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The immune system is designed to defend against pathogens — foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. But sometimes, the immune system can confuse certain foods for pathogens and launch an attack against them. The resulting response causes an allergic reaction. This is the experience of more than 20 million people in the United States with food allergies.
Most symptoms of food allergy develop within two hours of exposure to a food allergen — often, they develop within minutes. Some people may feel sick to their stomach, get dizzy, start coughing or sneezing, or feel faint. Others can develop itchy rashes, which may appear around their mouth or all over their body.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what food allergy rashes might look and feel like, as well as when to seek medical treatment for yourself or your child.
Pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) is a mild allergic reaction to certain raw fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Until recently, this health condition was called oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Now, PFAS is the preferred term, though some people still refer to it as OAS.
When someone with PFAS comes into contact with an allergen, mild symptoms may develop in and around the mouth. For example, their mouth and lips may itch or swell. PFAS can also cause itchy ears and an itchy nose. In some cases, PFAS can cause severe whole-body symptoms, but severe reactions are rare. Also, it doesn’t typically affect children younger than 5.
PFAS symptoms usually remain limited to the mouth area and don’t spread to other parts of the body. In most cases, treatment isn’t necessary because symptoms often go away once the food is swallowed or removed from the mouth. Cooking or peeling the offending food or avoiding it altogether can help prevent a reaction in the future.
If you’re not sure what caused the reaction, your dermatologist or allergist may recommend allergy testing, such as a skin prick test or an oral food challenge, to learn more about your condition.
Urticaria (hives) is one of the most common symptoms of a food allergy. Hives look like raised bumps with pale centers, similar to bugbites. Hives and rashes can vary in color based on skin tone. If you have a darker skin tone, your hives might appear slightly lighter or darker than your natural skin tone or similar to the color of your skin. If you have a medium or light skin tone, your hives might appear red or pink.
Several members of MyFoodAllergyTeam have shared experiences with itchy skin rashes. In some cases, they can pinpoint the cause, while other times it’s harder to tell.
“The baby broke out in another rash today with a few hives,” one member wrote. “I got the rash pretty cleared, but she’s still super itchy. Not sure what exactly broke her out, but definitely going to single it out.”
Others have said:
Hives from food allergies are usually short-lived. Often, a single hive will go away within 24 hours, though sometimes new hives may take days or weeks to resolve. Some people break out in hives frequently without being allergic to anything. These are called idiopathic or spontaneous hives.
If the child or adult with hives is stable, medical treatment may not always be necessary. However, it’s always a good idea to contact your doctor if you have concerns or if this is the first time you or your child is experiencing hives.
Taking a cool bath for 10 minutes can help relieve itching. In addition, over-the-counter antihistamines may be recommended. Second-generation antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine are usually preferred as they’re less likely to cause side effects. Meanwhile, diphenhydramine is typically not recommended because it can cause drowsiness and other side effects. However, everyone’s case is different. Make sure to ask your doctor or your child’s pediatrician about what treatment options are right for you.
“I’ve been itching a lot. I’m not certain why, but it may be dry skin. The doctor gave me a cream to use. We will see if it works,” said a member of MyFoodAllergyTeam. Others have mentioned that they get itchy when they eat something that “doesn’t agree with them” or that their “body didn’t like.”
It’s common for rashes to appear as a result of scratching. Getting the itch under control can help prevent rashes and further problems like skin infections.
“I had a rash recently and chalked it up to allergies. It was partially an allergy, and the rest was due to an overgrowth of staph. Yikes!” one member shared. “Took a long road to recovery. I’m finally on the other side. Which came first, the allergy or the staph? I think the allergy made me scratch.”
When a rash becomes infected by pathogens on the skin or in your fingernails, it may feel hot to the touch, ooze pus, or start crusting over. The area can also become swollen and inflamed, and the skin may look tight or shiny. Impetigo — a common bacterial skin infection usually caused by staph or strep bacteria — can cause blisters to form, which eventually break open and leave temporary marks and a dark yellow crust on the skin. In some cases, infections are serious and require hospitalization.
If you think you or your child may have an infected rash, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Some skin infections, if left untreated, can spread to other people. In some cases, they may become life-threatening.
A doctor may diagnose the specific bacteria, virus, or fungus responsible for the infection by taking a skin sample and sending it to the lab. Once the cause is identified, your provider will recommend the best treatment, which may include a medicated ointment or cream or an antibiotic to help clear up the infection. Your healthcare provider or your child’s doctor can also give medical advice on how to properly clean and care for the infection as it heals.
Although food allergies often cause itchy skin, they aren’t the only reason people get rashes. You or your child may get rashes from poison ivy, medication side effects, weather changes, eczema, or another type of reaction.
Contact dermatitis can cause a swollen, scaly, itchy rash, often in response to harsh cleaning products or industrial chemicals. In allergic contact dermatitis, exposure to poison ivy, latex, nickel, or other substances leads to itchy skin, which sometimes comes with blisters, bumps, and swelling.
Several medications also list skin rashes as a possible side effect. Antibiotics, diuretics (water pills), or other drugs may also produce discolored skin spots or bumps. Drug rashes may appear pink or purple, depending on your skin tone.
Speak with your primary care or dermatology provider about rashes that are new or severe or don’t respond well to over-the-counter treatments. Writing down the timeline of your symptoms and taking photos of the rash can help your doctor to identify it. Your provider may prescribe medications for food allergies, or recommend other over-the-counter options to help manage symptoms.
Always seek emergency medical treatment if you or your child is having trouble breathing. This can be a sign of anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic reaction. If you’re at risk of this severe allergic reaction, your doctor will likely prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. Carry your pack of two epinephrine auto-injectors with you wherever you go in case there is a medical emergency. Epinephrine should be injected at the first sign of symptoms. Make sure to call emergency services after administering epinephrine even if symptoms initially improve, to prevent symptoms from returning.
On MyFoodAllergyTeam, people share their experiences with food allergies, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Is rash a common symptom of food allergies for you or your child? Let others know in the comments below.
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I found out in college that in addition to ingesting peanuts, smelling peanuts makes me break out in hives if I'm exposed long enough.
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