What Does a Food Allergy Rash Look Like? and How To Make It Go Away

What does a food allergy rash look like? It’s important that you be able to recognize these rashes so that you can identify foods that are causing an allergic reaction.

After you’ve identified a food allergy rash, you’ll naturally want to resolve it as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are some treatments and medications you can use to make allergy rashes vanish.

In this guide, you’re going to learn what a food allergy rash looks like, and some of the ways you can treat it so that it goes away fast. 

How to recognize food allergy rashes

You can recognize food allergy rashes in several ways. First, you may be able to identify the rashes themselves based on certain signs. Allergic reactions typically cause other symptoms that may help you identify if your rashes are the result of an allergy.

The signs of a food allergy rash

Food allergy rashes typically appear on and around the mouth. They may spread to the rest of the face and neck. Depending on the severity of the allergy, rashes may appear anywhere that food has been touched, including the hands and arms.

When these rashes appear, they usually have the following features:

• A blotchy red color
• Hives that start in a small area, and may spread
• Swelling of the rash-effected areas
• Itchiness

These rashes may not appear immediately after the food is eaten. In most cases, they’ll appear a few hours after the food is taken.

Symptoms that may accompany a food allergy rash

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The best way to identify a rash as a food allergy rash is to watch for other symptoms that may indicate that you’re having an allergic reaction. Depending on the severity of the reaction, you may notice all of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy, stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Vomiting

You should speak to a doctor immediately if you believe that you are having a severe reaction. A severe reaction may include all of the following additional symptoms:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• fainting
• low blood pressure
• severe swelling around the face
• tingling lips, hands, and feet
• wheezing

How to resolve food allergy rashes

Food allergy rashes are painful and itchy. Naturally, you’ll want to treat the condition as soon as possible. There are some steps that you can take immediately to reduce discomfort. You may also be able to treat your symptoms with some medications.

Treatments to minimize pain and swelling

You can treat the discomfort that comes with food allergy rashes. These treatments should not be considered an alternative to medication, or attention from a doctor. They can help you manage pain or itchiness while you’re waiting to take the next steps.

Rinse all affected areas: You should rinse all affected areas as soon as you see evidence of rashes. Rinsing can wash away trace amounts of allergens that have been left behind on the skin. This can prevent rashes from spreading.  

Apply a cold compress: A cold, wet cloth can be compressed onto the rash as a fast-acting treatment. While it won’t remove the rash, it will make the pain and itchiness a lot more manageable. 

Apply a baking soda paste: A paste made of baking soda and water is effective as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic solution. That makes it effective against both discomfort and the possibility of infection. 

Apply soothing gels or creams: Gels or creams can be used to soothe the pain.

Soak the affected areas in Epsom salt: Epsom salt is widely available and known to relieve the pain that is caused by rashes.

Relieving minor pain may not be enough. If you are concerned about stopping the spread of rashes or preventing allergies from flaring, you should consider medication.

Medications to resolve allergy rashes and prevent fresh outbreaks

There are a variety of medications available that can help you treat the symptoms of food allergies. Antihistamines are a family of drugs that inhibit the effects of histamines. Histamines are the chemicals in the body that activate to create allergic reactions.

When histamines are repressed by antihistamine medications, the body reacts less strongly to the presence of allergens. This can reduce symptoms, including rashes. Consider using the following medications when you feel an allergic reaction beginning.

Cetirizine

Cetirizine is an antihistamine that is frequently used to treat hay fever. It is effective at treating a range of allergy symptoms, including the itching redness that is caused by hives. It is mainly used to treat mild cases and should not be used if the hives are blistered or infected. 

Cetirizine is available in tablet form, as well as in syrup.

Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that is used to treat general allergies and the common cold. It may reduce the development and spread of rashes if taken early enough after contact with the allergen. 

Diphenhydramine is available in tablet form, capsule form, and liquid.

Loratadine

Loratadine is an antihistamine used to treat watery eyes, skin rash, itching, and other allergy symptoms. In addition to regular allergies, it is used to treat chronic skin conditions. 

Loratadine is available as a tablet and a chewable tablet.

Recognize food allergy rashes and treat them properly

Now you know how to recognize some of the signs of food allergies. You also know how to recognize some accompanying symptoms that may prove the rashes are related to a food allergy (rather than some other source).

Additionally, you know some of the best ways to resolve food allergy rashes. You’ve learned some ways that you can treat the symptoms of pain and itchiness while you’re waiting to hear back from a doctor. You also know what medications can control rash outbreaks.

Use what you’ve learned to get relief fast.