Could allergies protect against cancer?
Anyone with a skin contact allergy most commonly to nickel, which is found in jewellery, nail polish and remover, some cleansers and shampoos and countless other products will tell you how frustrating the condition is, as well as how unsightly.
Anti-inflammatory creams can help, but the only sure cure is avoidance, which can be tricky.
However, there may be an upside to the problem, with a British Medical Journal study suggesting that women with contact skin allergies have much lower rates of breast cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Researchers at the Copenhagen University Hospital tracked nearly 17,000 adults over a 25-year period, and found a significant difference between incidences of these cancers in people with the allergies and those without.
The reason, they suggest, is that 'hyperimmunity' a condition which may give a person added protection against certain cancers often has the side effect of an increased likelihood of allergies.
Your say: Do you suffer from skin contact allergies? How do you manage your condition?
Video: Managing allergies at home