(no subject)

[unbibium]

note to self: wear gloves while handling shrimp.

Why is it that I get a rash when I handle shrimp with my hands, but suffer no ill effects when I eat it?

Comments

[skyknyt.livejournal.com]

Because different cells are allergic to different things. No blood tests find my food allergies, but I know they're there, and my internist agrees!

skye

[sunburn.livejournal.com]

Plus, you're handling raw shrimp and eating cooked shrimp. Big difference.

[plorkwort.livejournal.com]

Immunologically, "allergy" and "intolerance" or "sensitivity" are different things; an allergy is systemic, involving the immune system throughout the entire body, while a contact rash is more likely to be a sensitivity, which can be highly localized (ie hands only instead of whole body). In addition, as sunburn notes, cooking is likely to denature any protein you may be reacting to.

[sunburn.livejournal.com]

Oh, and the thought occurs that shrimp is sometimes part of ceviche, where fish and other sea critters (generally) are "cooked" by the acidity of citris juices and whatnot. Anyway, whatever you're sensitive/allergic to could still be around after that, unlike shrimp cooked by heat. So try a little to see how it goes.