can be serious. Swelling, itchiness, and redness are all the symptomes to be wary of when trying to change your hair color.
I was traumatized by one hair dye. As a teen I dyed my hair alot and often washed it out in the shower with no issue until that one! Within 30-40 minutes my entire body was one giant red itchy hive. Thank God it eased up after a few hours and several benadryl
Makeup - Makeup allergies only affect the area of your skin where you apply the irritant product. For instance, if it's eyeshadow, you may have swollen and puffy eyelids. Symptoms will be localized, and will not affect the rest of your body.
Acrylic nails - Products used in nail salons, such as nail glue, polish, and acrylic nails themselves, can cause a contact dermatitis rash.
It's the monomer. One of the first things nail techs are warned is not to touch the skin with the monomer.
Peppermint - Mint may uncommonly induce symptoms of food allergy or cutaneous allergy, but it is possible that the allergy occurs more frequently than reported. After all, mint's icy deliciousness is the plant's defence mechanism!
Latex - If you're allergic to latex, you might get small itchy welts, see redness, and swelling on your skin.
Potato - People with this allergy may have a reaction immediately after touching, peeling, or eating potatoes. Symptoms may vary but usually include rhinitis, itchy eyes, a runny nose, and red, itchy skin.
Blue food coloring - Blue food dye, called Blue 2, allergy symptoms include hypersensitivity. You can find it in products like baked goods, cereals, candies, and various snacks.
Glitter - Mica, a natural mineral used as glitter in crafts, is a common skin irritant. And if you find that you're allergic to Mica, be careful about the foundations and powder products you're using, because it's also found in many cosmetic products.
Potting soil - Soil can harbor mold spores, so be careful about re-planting your green-leaved buddies.
Your humidifier - A few people develop what's known as "humidifier fever," a reaction that can mimic pneumonia.
Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 39 images based on user votes.
I'm allergic to avocado. I can handle it, as in touch it so I can cut it up and make a dip if I want, I just can't eat it. My mouth gets irritated and starts to go numb. The more I eat, the worse it gets. I have never tested how much I can eat before I have to go to the hospital, though. I don't really want to do that.
Avocado is high in Latex. You may have a latex allergy instead. Do you react to bananas as they have a similar form of Latex?
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Most of these are just misleading. It's like allergic toVideo games, a man in Minnesota was allergic to video games because his cat would sit in his lap and he was allergic to cats
My husband is allergic to strawberries and kiwi fruit, but only if they're fresh. If the strawberries are cooked, like in conserves/jam, he can eat it just fine, but raw it triggers epic sneezing fits. They're easily avoided, but it makes fruit salad less interesting.
My mom is allergic to strawberry everything. She gets hives.
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im allergic to raw apples and carrots but i used to love apples :( i eat a ridiculous amount of apple desserts and drinks during the fall, kinda like a bear about to go into hibernation.
Not technically allergic, but am on a low fodmap diet, which means no apple. Even a couple of sips of cider gives me reflux now, when it used to be my go to drink (alcoholic) in the summer! I did make a mock apple pie not long ago, using zucchini, and it was pretty good. Plan on trying choko in it next time to see if it's any different.
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I'm allergic to allium, specifically raw - or even worse, cooking - allium (onions, garlic, leeks, chives, spring onions etc). It's apparently really rare, and people always ask if I just don't like them. I actually did as a kid, but since my allergy's kicked in, I can stop breathing if someone is, say, sweating an onion in the same room as me, and if I cut up an onion, I get a horrible rash on the cutting hand right up to my shoulder.
I’m allergic to Penicillin it is a cure for meningitis, pneumonia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and endocarditis so if I get one of those and I am treated with Penicillin I brake out in a rash around my neck and it swells and I can’t breathe
Penicillin is only a first line. They can also treat meningitis with Amikacin and Metronidazole which are penicillin free. Depending on your reaction you may also be able to take cephelosporins.
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My mom could eat it but if it got on her skin, she'd swell up. Yet she LOVED baking with ginger every winter
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I have eczema, and it is often triggered by my allergies. If I'm around a furry pet, I stir up dust when cleaning, or allergy season comes around, I get a pretty bad flare-up. I've even gotten a flare-up when a mosquito bit me next to an eczema path. hopefully this gives any other eczema having pandas some insight on what to avoid
Bandaids, bananas, codeine and morphine here. I actually didn't know I was allergic to bananas until another BP post lol. I thought everyone got itchy raw pineapple like mouth after bananas. They don't. My bandaid allergy developed during pregnancy with my daughter and she is also allergic. Codeine and morphine make my feel like I am actually on fire. It is the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. I woke up screaming the first time each were administered. Bodies are weird.
