Photos of Common Food Allergy Symptoms

Hives (known in medical parlance as urticaria) is a common symptom of food allergies and can appear anywhere on the body. Hives are especially likely in people who have allergies to peanuts, eggs, nuts, and shellfish, although they can occur in any type of food allergy.

When a person develops hives, he or she may first experience itching within a patch of skin. Bumps form and when raised, can appear as a rash. These bumps, which are called wheals and have obvious edges, may be the color of your normal skin, or they may appear red.

It may surprise you to learn that when a person experiences hives, the wheals can appear, change shape, and disappear very quickly. Also, hives don't always itch, but most do feel itchy to some degree.

Another "hives clue" is that when you press the center of a wheal on a person's skin with hives, the wheal will turn white, and this is called "blanching." Generally speaking, hives aren't life-threatening, but they're are annoying and uncomfortable.

Eczema is an itchy, scaly, rash that may be caused by food allergies, especially in very young children. When you have eczema, your skin is inflamed and develops dry patches that flake off.

Foods that commonly trigger eczema include dairy, nuts, wheat, soy, and eggs. Touching the allergic food and eating it both can cause skin reactions.

Of course, food allergies aren't the only possible triggers for eczema. For example, sometimes, eczema is caused by something you're using on your skin, or by something in the air, such as cat dander.

It's worthy to note too that eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, often appears in a baby's first year, and usually occurs on the face, cheeks, or around the mouth. Doctors recommend wrapping babies to prevent them from scratching at their eczema, since the condition is incredibly itchy, and scratching can lead to infection.

Some people with allergies suffer from itchy, watery, and swollen eyes. This condition is called allergic conjunctivitis, and although it's more commonly caused by pollen in the air than it is with food, it's also possible to get these swollen eyes from food allergies.

Angioedema is swelling of the lips, mouth, or the tongue under the skin. It's similar to hives but occurs under the skin, and it can be a sign of an anaphylactic reaction resulting from food allergies or other forms of allergy. Food allergies that have been linked with this symptom include berries, fish, shellfish, nuts, milk, and eggs.

Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea within two hours of eating, or often within minutes of consuming a problematic food, can be signs of a food allergy. That said, the digestive symptoms of food allergy are easy to confuse with digestive symptoms from food intolerances. However, a true food allergy usually involves your skin and respiratory system along with your digestive system.

Not every rash or stomach ache indicates you have a food allergy, as many of the symptoms pictured above can be caused by conditions other than food allergy. However, if you experience symptoms like these, especially if they develop suddenly and you have several symptoms at once, you should seek medical help. If you're confused about whether occasional symptoms you experience could mean you have a food allergy, talk to your doctor about getting tested.