Since I hit my 40's, I have fallen apart. I have had this rash that comes and goes on my neck. It stretches from ear to ear and last night made a perfect V down to my V-neck shirt. If I take Benadryl, it goes away. One thing I think could be causing it is peanuts. I have made quite a few holiday things using peanut butter. The last couple of nights within an hour or two after eating some peanut butter brownies, I broke out. Last night I had watery eyes and a throat full of phlegm. I have eaten peanuts all my life and never had issues with eating them.

Another thing I thought about is is Benzoyl Peroxide. I started researching it on the internet. I do have reactions to it. However, the skin doc I went to told me to only use it during the day and then wash it off at night. In doing that, I haven't had any of the swollen itchy eyes etc. Anyway, in researching it I found that it comes from Benzoic Acid which is a preservitive. It is in things like pickles, soft drinks and fruit drinks. Well I bought a 12 pack of coke for the holidays and have had several cokes. I also couldn't resist the urge, while making chicken salad, to drink a little pickle juice last night. So could this be causing my rash? I have also had some diarrhea. I decided to make an appointment with my doctor knowing full well he will just try and give me a steroid which I don't want. Should I demand an appointment to an allergist? I really want to know what is causing this.

I haven't changed soaps or anything. I would think if that were it, I would be breaking out where my clothes touch, not where there are no clothes.

So ladies, any advise out there? Can a 41 year old suddenly become allergic to peanuts? Or could it be that pesky food additive or something else?

Thanks!

Stephanie

I've had some goofy rashes and bruising over the last 2 or 3 years. They are cyclical I am beginning to realize.

The rashes look like peticheal hemmoraghes and they are usually all over my upper thighs - sometimes going to arms neck and jawline. The bruising is always on my upper thighs and are preceded by a bout of itching.

I would eliminate all suspect food, including the peanuts and then retry them for a couple of days - one at a time. If there is a reaction, they you would know what is causing them. Eating too many "suspects" leaves one in doubt, to be sure.

scase, I've had a rash too this winter. I went to the dermatologist and she told me I had pityriasis rosea. I don't know if I do or not, but she told me to not use any soaps with fragrances. PR can last for months. It could also be eczema.

I guess I will have to be really choosy about what I put on my skin. I did a little more research online about benzoic acid, which by the way, is an ingredient listed in my shampoo and conditioner. Go figure. I guess it could be something I have been using such as soap or shampoo. But, I find it strange that it suddenly erupts hours and hours after I have showered. This morning, my skin looked great but here it is 2:00 p.m. and my neck is starting to break out again. I feel itchy from my neck up. The only things I have ate today were 1 piece of toast for breakfast, Silk chocolate milk, my fish oil, magnesium, and calcium, black beans for lunch and some green tea.


Stephanie

Hi. I've read allergies like this can happen at anytime. Have you been tested for gluten sensitivity and such? There are some tests that can check the IGG and IGA reaction to a number of foods. Some check for things like metals. I did one a couple times though a naturopathic doc. Any 'deal' I can get! Getting as many things tested with one blood draw as I can.

Was diagnosed with Celiac a few years ago. A year or so later, can't eat almonds or sesame. Now I'm having trouble with complex starches. Fun-Fun...NOT

I'm also a big benadryl cream user. Its the only thing that stops any itching which I think is related to my immune system spazzing about something.

I have never figured out what my rash was. I started using my benzoyl peroxide for my face again and that must not be it. I am to scared to try peanuts so I haven't done that yet. Right now I am chalking it up to some sort of peri symptom. LOL

Stephanie

I have a girlfriend who, a couple of days ago and who has never had allergies to anything, ate a peanut butter sandwich and instantaneously felt her throat "closing" and itching all over. Fortunately she works in a hospital and was able to "squeak" out "nuts." Doctors were all over her, hooking her up to IV's and the like. She is fine but that sure was scarey. Now...she can't have even one peanut. Anaphylactic shock. Of course that set in motion MY health anxieties and now I won't intentionally eat peanuts.

Hi Stephanie,

Like you, I have been through all of exactly the same. I must never eat peanuts again until tested properly, and sadly that would include peanut oil in prometrium for me. Please rethink continually trying the peanuts until you have medical clearance because this is about the most dangerous allergy their is.

The rest of what you are experiencing, in my case turned out to be an allery to sulphites for example-:

220 Sulphur dioxide

221 Sodium sulphite

222 Sodium bisulphite

223 Sodium metabisulphite

224 Potassium metabisulphite

225 Potassium sulphite

228 Potassium bisulphite

Sulphites in US foods



Alcoholic beverages Wine, beer cocktail mixes, wine coolers

Baked goods Cookies, crackers, mixes with dried fruit or vegetables, pie crust, pizza crust, flour tortillas

Beverage bases Dried citrus fruit beverage mixes

Condiments and relishes Horseradish, onion and pickle relishes, pickles, olives, salad dressing mixes, wine vinegar

Confections and frostings Brown, raw, powdered or white sugar derived from sugar beet

Dairy product analogues Filled milk (skim milk enriched with vegetable oils)

Fish and shellfish Canned clams; fresh, frozen, canned or dried shrimps; frozen lobster, scallops, dried cod

Fresh fruit and vegetables Banned except for fresh pre-cut potatoes and sulphur dioxide used as a fungicide on grapes

Processed fruits Canned, bottled or frozen fruit juices (including lemon, lime, grape, apple); dried fruit;

Processed fruits (cont) canned, bottled or frozen dietetic fruit or fruit juices; maraschino cherries, glazed fruit

