Sweat allergy explained

Specialty:	dermatology
Causes:	increases in the production of sweat.
Treatment:	Tannic acid, showering

A sweat allergy is the exacerbation of atopic dermatitis associated with an elevated body temperature and resulting increases in the production of sweat. It appears as small reddish welts that become visible in response to increased temperature and resulting production of sweat.^[1] It can affect all ages. Sweating can trigger intense itching or cholinergic urticaria. The protein MGL_1304 secreted by mycobiota (fungi) present on the skin such as Malassezia globosa acts as a histamine or antigen. People can be desensitized using their own samples of sweat that have been purified that contains small amounts of the allergen.^{[2] [3]} The allergy is not due to the sweat itself but instead to an allergy-producing protein secreted by bacteria found on the skin.^[4]

Cholinergic urticaria (CU) is one of the physical urticaria (hives) which is provoked during sweating events such as exercise, bathing, staying in a heated environment, or emotional stress. The hives produced are typically smaller than classic hives and are generally shorter-lasting.^{[5] [6]}

Multiple subtypes have been elucidated, each of which require distinct treatment.^{[7] [8]}

Tannic acid has been found to suppress the allergic response, along with showering.

See also

• Miliaria
• Exercise-induced anaphylaxis
• Idiopathic pure sudomotor failure
• Hypohidrosis
• Fabry disease
• Allergy
• Food allergy
• List of allergens
• Tree nut allergy
• Cholinergic urticaria

Notes and References

1. Kan T, Hiragun T, Ishii K, Hiragun M, Yanase Y, Tanaka A, Hide M . Evaluation of recombinant MGL_1304 produced by Pichia pastoris for clinical application to sweat allergy . Allergology International . 64 . 3 . 266–271 . July 2015 . 26117259 . 10.1016/j.alit.2015.03.003 . free .
2. Hiragun T, Hiragun M, Ishii K, Kan T, Hide M . Sweat allergy: Extrinsic or intrinsic? . Journal of Dermatological Science . 87 . 1 . 3–9 . July 2017 . 28416076 . 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2017.03.002 . free .
3. Hiragun T, Hide M . Sweat Allergy . english . Current Problems in Dermatology . 51 . 101–108 . 2016 . 27584969 . 10.1159/000446788 . Karger Publishers . 978-3-318-05904-5 .
4. Book: Yokozeki H . Perspiration research . Karger . Basel New York . 2016 . 9783318059052 . 52.
5. Moore-Robinson M, Warin RP . Some clinical aspects of cholinergic urticaria . The British Journal of Dermatology . 80 . 12 . 794–799 . December 1968 . 5706797 . 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1968.tb11948.x . 58415911 .
6. Hirschmann JV, Lawlor F, English JS, Louback JB, Winkelmann RK, Greaves MW . Cholinergic urticaria. A clinical and histologic study . Archives of Dermatology . 123 . 4 . 462–467 . April 1987 . 3827277 . 10.1001/archderm.1987.01660280064024 .
7. Nakamizo S, Egawa G, Miyachi Y, Kabashima K . Cholinergic urticaria: pathogenesis-based categorization and its treatment options . Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology . 26 . 1 . 114–116 . January 2012 . 21371134 . 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04017.x . 35802279 . free .
8. Bito T, Sawada Y, Tokura Y . Pathogenesis of cholinergic urticaria in relation to sweating . Allergology International . 61 . 4 . 539–544 . December 2012 . 23093795 . 10.2332/allergolint.12-RAI-0485 . free .