Food Allergies That Produce a Rash on the Face

The foods you think are healthy, may be the ones causing the rash on your face. The proteins in milk, soy, eggs, nuts, wheat or fish, the pollen in fruits and vegetables or the additives in many processed foods can cause an allergic reaction inside your body. This reaction may lead to an uncomfortable facial rash.

Apples contain substances closely related to tree pollen. (Image: TongRo Images/TongRo Images/Getty Images)

Eczema

Eczema is a rash that is commonly caused by a food allergy or sensitivity. Certain foods are more likely to trigger an eczematic reaction than others. Cows' milk, soy, fish, eggs, nuts and wheat are the most likely triggers. Eczema manifests itself as a pimple-like bump that is white in the middle with red around. It is often bothersome, itchy and painful and commonly appears on the neck, face and head.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables may lead to a rash on your face, especially if you are susceptible to pollen allergies. Some fruits and vegetables have pollen-like substances inside of them. For example, melons contain substances close to ragweed; apples contain substances closely related to tree pollen, states the website MedLine Plus. If you have allergies to either melons or apples, they may manifest themselves as a rash on your face after ingestion.

Food Additives

Certain food additives such as dyes, preservatives or thickening agents may induce an allergic reaction in some. Food additives are man-made substances that are added to foods that can enhance the flavor, look or shelf-life. These include sulfites, aspartame, parabens, tartrazine, monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and benzoates.

Parabens, benzoate, BHT and nitrates are preservatives. Aspartame, an artifical sweetener, and MSG enhance the flavor of foods. Sulfites and tartrazine enhance the color and look of foods. Though a reaction to a food additive is rare, symptoms can range from a rash on your face to full-blown anaphylactic shock. If you suspect an allergy to a food additive, the only cure is to omit the additive from your diet.

Precautions and Considerations

If you have a severe food allergy, you may experience symptoms other than eczema or a rash that can be life threatening. These include difficulty breathing and swelling of the face. If either of these symptoms occur, seek out immediate medical help. Similarly, any negative reaction to a food, including eczema, may be indications that could develop into a dangerous situation. If you suspect a food allergy or sensitivity, contact your doctor for a treatment plan.