Allergies

[Ljane]

PLEASE HELP

I have found that when handling my skink I develop a severe allergic reaction; my face, ears, throat and eyes become extremely itchy and I sneeze alot.
I thought that maybe this was a reaction from the substrate I was using as when I cleaned the tank my symptoms would get so bad my throat would swell and I found it difficult to breathe.
I decided to buy a new tank as I didn't want my lizard to be in an unsafe environment and have tried a range of different substrates including sand, bark and currently aspen but have found that nothing has changed.
I've gone as far as to 'quarantine' my lizards in a glass tank for two weeks and still have the same symptoms when handling them.
Their diet does not include insects, and they are still very active and happy lizards.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[splashy07]

Honestly I have never heard of anyone being allergic to a reptile. I am allergic to everything, and never had any such issues. Have kept hundreds of different types over the years, and the feeder mice and rats for my snakes are the only problem I have. Them and their aspen substrate. Yuck. Anyway, hopefully someone else will be able to help you, but really never heard of such a thing. Do you have other allergies?

[Janella]

Wowzers, I have never heard of such a thing either. I would have guessed it was the substrate...