Lubricant can be allergic to some people, like any other product. There can be serious problems in the genitals, which can be embarrassing and painful. This type of allergy in the genitals can be lubricant or latex allergy. This lubricant allergy is commonly caused due to lubricated condoms. Some ways to diagnose the lubricant allergy symptoms in women and their treatment are discussed in this article.
Diagnosis of Lubricant Allergy
The following steps should be followed for diagnosis of lubricant or latex allergy :
- Symptoms — Vagina can become red, swollen and itchy. In some women, skin can develop eczema, rashes and dryness. Balanitis, which is inflammation of glans penis can occur and it may become swollen, sore, red and irritated. There can be a lumpy discharge under the foreskin. Sometimes, symptoms can be more severe due to latex allergy.
- Write down the symptoms you experienced and the activity you did. These notes can help your doctor to understand the problem better and to determine whether your genitals problem is due to lubricant allergy or some infection.
Treatment of Lubricant Allergy Symptoms
- When the symptoms do not tend to subside in three days, immediately consult for a medical advice.
- You can do a lubricated latex condom test. Cut 2 small pieces of condom and stick it with tape with different sides (lubricated and non-lubricated sides) on your both arms. Leave it for 48 hours. If you observe symptoms in both the arms, you are allergic to latex and if the symptoms occur only on lubricated side.
- Instead of using latex condom, you can switch to polyurethane condom as these are less allergic.
- You can also try water based lubricated condoms, which do no cause any allergic reactions.
- Corticosteroids medication can be taken to reduce allergic symptoms on your doctor’s advice.
The above are some of the ways to diagnose lubricant allergy symptoms and their treatments.