Umm, raise your hand if you've got like all of these? Sweat, mold, nickel, semen, adhesives, skin abrasions, wine, wool, microscopic amounts of dust, dander, German cockroaches, anything with miniscule amounts of mold, bees, cashews, sunscreen, detergent, biting gnats, mosquitos, the list goes on. I have multiple serious allergies and just about everything that touches my skin gives me eczema--sometimes it takes years for it to go away! I can't even fall asleep in box-chain necklaces (even nice ones) because they pull out tiny hairs and give me a rash.
I have cold urticaria, so if my skin gets cold, I come out in hives on the exposed parts. Just appeared from nowhere when I was 17 and I'm now almost 40. Daily antihistamines help, but they don't stop the outbreaks completely, they just cut down the length of time. Ice lollies make my lips and tongue swell but not to life threatening proportions, thankfully.
My sister is allergic to the cold. No joke. She needs to hold those freeze pops, you know, the flavored ice in the plastic tube? She needs to hold them in paper towels. On snow days, she needs to dress warmer than everyone else or else she will get a rash.
Many of these aren't wierd allergies, they aren't even allergies. Allergies have to do with histamines etc. Chemical irritants or insects aren't allergies, just because they cause a reaction. Stop spreading bullsh*t.
If they are not allergies, then what are they? Why does the human body react the way it does? Why call it pasture patties?
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I'm allergic to certain emulsifiers, generally the ones used in pre-mixed chocolate milk.
Last time I tried kale my face got so hot, my glasses fogged up in 80F weather
I'm allergic to codeine. I have a long standing back problem, and my doctor prescribed codeine. Within an hour, I was basically having symptoms of a heart attack. I was taken to hospital, and they ran a lot of tests, blood pressure had dropped to 90/50, heart rate 40. Everything has been fine since, had a heart stress test, and everything worked as it should.
I'm allergic to the weather. I can't be outside in cold and damp weather too long or I break out in hives. It started when I was a kid and I'd play in the snow. I'd have to come in because my legs would blow up huge and be covered in hives. Then in college it got worse to wet clothes in cold weather, like if I'm stuck in a cold rainstorm.
I have non allergic rhinitis so my body acts as if it's dying from certain things, mostly fragrances, but I won't die. I'm biologically the drama. Getting vertigo and having to have someone pick you up from work as a grown a&! Woman is pretty embarrassing but it's chill Denise I get that you need to use that curling spray in your hair.
Stevia. I experience every symptom on the list of major symptoms but diarrhea and vomiting. It’s no fun and I have been hospitalized before! Ever since that day almost 10 years ago, I make a point to avoid stevia now that I know I’m allergic to it.
I'm allergic to stress. I was going through a stressful time and one day I broke out in hives. It was all over my body, itching like crazy, and getting worse everyday. They dr's ran tests and bounced me around for a couple of months and then an expert concluded that it's stress that causes the allergic reaction.
I have mast cell activation syndrome, and I have allergic reactions to a ton of things on this list--including the sun and heat.
I had an allergy to grass when I was younger, seem to have grown out of it by now though. I've also got an allergy to sterling gold.
I'm allergic to avocado. I can handle it, as in touch it so I can cut it up and make a dip if I want, I just can't eat it. My mouth gets irritated and starts to go numb. The more I eat, the worse it gets. I have never tested how much I can eat before I have to go to the hospital, though. I don't really want to do that.
Avocado is high in Latex. You may have a latex allergy instead. Do you react to bananas as they have a similar form of Latex?
Load More Replies... Most of these are just misleading. It's like allergic toVideo games, a man in Minnesota was allergic to video games because his cat would sit in his lap and he was allergic to cats
My husband is allergic to strawberries and kiwi fruit, but only if they're fresh. If the strawberries are cooked, like in conserves/jam, he can eat it just fine, but raw it triggers epic sneezing fits. They're easily avoided, but it makes fruit salad less interesting.
My mom is allergic to strawberry everything. She gets hives.
Load More Replies... im allergic to raw apples and carrots but i used to love apples :( i eat a ridiculous amount of apple desserts and drinks during the fall, kinda like a bear about to go into hibernation.
Not technically allergic, but am on a low fodmap diet, which means no apple. Even a couple of sips of cider gives me reflux now, when it used to be my go to drink (alcoholic) in the summer! I did make a mock apple pie not long ago, using zucchini, and it was pretty good. Plan on trying choko in it next time to see if it's any different.
