Food allergiesoccur when your bodys immune system mistakenly reacts to a specific food as a dangerous foreign substance.
Food allergies are common, affecting 20 million Americans.
A typical allergic reaction to food and other substances is itching.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Sometimes, just touching particular foods can lead to itching.
In 2023, sesame was added as the ninth major food allergen.
Soy
Soybeans are a member of the legume family.
You’ll find soy in food items like soymilk, tofu, edamame, and miso.
Soy allergiestypically appear in infancy and childhood.
Many people outgrow a soy allergy, but some people will be affected their whole lives.
This jot down of rash is extremely itchy.
Tree nuts include:
If you have tree nut allergies, you gotta avoid whole nuts.
Itching in the mouth, throat, skin, and eyes is common with tree nut allergies.
Peanut allergies can be life-threatening, so avoiding peanuts is critical if you are allergic.
Research has found that peanut allergens can remain present on table surfaces for 110 days.
Children with severe eczema or egg allergies are at increased risk of developing peanut allergies.
Peanut allergies have a range of symptoms, including hives.
Due to the potential for severe allergic reactions, your healthcare provider may prescribeepinephrineif you have a peanut allergy.
Shellfish
Shellfish include crustaceans like crab, lobster, and shrimp.
They also include mollusks like clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops.
Unfortunately,shellfish allergiesalso tend to be severe and can result in life-threatening reactions.
About 2% of Americans have a shellfish allergy.
This allergy tends to first occur in adulthood, and it tends to be lifelong when it happens.
Skin reactions to shellfish can include hives.
People with shellfish allergies need to be careful aboutcross-contamination, especially when eating out.
Wheat
Wheat allergies are sometimes confused withceliac disease, which is anautoimmune diseasethat affects the small intestine.
In a wheat allergy, a person is allergic to the protein found in wheat.
Because wheat is such a common ingredient in prepared and processed foods, be sure to read labels carefully.
Cows Milk
Amilk allergyisnot the same thingas lactose intolerance.
Eggs
The protein in eggs triggersegg allergies.
People can be only allergic to specific parts of the egg, like the egg white or the yolk.
However, if you have an egg allergy, its best to avoid eggs entirely.
Like other food allergies, eggs may result in hives, among other allergic reactions.
Egg allergies may also be severe.
Finned Fish
A finnedfish allergyis not the same as a shellfish allergy.
Therefore, it is possible to have one and not the other.
These include things like caviar, omega-3 supplements, and gelatin.
Tomatoes
Tomato allergies commonly cause itching and hives.
What Is Oral Allergy Syndrome?
OAS is cross-reacting allergens found in pollen and some food plants.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus allergiescommonly result in the skin, mouth, tongue, and lips itching.
Citrus, like tomatoes, is associated with OAS and grass pollen, in particular.
They can also cause contact-based skin reactions in some people.
They can also result in mouth itching, primarily due to OAS.
Do I Have a Food Allergy?
It often takes a bit of detective work.
Your healthcare provider may ask you to keep afood diary.
This process involves tracking everything you eat and noting any symptoms.
Doing so can sometimes help you see a pattern of symptoms that correlate with certain foods.
Finally, your healthcare provider may suggestallergy testingto determine your allergy.
These may include skin tests or blood tests.
Food Allergy or Food Sensitivity?
Food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies.
Food sensitivities (also called intolerances) are reactions to food that do not involve the immune system.
Typical examples arelactose intoleranceorgluten sensitivity.
Reactions to sensitivities tend to be milder and involve digestive upset.
Treatment
As with all allergies, avoiding the allergen is the first line of treatment.
Avoiding allergens is especially critical for food allergies since some can be severe.
Food allergy treatmentincludes:
Summary
Food allergies commonly cause itchy skin rashes.
Treatment primarily consists in avoiding the foods to which you are allergic.
However, if you accidentally contact a food allergen, antihistamines may help, especially with itching.
A healthcare provider might also suggest skin prick tests or blood tests to definitively diagnose your allergies.
Keeping a food diary may help you determine what is causing your itching.
Too much sugar can trigger eczema flare-ups in some people.
In addition, some people have a sugar allergy or intolerance, which can cause itching.
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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Tree nut: overview.
Food Allergy Research and Education.Shellfish allergy.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Wheat: overview.
Flom JD, Sicherer SH.Epidemiology of cows milk allergy.Nutrients.
Chung EH.Vaccine allergies.Clin Exp Vaccine Res.
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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Pollen food allergy syndrome: overview.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Can spices cause allergic reactions?
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Food allergy testing and diagnosis: overview.
