The allergen associated with lemon allergy is called Cit l 1.

Cit l 1 is a Lipid Transfer Protein (LTP), these proteins are resistant to heat and are found in many types of plants. Patients suffering from a more severe allergy to cooked fruit may be sensitised to this group of proteins.

Lemons also contain limonene, which is a component of the oils found in the peel of certain fruits. Limonene is a well known skin irritant - so may cause sufferers to react to the skin whilst being able to eat or drink the fruit.

There is an increasing amount of research into citrus seed allergy - it has been suggested that some allergic reactions have been triggered not by the fruit or peel, but by accidental consumption of the seeds. These allergic reactions may be triggered by proteins found in more commonly eaten seeds (like sunflower and pumpkin seeds) - seed storage proteins.

You may be suffering from LTP Syndrome if you have reactions to various fruits, vegetables and nuts and your reactions continue to be severe after you have discarded the peel and have cooked the food.

Eating lemons is also associated with phytodermatitis. This is a skin condition that occurs when a person gets the juice from the fruit on the skin and doesn't wash it off. The furocoumarins in the juice of the fruit are activated by the sun and cause an itchy rash on the skin.

Common foods involved in LTP allergy include kiwi, strawberries, sunflower seeds, walnut, apple, mulberry, banana, pea, apricot, cherry, plum, almond, peach pomegranate, raspberry, tomato, grape, celery, peanut, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, chestnut, lemon, tangerine, orange, hazelnut, lettuce, lentils, lupin, green bean, pear, mustard, wheat and maize.

Lemon allergens have shown cross-reactivity with the major peach allergen Pru p 3.

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