House dust mites

House dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on human skin cells and thrive in bedding and dusty environments. People who are sensitive to house dust mites are actually allergic to the proteins in their droppings, rather than the creatures themselves.

Pet allergy

Animals shed tiny particles of dead skin (dander), feathers and hair, all of which can trigger an allergic reaction. Some people are allergic to feather pillows, while others are allergic to animal saliva.

Food allergy

A handful of foods cause most allergies. These include nuts, fish, shellfish and eggs. A food intolerance, which is actually much more common than an allergy, is different. Foods likely to cause intolerance include milk (due to its lactose) and wheat (due to its gluten).

Nuts are one of the main causes of food allergies

Medicines

Certain medication, such as penicillin, aspirin and opiates (e.g. codeine), can cause an allergic reaction. You need to be aware of which medications could cause problems so that you can check with customers when giving out prescriptions and selling OTC medicines.

Skin allergy

The skin sometimes reacts to allergens in the environment. These could be anything from heat to clothing, and from chemicals to the nickel sometimes found in jewellery.