Food Allergies and the skin

 

We are fortunate to live in a world where food allergies are increasingly taken into account. The supermarket shelves have made room for a gluten-free section and there is an abundance of dairy-free milk variants and other 'dairy' products.

 

Firstly, we want to address that a food allergy is different from food intolerance. We can recognise a food allergy when your immune system starts playing up the moment you eat foods that you are allergic to. So this is an allergic reaction. From a rash to an anaphylactic shock. Food intolerance is when your body cannot tolerate certain foods well, but there is no allergic reaction. This intolerance can have various causes; one being that you are missing a certain substance to break down certain foods. This is often the case, for example, with lactose intolerance. Your body lacks the substance that ensures that milk sugar (lactose) can be broken down in the body.

 

Symptoms of food allergies

Each person can experience different expressions of the allergy. Common skin symptoms in food allergies are:

  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Hives
  • Eczema
  • Fluid build-up in the skin
  • Itchy bumps
  • Cracks in the skin
  • Rash

 

 In addition, there are a number of other symptoms that can arise, such as intestinal complaints, shortness of breath and cough or even in severe cases anaphylactic shock.

 

When the symptoms are mild and, for example, you only suffer from the skin with the mucous membranes, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish where your symptoms come from. Maybe you have irritated skin, itching and weird spots and you think you suffer from eczema, so the underlying cause may be a food allergy.

 

Cause food allergies

 It is not yet fully known what the exact cause of food allergy is. Several theories exist, but none have been proven.

Recently, research has been done on the correlation of having eczema at a very early age and developing food allergies, asthma and hay fever. According to Dr. Leung (National Jewish Health, Denver USA) can properly care for and moisturize a baby's skin, prevent future eczema and food allergies. ( https://www.nationaljewish.org/about/news/press-releases/2019/cracks-in-the-skin-of-eczema-patients-promote-allergic-diseases )

This research claims that eczema (where the skin is dry, flaky, and often cracked) causes the skin's protective properties to weaken, allowing pathogens to penetrate more easily. Patients with eczema lack important proteins in the outer layer of the skin, causing the skin's protective layer to fail. This causes the itching and cracks in the skin.

 

Scratching dry, itchy skin can further damage the skin and activate the immune system. Pathogens, such as food particles, that enter the skin through cracks can cause an allergic reaction. (source: foodallergy.nl)

 

Take care of the skin

 To properly hydrate the skin, it is important that you give the skin the right nutrients it needs to regain strength. We have a special Junior range that is suitable for very fragile and dry skin. Even for Eczema, Dry Skin or Nappy Rash

Use the Bioskin Junior Nourishing Spray in conjunction with the Bioskin Junior Rescue Cream for the best result.

 

For adult skin, we recommend our go-to bestsellers Bioskin DermaSpray in conjunction with the Bioskin ZeodermMake sure you moisturise your skin well so that you minimize any skin complaints as much as possible.

 

Do you think you suffer from a food allergy? Or do you have symptoms that do not seem to go away when you have already tried everything? It may be wise to go to the doctor and ask for an allergy test.