We’ve all met people who seem to set us off for no reason at all. Maybe it’s a boss whose presence gives you a headache, or that person at a party who somehow makes you want to sneeze.
It turns out that for some people, this feeling isn’t just an awkward vibe – it’s an actual allergic reaction.
The condition is called People Allergic To Me (PATM), and although it sounds like a joke, it’s a genuine medical mystery.
While the idea of being allergic to another person might seem strange, it can cause serious immune responses that affect health, relationships and everyday life.
These allergies shed new light on the complexities of the human body and how our chemistry can sometimes clash.
Through the skin
Some people react to external chemicals that a person is carrying, like synthetic fragrances in aftershave or deodorant. In fact, over 150 fragrances have been linked to contact allergies.
In rare instances, even a person’s natural body odour can trigger a reaction. One woman living with mast cell activation syndrome (a condition where infection‑fighting immune cells misfire) developed debilitating allergic reactions to her husband’s natural scent.
Though the link hasn’t been fully proven, some patients suspect that skin gases – chemicals like toluene, found in crude oil and used in paints and plastics – can cause sensitivity. These chemicals can also end up in the body through smoking or other exposures.
People living with PATM experience an isolating and puzzling phenomenon where those around them develop allergic‑type symptoms like coughing or choking when in their presence.
Sweat and hair
While sweat allergies usually occur when a person is sensitive to their own perspiration, there have been rare instances where allergies relate to another person’s hair.
In these cases, the reaction is not caused by the hair itself, but by external substances present on it, such as formaldehyde in keratin treatments, or cat protein picked up by the hair of a pet owner.
Bodily fluids
Allergic reactions can also be triggered by bodily fluids. In one case, a woman in the UK who was allergic to Brazil nuts developed hives and shortness of breath after intimacy with a partner who had eaten mixed nuts hours earlier, despite him brushing his teeth and washing beforehand.
Similar allergic responses have been linked to saliva following the consumption of certain foods, like fruit, vegetables, seafood and dairy products.
Semen allergy, also called seminal plasma hypersensitivity, is another example. Symptoms range from an irritating rash to potentially life‑threatening anaphylactic shock after exposure. For people allergic to some aspect of a partner, the emotional toll can be significant, impacting both the person affected and their relationship.
Although these conditions are rare, they highlight just how intricate and surprising the human immune system can be, reminding us that in some instances, people can be allergic to people in the most literal sense.
Lifestyle
