What to do if food allergy causes redness and itching

When red itching caused by food allergy first appears, stop all suspected allergenic foods as soon as possible, do not scratch the itchy area repeatedly, and take 1 tablet of a second-generation antihistamine orally first. If the local skin becomes hot and swollen, apply it lightly with a clean towel soaked in room temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes to quickly relieve the discomfort.

Last week, I met a high school student in the emergency department. He ate a pineapple cake given by a classmate on the way home from school. Within 20 minutes, a red rash appeared on his cheeks and back of his hands, which made him stomp his feet with itchiness. I dealt with it in this way. I rinsed my mouth first to clear away the remaining residue in my mouth, took an ebastine tablet, asked the nurse for a cold towel and applied it for a while. By the time the parents came to pick him up, most of the red rash had disappeared, and the itching was gone.

Many people panic when encountering this kind of situation for the first time. They either scratch hard or look for folk remedies and apply them on their skin, which can easily lead to problems. There was an old man who was allergic to crayfish and developed redness and itching. He wiped it with high-strength liquor and toothpaste at home. After struggling all night, the redness and itching did not go away. Instead, the skin was irritated to the point of exuding yellow water. When he came to the hospital, his eyes were almost swollen and he could hardly open them. He suffered for several days.

Regarding whether to use topical ointment, there are actually quite different treatment ideas. Some clinicians think that ordinary red itchiness can be solved by taking oral medication without the need for additional topical medications. Some doctors believe that topical application of symptomatic ointments can relieve discomfort faster. When it comes to ordinary people, there are different ways of doing it. Many people are used to looking for some ointment to apply when itching. However, it should be reminded that if it is a rash on the face, do not apply medium-potency hormone ointment casually, otherwise it will easily leave pigmentation, which will take several months to disappear. If it is so itchy that you can’t sit still, you should consult a doctor before using weak hormone or non-hormone anti-itch ointment.

Another thing you must keep in mind is that if the redness and itchiness continues to spread after taking antihistamines, or even chest tightness, throat tightness, stuffy speech, or dizziness, don’t hesitate to call 120 and go to the emergency department immediately. This is a sign that the allergic reaction is progressing to a serious level, and it may be dangerous to hold on.

After this allergy subsides, it is best to take the time to go to the hospital for an allergen test to find out which food you are allergic to. Try to avoid it in the future to avoid this kind of sin.