Rose allergies are among the least common of all allergies. Roses have been used for centuries in fragrances, herbal teas, and cooking, and there are few reports of rose allergy in medical literature according to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Because the size of the pollen in roses is large and waxy, it does not produce the typical airborne irritant that many flowering herbs and plants do. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology believes respiratory allergic reactions caused by roses are very rare but do exist.
Airborne vs. Insect-borne Pollen
Airborne pollen is the cause of many seasonal allergies. Roses rely on insects rather than the wind to accomplish pollination according to Piri Allergy, and rose pollen molecules are heavier and stickier than that of most flowers. Hybrid roses have even less pollen than wild roses. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends roses for gardeners with outdoor allergies over other flowering plants and herbs.
Fragrance Allergies
Roses with a strong scent are the flowers most likely to cause an allergic reaction reports Solana Asthma Coalition. Piri Allergy advises choosing the least fragrant roses for gardening as they exude less pollen. According to Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc fragrances contribute from 30 to 45 percent of the allergic reactions to cosmetics. Skin reactions due to contact with such fragrances mostly affect the face, hands, neck and underarms. Rose oil may be present even in products labeled "fragrance-free" or "unscented" according to the PSCIO.
Occupational Risks
Those that come into prolonged and frequent contact with roses or rose products are more likely to develop sensitivities to roses. Rose cultivators and those that extract rose oil or process dried rose hip powder may be especially at risk of becoming allergic to rose pollen or dust. A 1990 study or rose hips workers published in the "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" found that rose hips are capable of becoming an occupational allergen and causing asthma. Sensitivity to roses has been documented in many rose-cultivating workers in Turkey and the Middle East, causing respiratory allergic reactions according to a 2003 article published in "Allergologia et Immunopathologia."
Pollen Ingestion
The Allergologia et Immunopathologia reported a case of anaphylactic shock in a 47 year old Turkish man who ingested rose pollen, the most severe allergic reaction one can encounter. The patient suffered from a number of allergies and from asthma, and his reaction stemmed from drinking dew that had collected in a rose that contained rose pollen. The man did not normally experience allergic reactions to rose oil or foods containing rose juice, although reportedly touching roses did create some skin problems.
References
- Piri Allergy.com: Gardening with Allergies
- "Allergologia et Immunopathologia:" A Case of Anaphylaxis Due to Rose Pollen Ingestion; G. Karakaya and A.F. Kalyoncu; 2003
- Australian Department on Health and Ageing; Office of the Gene Technology Regulator; The Biology and Ecology of Rosa x hybrida (Rose); 2005
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Allergy-Friendly Gardening; Thanai Pongdee, MD; 2011
- Solano Asthma Coalition; Low Allergy/Asthma Trigger Plants; 2011
- "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"; Rose Hips: a New Occupational Allergen; A Kwaselow et al: 1990
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