Load More Replies... I'm allergic to allium, specifically raw - or even worse, cooking - allium (onions, garlic, leeks, chives, spring onions etc). It's apparently really rare, and people always ask if I just don't like them. I actually did as a kid, but since my allergy's kicked in, I can stop breathing if someone is, say, sweating an onion in the same room as me, and if I cut up an onion, I get a horrible rash on the cutting hand right up to my shoulder.
I’m allergic to Penicillin it is a cure for meningitis, pneumonia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and endocarditis so if I get one of those and I am treated with Penicillin I brake out in a rash around my neck and it swells and I can’t breathe
Penicillin is only a first line. They can also treat meningitis with Amikacin and Metronidazole which are penicillin free. Depending on your reaction you may also be able to take cephelosporins.
Load More Replies... My mom could eat it but if it got on her skin, she'd swell up. Yet she LOVED baking with ginger every winter
Load More Replies... I have eczema, and it is often triggered by my allergies. If I'm around a furry pet, I stir up dust when cleaning, or allergy season comes around, I get a pretty bad flare-up. I've even gotten a flare-up when a mosquito bit me next to an eczema path. hopefully this gives any other eczema having pandas some insight on what to avoid
Bandaids, bananas, codeine and morphine here. I actually didn't know I was allergic to bananas until another BP post lol. I thought everyone got itchy raw pineapple like mouth after bananas. They don't. My bandaid allergy developed during pregnancy with my daughter and she is also allergic. Codeine and morphine make my feel like I am actually on fire. It is the most excruciating pain I have ever felt. I woke up screaming the first time each were administered. Bodies are weird.
Umm, raise your hand if you've got like all of these? Sweat, mold, nickel, semen, adhesives, skin abrasions, wine, wool, microscopic amounts of dust, dander, German cockroaches, anything with miniscule amounts of mold, bees, cashews, sunscreen, detergent, biting gnats, mosquitos, the list goes on. I have multiple serious allergies and just about everything that touches my skin gives me eczema--sometimes it takes years for it to go away! I can't even fall asleep in box-chain necklaces (even nice ones) because they pull out tiny hairs and give me a rash.
I have cold urticaria, so if my skin gets cold, I come out in hives on the exposed parts. Just appeared from nowhere when I was 17 and I'm now almost 40. Daily antihistamines help, but they don't stop the outbreaks completely, they just cut down the length of time. Ice lollies make my lips and tongue swell but not to life threatening proportions, thankfully.
My sister is allergic to the cold. No joke. She needs to hold those freeze pops, you know, the flavored ice in the plastic tube? She needs to hold them in paper towels. On snow days, she needs to dress warmer than everyone else or else she will get a rash.
Many of these aren't wierd allergies, they aren't even allergies. Allergies have to do with histamines etc. Chemical irritants or insects aren't allergies, just because they cause a reaction. Stop spreading bullsh*t.
If they are not allergies, then what are they? Why does the human body react the way it does? Why call it pasture patties?
Load More Replies... I'm allergic to certain emulsifiers, generally the ones used in pre-mixed chocolate milk.
Last time I tried kale my face got so hot, my glasses fogged up in 80F weather
I'm allergic to codeine. I have a long standing back problem, and my doctor prescribed codeine. Within an hour, I was basically having symptoms of a heart attack. I was taken to hospital, and they ran a lot of tests, blood pressure had dropped to 90/50, heart rate 40. Everything has been fine since, had a heart stress test, and everything worked as it should.
I'm allergic to the weather. I can't be outside in cold and damp weather too long or I break out in hives. It started when I was a kid and I'd play in the snow. I'd have to come in because my legs would blow up huge and be covered in hives. Then in college it got worse to wet clothes in cold weather, like if I'm stuck in a cold rainstorm.
I have non allergic rhinitis so my body acts as if it's dying from certain things, mostly fragrances, but I won't die. I'm biologically the drama. Getting vertigo and having to have someone pick you up from work as a grown a&! Woman is pretty embarrassing but it's chill Denise I get that you need to use that curling spray in your hair.
Stevia. I experience every symptom on the list of major symptoms but diarrhea and vomiting. It’s no fun and I have been hospitalized before! Ever since that day almost 10 years ago, I make a point to avoid stevia now that I know I’m allergic to it.
I'm allergic to stress. I was going through a stressful time and one day I broke out in hives. It was all over my body, itching like crazy, and getting worse everyday. They dr's ran tests and bounced me around for a couple of months and then an expert concluded that it's stress that causes the allergic reaction.
I have mast cell activation syndrome, and I have allergic reactions to a ton of things on this list--including the sun and heat.
I had an allergy to grass when I was younger, seem to have grown out of it by now though. I've also got an allergy to sterling gold.
