I already have a latex allergy. I've known this for about 6 years now. I quit using latex products as much as possible and am ever so cautious when going to the dr or dentist. I left work in the food industry and joined the military. It seemed all was going well until we had a military exercise last week. This is not the first time i've been in one so what happened caught me off guard. I was told the gloves and mask that we have to wear for our chem suits are made of rubber. Just recently after wearing the gloves I broke out in a rash and what appeared to be hives. I was told that it couldn't be an allergic reaction because the gloves are not latex, and that it must be heat rash. I've had both heat rash and an allergic reaction to different things, and this didnt appear to be heat rash. I had a red itchy rash, with what appeared to be hives that started around my wrist area and quickly spread to my hands and elbow. After taking benadryl the red and itchiness subsidded, but now I had what appeared to be reddish purple blotches and remanents or the hives or bumps still on my arms. It's now been 5 days since this happened and I get a slight itch from time to time and still have a few red bumps that haven't gone away. Also when wearing my gas mask I would feel a bit itchy but I always thought that it was just me. However, days after wearing my face, neck and head will be itchy and I have bumps that appear to look like little pimples or acne. This usually only happens after I have to wear the mask. At first I always thought it was due to the dirt and sweat from the mask but am now wondering if it is otherwise. Since neither of these are made out of latex, but butyl rubber for the gloves and butyl and silicone rubber for the mask, is it possible to develop an allergy to this rubber or perhaps the chemicals used to make the rubber.