Latex allergies

I’m looking for a foam mattress and have read great things about the latex materials used for longevity. If I have a latex allergy related to gloves and bandaids ( these products actually touch the skin) would that also apply to a latex mattress even if it is embedded in the middle of the foam and covered by a mattress pad? Also does a latex mattress have more offgassing than a polyfoam mattress?

Hi Justus,

A latex contact allergy (either irritant contact dermatitis or a type IV allergy) to gloves or bandaids or other dipped latex products generally wouldn’t be an issue with latex foam in a mattress both because there is no contact with the latex and because foamed latex is made differently than dipped latex and the final product is washed which removes most of the allergens on the surface. There is more about latex allergies in post #2 here.

While latex has a smell when it is new (see post #2 here) … all the latex you are likely to encounter would be tested and certified by either Oeko-Tex or Eco-Institut for harmful substances and VOC’s and most people wouldn’t have any issues with latex even if they were sensitive to memory foam or polyfoam.

Phoenix