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11 bad skin trigger foods

Posted Tue, May 15, 2007, 3:24 pm PDT
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A delicious meal should put a smile on your face -- not turn it bright red. Or itchy. Or bumpy. But for some people, one or more of these 11 foods can trigger hives (an eruption of small raised welts), swollen lips, itchiness, flushing, eczema (rough, itchy patches), or a hot, bumpy rash -- even if you've never reacted to a food before.

If the outbreak covers your entire body and/or is accompanied by chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath, get to an emergency room pronto for a shot of epinephrine. You're having a full-blown allergic reaction.

Otherwise, apply hydrocortisone cream to help sooth welts, rashes, and inflammation, says New York City dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD. To quell itching, take an antihistamine pill like Benadryl. If you suspect hot spices are to blame, drink lots of water to help flush them from your system.

And if you know what the trigger food was, obviously try to steer clear of it in the future! But if you're not sure, write down everything you remember about what you ate -- use this list of common culprits as a memory jogger -- and see a doctor for testing.

  1. Cow's milk
  2. Eggs
  3. Peanuts
  4. Tree nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds, etc.)
  5. Shellfish
  6. Soy
  7. Wheat
  8. Red wine
  9. Citrus (limes, oranges, et al.)
  10. Tomatoes
  11. Hot spices, such as chili seasonings

PS: Ironically, the one thing food can't do to your face is make you break out. "Studies have found no correlation between acne and food," says RealAge expert Dr. Wechsler. Even greasy fast food -- unless you're cooking it, not eating it. If you're prone to breakouts, the worst thing that could happen to your skin is working near a deep fryer, she explains: "All those cooking oils get onto your skin and into your pores." Clog city. Just eating fries and a chocolate shake, however, while it may not be good for the rest of you, won't do a thing to your face.

  • 1. Posted by ssal57 on Tue, May 15, 2007, 4:27 pm PDT

    I had been breaking out in hives lately. Unfortunately, most of the items listed are regular food items. I'll have to eat one per meal or per day to eliminate the culprit!

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  • 2. Posted by on Tue, May 15, 2007, 4:38 pm PDT

    Does this apply to roscea as well?

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  • 3. Posted by Brandy Nicole on Tue, May 15, 2007, 5:15 pm PDT

    I have recently started breaking out in hives on a regular basis and food was not the culprit, I would advice you to go see a cerfitied allergist to have a proper test done. I tried everything under the sun to make the attacks stop and nothing worked until my allergist perscribed Zyrtec.

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  • 4. Posted by mistofviolets on Tue, May 15, 2007, 5:17 pm PDT

    Er, it says that foods can't make your face break out. But remember...a rash can look like acne. I had "atypical rosacea" (a very itchy rash that looked like good old teenage acne with a red undertone) dx by several dermatologists; not responding to treatment...that disappeared when I eliminated my trigger food...corn derivatives (popcorn, corn chips, corn syrup, corn starch...and more...)

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  • 5. Posted by Vivian Andrade of Kendall Miami on Sat, May 19, 2007, 2:20 pm PDT

    eat what u want just have plenty of citrus

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  • 6. Posted by Krystal N on Sun, May 20, 2007, 8:34 am PDT

    I've got one that'll stymie the best out there...every time I eat chicken (yes, CHICKEN), my nose will itch uncontrollably. I end up rubbing till the point I look like Rudolph.

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  • 7. Posted by funkeymonkey525 on Sun, May 20, 2007, 8:38 am PDT

    also strawberrys make me brake out in hives! I know a lot of people that it happens to.

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  • 8. Posted by Julie K on Sun, May 20, 2007, 8:56 am PDT

    Soy milk is the alternative to cow's milk and both are on this list. What now?

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  • 9. Posted by flavorlishous on Sun, May 20, 2007, 9:01 am PDT

    Gosh

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  • 10. Posted by cutie_luba on Sun, May 20, 2007, 9:21 am PDT

    Just stay healthy and everything will be alright if not ask your doctors. i am sure theyll help. and plus i didnt even though all those foods can cause that much damage to us. wow!!!

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  • 11. Posted by White Organic Polish Princess on Sun, May 20, 2007, 9:27 am PDT

    This is a comprehensive list of my daily diet, so basically I can drink water and breathe air. ;P Don't forget to add pink peppercorns. They often cause a rash similar to poison oak. I had poison oak over 70% of my body during my fourth pregnancy, I know poison oak. It's nothing to mess around with. I only buy the regular peppercorns, not the fancy trio anymore.

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  • 12. Posted by knowitall on Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 8:25 pm PDT

    give up food...psshhh...whatever! I'll just deal with the rash!

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  • 13. Posted by Ayrshire on Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 9:39 pm PDT

    Sorry, I am gonna have to have that beautiful red glow (ha-ha) a wee while longer, I ain't giving up my eggs. I love eggs!

