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I'm allergic to just about everything. It seems like the older I get, the more allergies I develop. There's one allergy I've had all my life, and I'd like to know if anyone else out there has it too.

I have to be extremely careful about buying shoes because I am allergic to glue. Shoe manufacturers use glue to hold the insole in place and even to stiffen the toe.  Contact with glue causes me to break out in clusters of tiny water blisters. When I was a child, I suffered tremendously. My feet were raw almost all of the time--except in summer, when I went barefoot most of the time.

It wasn't until I was in my 30s and had several rounds of allergy tests done that I discovered the culprit was glue. My parents tried everything they knew; we tried every itch-relief cream ever made! Every doctor they took me took just shook his head and said it was probably a bad case of athlete's foot. In a 10-year-old girl?! The last time a doctor dared to give me that diagnosis, I took him five pairs of shoes that caused me to break out, three of which were sandals, and dared him to call it athlete's foot.

My doctor still doesn't have a solution other than to give me a shot of cortizone when the break out is really bad and to prescribe a strong anti-itch cream for the rest of the time.

Is there anybody else out there who is allergic to glue? Is anybody interested in joining me in a campaign to persuade shoe companies to stop using glue? I waste hundreds of dollars a year on shoes that I can wear one or two times and have to get rid of because of my allergy.

This might be a trivial matter to some people, but it's very important to me and anyone else who might have a similar allergy. Besides, although I'm very careful about glue exposure, somehow I've gotten it own my hands. I want to scratch my skin off!!!!

How awful!  Is it all glue, or a component of the glue that causes these break outs, or do they know?  I am so sorry!  I can't imagine how trying this must be for you.

What sort of response have you gotten from the shoe industry if at all?

So far no response. I hate to think the two are connected, but I'm also highly allergic to horses. And you know the old threats about sending worn out horses to the glue factory. Curiously, I'm not allergic to school paste or Elmer's white glue. But I don't dare touch a glue stick or other adhesive. Even bandaids give me problems!

In reply to #3:

Hi Linda,

Read your post and was intrigued by your predicament. I couldn't imagine having that happen everytime I put on a pair of shoes!! I did a little browsing on the internet and came across this website: http://pub13.bravenet.com/forum/1053075654. It's a forum for people who are experiencing the same thing you are from what I can see so I thought you might find it interesting. I hope it helps and you are able to find some answers and shoes that won't cause you any pain.

Good luck,

Julie B.

Hi Linda,

I too am allergic to the glue in shoes.  It started a couple of years ago and was told that after going thru test that this was the culpit.  It has been so hard for me because I love shoes.  The only shoes I have been able to wear are Eddie Bauer.  Should you find any others please let me know.

Thanks,

Donna A. 

Skechers are good--at least the ones made from some kind of soft plastic. I don't wear Crocs, but I'm sure they'd be fine for the same reason. It's the worst itch ever, isn't it?!

In reply to #1: Hi Linda.  I,am in exactly the same predicament as you are.  I too am allergic to shoe glue (PTBP to be exact.  It took a year to discover this. A year of constant excruciating pain, infections etc.  Shoes are extremely difficult to come by and when they are, they are extremely expensive, and the styles are something my granny would wear.  I agree that people dont understand ( I too have it on my hands!) A shop assiatant pulled a horrible face when she handed me my change, I felt so humiliated.  I would love to join your campaign.  I just can't afford the shoes anymore.

I don't even try to buy special shoes. I take my chances and try to stick with leather. It is hard to find fashionable shoes, but fortunately I'm getting close to the granny-shoe age!

I sometimes get the blisters on my hands, but if I stay away from all forms of glue, I have no problems.

Also, stay away from horses. Everyone I've known who has this allergy is also highly allergic to horses.

  I have been searching the internet for a while trying to find someone else allergic to glue. I have never had a problem with shoes, but I do with many other things. The glue on envolopes, giftcards, ect. I'm still in school where glue is very popular for projects. I have to go to a separate room and use tape. When I get back to class, I have to stand in the front of the class while my classmates clean their desks. The nurse calls me "Glue Girl" and many people either don't belive me, look at me strange, or ask questions. I have an Epi-Pen for my reactions. I get red rashes that spread mostly  on my hands and arms, but each time I have an exposure, it gets worse. Once it went all over my face. I have to carry an Epi-Pen, cortisone cream, and benadryl with me everywhere I go. I carry it in this purse I call my "Epi-Purse".  I was watching Seinfeld once, and George's girlfriend was allergic to glue. My allergy just came out of no where, so then I thought "who's allergic to glue?" now people ask me that. Yeah-I am. It really gets in the way of what I do. I'm getting an allergy test in a little more than a week. One time my mom called the Elmer's glue hotline, and they told us that they couldn't tell us some of the ingredients in glue in case we're from an opposing glue comany who'll steal their formula. Maybe in the allergy test they'll figure out what it is in glue that I'm allergic to.

I hope you find good shoes!

- bluelamb171

So sorry to hear about all of your allergy problems...my husband of 15 years has ALWAYS had the same problem, but so far hasn't gotten anywhere with doctors.  None have really offered any solutions to the problem, nor do they seem to know what the cause could be.  I do not know exactly what the cause of the allergy to his feet is, but he cannot wear sandals, especially, since he does not wear socks with them.  It's very frustrating because he will buy a new pair of shoes or sandals, and then discover that he can't wear them because they make his feet break out horribly! He even tried a pair of the shoes that are similar to Crocs, thinking that they would not cause a breakout...no such luck.  Fortunately he just wore them in the house on several occasions to try them out first, so he was able to take them back to the store.  Thinking I would be nice and find him a pair of sandals for Father's Day, I have been on a search for anti-allergy sandals...not much luck AND very, VERY expensive AND most companies are not in the USA!  Please let me know if anyone else finds anything (preferably under $100)!