Dermatology

Food Allergy Skin Reactions: Causes, Types and Prevention

admin Apr 30, 2024

About Food Allergy

A food allergy is a condition wherein the individual’s immune system responds abnormally to particular foods. Although allergic reactions are frequently mild, they can sometimes be severe.

Food allergy symptoms can impact distinct body areas at the same time. Some common symptoms consist of:

An itchy sensation within the mouth, throat, or ears
A raised, itchy red (hives)
Puffiness of the face, around the eyes, lips, tongue, and roof of the mouth (angioedema)

What is the Difference Between the Food Allergy and Intolerance to Food?

Allergic reaction to food is witnessed in the scenario when the immune system reacts to a food that is typically harmless. Food intolerance occurs when an individual’s body develops a chemical reaction to ingesting a particular food/drink.

Causes of Food Allergies

Food allergies are induced when the immune system – the body’s defense against infection – erroneously considers proteins found in food as a threat. As a result, several chemicals are released. It’s these chemicals that cause the manifestations of an allergic reaction.

In kids, the foods that most commonly trigger an allergic reaction are:

Milk and milk products
Eggs
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Shellfish

The majority of kids with a food allergy will have experienced eczema during infancy. The worse the kid’s eczema and the earlier it commenced, the more likely they are to develop a food allergy.

In adults, the foods that most predominantly trigger an allergic reaction are:

Peanuts
Tree nuts – like walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, and hazelnuts
Fruits – like apples and peaches
Fish
Shellfish – like crab, lobster, and prawns

It is still unknown why individuals develop allergies to food, although they majorly have other allergic conditions, like asthma, hay fever, and eczema.

Types of Food Allergies

Food allergies are categorized into three types based on symptoms and when they occur.

IgE-Mediated Food Allergy: The most predominant type, it is induced by the immune system synthesizing an antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). Manifestations occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There’s a higher chance of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy.
Non-IgE-Mediated Food Allergy: These allergic reactions aren’t induced by IgE but by other immune system cells. This form of allergy is often tough to diagnose as manifestations take much longer to develop (up to several hours).
Mixed IgE and Non-IgE-Mediated Food Allergies: Few individuals may experience symptoms from both types of allergies.

Management and Treatment of Food Allergies

If an individual has a food allergy, they will not be able to ingest the food they’re allergic to, including foods where they’re allergic to any of the ingredients.

The patient will be given medications to help manage symptoms or use in case of an emergency.

These comprise:

Antihistamines for mild allergic reactions
Emergency medicines known as adrenaline auto-injectors, for instance, an EpiPen, for serious allergic reactions

Healthcare specialists will provide the patient with an allergy management plan explaining how to manage the allergy.

Kids with a peanut allergy may undergo immunotherapy to help their bodies become less sensitive to peanuts, but they should still abstain from eating peanuts.

Foods to Fight Allergy

Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids are present in two predominant fish: Tuna and salmon. The omega-3 fatty acids, which are part of these fish, may help shield against inflammatory conditions like allergies. Omega-3 fatty acids can also be found in walnuts as well as flaxseed.

Nuts

Almonds and cashews are both treasure houses of magnesium. Magnesium, one of the most abundant minerals in the body, helps lessen inflammation and stress and regulates blood pressure, nerve transmission and insulin metabolism. Other foods high in magnesium include wheat bran, kelp, legumes, fruit, and meats.

Oranges

The vitamin C in oranges can boost the immune system. Vitamin C is largely utilized to fight the common cold, but the intake of all nutrient types can also be utilized to boost the immune system against allergies. Other foods high in vitamin C comprise broccoli, strawberries, and red peppers.

In case of persisting food allergy symptoms, reach out to healthcare professionals to prevent anaphylactic reactions.