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  • 14. Posted by Belle on Mon, Jun 04, 2007, 10:16 pm PDT

    This article left out watermelon, cantelope, honeydew & strawberries. I'm allergic to the first 3, thankfully not strawberries! After having my son, I would be eating those melons & get itchy rashes inside my mouth or on my body somewhere. After a trip to an allergist, I realized my body was now allergic to those melons. I still eat them, in moderation, keeping an epi pen handy at all times, as well as Benadryl or the generic 4mg allergy pill. Some people will tell you eczema is a form of herpes, which it is NOT. I've got ezcema due to having allergies & have been tested for herpes, being tested twice a year for it too. So if someone tells you eczema is a dirivitive of herpes, they're full of SugarHoneyIcedTea.

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  • 15. Posted by rap_2694 on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 5:31 am PDT

    it can't be because it is my daily food and if I stop eating it,,,I could have an ulcer

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  • 16. Posted by Marina on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 5:44 am PDT

    Sorry, But i disagree on of couple of product of your list. I`m from Sardinia (Italy) and I know so many old people over 100 which as a daily diet with fresh eggs, Tomatoes, Red wine and a lots of oranges! I suggest to eating them....unless you`re having a allergic reaction!

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  • 17. Posted by jc12671 on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 6:17 am PDT

    I know that studies all say that foods do NOT make anyone break out, but I still disagree. If I eat too much junk food, and not enough veggies and fruits, I'll break out and my skin will just not look as good as when I eat healthy. It's not true for everyone, but it's true for me.

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  • 18. Posted by bh on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 7:13 am PDT

    most of the food listed in this article are healthy foods that people should eat! what the heck! what are we supposed to do now....be constipated with osteoporosis? :)

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  • 19. Posted by beautifulday150 on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 9:06 am PDT

    This article seems to be innacurate or innadequate. Most of the foods listed are healthy food when it's taken in moderation (everything should be in moderation to begin with!). The article did not describe what exactly in each food is triggerring the hives. People with no allergic reactions to these foods should be able to enjoy them without fear of generating "bad skin".

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  • 20. Posted by Mimi on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 10:38 am PDT

    I know at least one person allegric to at least one thing on each thing on this list, so it is possible. (Although the citrus one is new on me.) It's possible to not eat some of these foods and remain healthy. I can't eat garlic, if I do, I break out in rashes and welts all over my body, particulary my face. And it leaves marks that looks like chicken pox. But I can still eat pretty healthy, I just have to do a lot of my cooking at home to make sure that my food is garlic free and I don't eat out (much). Yes, I know the benefits of eating garlic, but I can get the same thing from other foods. And let's be honest, society make it seem that if you don't have perfect skin, you're not a full person.

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  • 21. Posted by arielle on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 1:29 pm PDT

    Thank you! Great info for every1 to know!

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  • 22. Posted by yogamama on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 3:53 pm PDT

    It is possible, those foods listed above effect A LOT of people. Everyone who thinks all the food on the list is healthy doesn't know much about nutrition only what the government tells them. You should look into it before saything this article is not true! It is VERY true and you should be grateful you have now been informed. by the way I am alergic to citrus!!!

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  • 23. Posted by RAVEN on Tue, Jun 05, 2007, 4:16 pm PDT

    I noticed two VERY BIG allergic foods were left out: Strawberries and Chocolate. I pitty anybody allergic to chocolate...I'm grateful I'm not! I'm allergic to Hazelnuts and Brazil nuts...hives galore and an upset stomach.

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  • 24. Posted by sprinkstar1 on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:25 am PDT

    For the past 3 years I have been breaking out in hives once a month and the doctors cant figure it out. Its kind of frusterating. I would get them right after I ate and then would either go to the gym or on a walk. STRANGE HUH?!!? For the past 2 months I have been writting everything down on what I ate and it seems to be the cabage that triggers it.

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  • 25. Posted by Adelle W on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:26 am PDT

    it is so hard to know what to have....we have been told nuts, grains, fruits...are the things to eat..back to basics! yikes..!

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  • 26. Posted by Melissa on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:26 am PDT

    The more I read about cows milk the more I find out how UNHEALTHY it is for your body. Tis a known fact that humans are the only mammal to consume milk after being nursed. Soy (milk) is a 100,000better alternative.

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  • 27. Posted by Adrienne m on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:27 am PDT

    Strangely enough, I've found that I'm allergic only on my skin to limes and shrimp. I can eat it with no problems. If lime touches my skin, it makes the skin peel to point of bleeding. If shrimp touches my lips, I look like Angelina Jolie 15 minutes later....LOL Both allergies started this year. I'm 40 years old.

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  • 28. Posted by dngo77 on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:27 am PDT

    What you eat does affect your face, whoever says it does not is the biggest bull [profane]ter ever. If you eat fries and other oily foods it does show on your face.

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  • 29. Posted by ~~bRiTtAnY~~ on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:28 am PDT

    wow i did not know that

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  • 30. Posted by designlmc on Thu, Jun 07, 2007, 11:29 am PDT

    I don't think the article is saying NOT to eat the listed foods; it is just a list of the most common allergenic foods. All those foods are healthful, but I probably know at least one person who is allergic to one of each of those foods. I agree with the person who commented that a qualified doctor should diagnose any allergies if you suspect you have them.

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