Processed vegetables Vegetable juices; canned vegetables (including potatoes); pickled vegetables (including sauerkraut, cauliflower, and peppers);

Processed vegetables (cont) dried vegetables; instant mashed potatoes; frozen potatoes; potato salad

Gelatins, puddings, fillings Fruit fillings, flavoured and unflavoured gelatin, pectin, jelling agents

Grain products and pasta Cornstarch, modified food starch, spinach pasta, gravies, hominy, breading, batters, noodle/rice mixes

Jams and jellies Jams and jellies

Nuts and nut products Shredded coconut

Plant protein products Soy protein products

Snack foods Dried fruits snacks, trail mixes, filled crackers

Soup and soup mixes Canned soups, dried soup mixes

Sweet sauces, toppings Corn syrup, maple syrup, fruit toppings, high-fructose corn syrup, pancake syrup, molasses

and syrups

Tea Instant tea, liquid tea concentrates

[from Fazio T and Warner CR A review of sulphites in foods. Food additives and contaminants 1990;7(4):433-454]

_____________

One of those additives, at least, would have been in the pickle you ate before, and reactions to these are not always immediate, they can be the next day. Loose BM, stomach upsets and skin irritations were also my problems caused by these, and all started at around 45. Now I cannot even eat natural sulphites like Eggs etc. I hope this is temporary for me, but I have become used to doing a lot of cooking ............minus additives.

I am not sure if this is what is happening to you, but it "sounds" like it. I hope not, but if it is, it is far better to know.

LindyD on this forum also has the same allergies almost as I do.

I would not dare touch a pickle now, and I adore them.

Please be careful with those peanuts.

Viktoria

Mmm yes as Viktoria says .. it does sound "possible" sulphites (sulfites).. peanuts have natural sulphites... I can only manage a little smear of peanut butter and Coke is laced with them..... caramel colouring, glucose syrup etc! I wouldn't go near coke or pepsi!! and anything pickled is also full of natural sulphites.
My first symptom was the itching which came along a few years before the stomach problems and like Viktoria I can't eat anything on the "banned" list without problems.
Best to pop along to the doc though and get tested for peanut allergy before self diagnosing... peanut allergy does tend to be cumalative with each reaction getting worse than the last (my little grandson has it.. bless him, he is 3 and can't talk properly yet but when he goes to eat something different he holds it up to you and says nuts?) so best to rule this out first.
If your allergy check is clear then avoiding anything on the list Viktoria has given for a while and then gradually reintroducing foods one at a time is they way I have found out what I can eat.
You are welcome to PM for further info of you need it
Hugs Lindy xx

Oh my thanks for posting a reply to my post. My rash had cleared up. However, this morning I woke up with it on my neck again. I took Benadryl and smeared a little on my neck as well. So were you both tested for this allergy?

Peanuts really worry me, but my doc found it highly unlikely that I could become allergic to them after eating them all my life. Let me tell you, I am a major peanut lover and so is my family. As for my rash this morning. Geez! I did have some Smuckers simply fruit (strawberry) on some crackers last night. I made sure and opened a brand new jar that didn't have possible peanut butter contamination. As far back as I can remember, I have had digestion problems. I had my gallbladder out just over 2 years ago and finally, most days if I eat plenty of fiber, I feel normal. I still question the Benzoyl Peroxide cause I have used a minimal amount the last few days on my face. It is the only thing that works for my acne! The rash had cleared when I wasn't using it.

I feel scared to eat almost anything! Yet, I feel stupid seeing an allergist to get tested. As far as I know, all they really test for is food, pet, tree and flower pollen etc. I don't think they test for food additives.

Thanks!

Stephanie

Hiya Stephanie
I am in the Uk and only found out about my sulfite/sulphite intolerance by personal food emimination and research. Over here it is not possible to be tested for chemical sensitivities only "allergies" such as peanut/wheat etc. I am currently being investigated by my doctor (I have an allergy clinic appt on Friday just to eliminate any allergies ) but I have confirmed the sulfite intolerance myself by going on a very basic diet and then reintroducing foods slowly and judging my reaction. Sulfites are definite and cause strong reactions, I appear also to be having a problem with wheat and oats. It is the wheat that seems to be causing most of my skin problems and carpal tunnel syndrome problems. The sulfites are causing the digestive problems and also cause skin itching.
Viktoria has also found out by adjusting her food intake and judging her symptoms.
I think doctors in the US are a little more enlightened than in the UK or Australia. Most of the info I have found in chemical sensitivities/intolerances are from US websites.
I would check everything else out before the sulfites because as Viktoria will agree it is not a good intolerance to have as the diet you can eat is very very limited! They are in so many things.
You don't seem to be having major reactions so please don't be scared to eat! I can relate though as if I eat anything sulfited or wheat I either get 3 or 4 days of stomach cramps or bad gas pains in my chest and back plus skin problems.
I would still avoid the peanuts if you are worried... we can live without peanuts!
The Benzoyl Peroxide sounds like a good suspect. I would stop using it for a few days and then re introduce a little of it. Then do the same again a few days later. You may find that this is what the problem is.
If not eat normally but keep a food diary and a symptom dairy. Intolerance sypmtoms can take up to 48 hours.. mine are about 12 hours, so you need to keep a dairy, just jot down each evening what you have eaten that day and if you get a rash or digestive problems you can look back on the last 48 hours and see if a pattern forms.
Please feel free to PM me at any time!
Hugs Lindy xx