Possible food allergy or intolerance? Help!

karamae

About a week ago I broke out in little hive looking bumps on my stomach. They weren't welt like but not small like pimples either. They are probably 1/4"-1/2" in diameter. They aren't too itchy , although sometimes they are a bit. The bumps never fully went away and I noticed more tonight - probably around 20 total.

I am mildly lactose intolerant and started a lactose free diet yesterday so I don't believe that is the problem. I also haven't changed soaps, detergents etc. lately. The only other time I broke out into hives was about 6 months ago.

Any ideas?

lyttlewon

I am allergic to the latex in the elastic of one of my sports tops. If I wear it directly against my skin, I get hives wherever it touched.

This is another possibility Physical urticaria: Hives caused by direct physical stimulation of the skin -- for example, cold, heat, sun exposure, vibration, pressure, sweating, and exercise. The hives usually occur right where the skin was stimulated and rarely appear elsewhere. Most of the hives appear within one hour after exposure.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/hives-urticaria-angioedema

Does it respond to allergy medication? An intolerance doesn't normally cause a hives rash.

karamae

Thanks for the info! I haven't changed any clothes or done any new kinds of exercise to where I would have extra "stimulation" on my skin. I've tried to think of anything out of the ordinary and I've eaten the same foods, worn the same clothes and used the same soaps as before. I'm not completely sure they are hives. They are a very mild case of them if they are. I haven't actually tried allergy meds since they really don't bother me.

I'll look right now at he website you posted and look more into that. Thank you again for the info!

monicalosesweight

If they aren't going away, contact a dermatologist and set up an appointment. There are some types of rashes caused by viruses that need to be treated right away. For example, Shingles is one that appears with some people who had chicken pox growing up and you need some sort of treatment or you end up with severe pain. I would say if it's coming and going, than it probably is an allergic reaction but if it won't go away..... The only other thing I can think of would be a fungal infection. It's basically bumps that don't go away. You can put Desitin on it, the zinc helps it. The other thing is to get a foot powder with an antifungal. Yes, it's possible to get a fungal infection from exercising. I highly recommend washing your bras with hot water or really, really warm. Basically, you can have candida live in them (yeast). I'd never heard of it till this past year. I tend to research all sorts of health topics and ran into that one regarding busty women and skin issues. Weird eh?

karamae

Oh interesting! I'm definitely not "busty" but the anti fungal sounds like something to try! Sounds so gross, but when you're working out you never know! I do wash my workout clothes often but I guess being at a public gym, you never know what's going around!

Thanks for the info. I'll try the Desitin and foot powder before going to the doc. I don't believe it's shingles since they don't hurt or itch and they are confined to my stomach. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

lyttlewon

Keep in mind an allergen does not need to be new. I am recently allergic to the cat I have owned for 13 years.

NatashaShen

Keep in mind an allergen does not need to be new. I am recently allergic to the cat I have owned for 13 years.

Very true! In my late teenage years I developed an allergy to most fruits. Seemed like it happened out of the blue too.

karamae

That's very true. My sister just became gluten intolerant and I was terrified that's what it was! I LOVE my bread pastas etc.

I'm keeping a good food journal with notes so hopefully something connects to these bumps soon! If not, I'll head to the doc next week!

barbaramitchell101

my current issues started 10-15 years ago, with stool issues..then 10 months ago my body went haywire!!!! meds interactions, rashes , etc...I was miserable for this whole time. I consulted with a dermatologist on justanswer.com regarding a situation of dry, cracked, peeling lips, for 3 YEARS, in addition to trying to get help for what was becomming a GI problem, as well...the dermatologist suggested adding biotin, beta-carotene, and B-complex to the multi that I was already taking....as well as claritin 10 mg.....and a special lip balm, that I couldn't find anywhere locally...I went online and found it at Amazon...it came all the way from GREECE, to the US...anyway, it turned out that I actually was having an allergic reaction to several of my GENERIC meds!!!! when I stopped taking them, all symptoms were gone by morning!!!!..I tried each one one by one, 2 days apart in the morning, before food, other meds, etc..only with a glass of water, to see which ones were the problem....the one that was the worst, was for high blood sugar, and it turns out that when I made these changes, my blood sugar, almost immediately, returned to normal, also.....I have been sensitive to soaps, ever since I had an injection of cortosone when I was a teenager for a bump on my wrist....it later also included perfumes, dyes and other chemicals, including general cleaning supplies...I have to be carefull of most everything....everything must be hypo-allergenic, and free from perfumes and dyes...you might have a similar issue...worth checking into...one of the things that I also experienced durning the last 10 months or so, was back to back infections, and a candida outbreak, which started on my torso.. also, and outbreak of athletes foot, to add to the misery

I had to take the matter into my own hands, because my DR just got confused with the LONG list of symptoms I reprted to her every month....of course, whenever I reported a new sympton, she gave me a new med for it...another generic med!!!!!

since I made these changes, I also have had much more success with my weight loss journey...In fact, I lost, with work at t, almost 30 lbs over the last 2 yers, on my own, before I found this website...in the last 30 days, on my DRs scale, I have lost 3.5 lbs...I usually only lose about 1 lb per month...also, I have noticed that INO LONGER CRAVE THE CARBS AND SUGARS...at least 3 times in the last few months, I have bought a HUGE bag of strawberry Twizzlers, and ate the whole bag....I inhaled the whole bag at once...1200 cals for that item...

anyway, you might check this out as a cause...you never know!!!!!!

cassavaca

i agree with all the others, something you have been fine with before can suddenly be an allergen. last year i went to the dermatologist because my chin was red and raw for no reason...it was contact dermititus...i changed my toothpaste to an organic toothpaste (i cant remember what ingredient it was) and ever since then, the redness and rawness have not returned.

Also, the start of my allergy testing last year was from my eating a peach (that ive consumed in large amounts in my whole life) caused my mouth to swell and itch...i ended becoming allergic to A LOT of foods i always have eaten.

Shingles is also a possibility. But i would recommend seeing a Derm.

barbaramitchell101

Thanks for the info! I haven't changed any clothes or done any new kinds of exercise to where I would have extra "stimulation" on my skin. I've tried to think of anything out of the ordinary and I've eaten the same foods, worn the same clothes and used the same soaps as before. I'm not completely sure they are hives. They are a very mild case of them if they are. I haven't actually tried allergy meds since they really don't bother me.

I'll look right now at he website you posted and look more into that. Thank you again for the info!


usually when I started having allergic issues, it was to things I have used for years....the most notable change was when my 3rd child was born (34 yrs ago)...I immediately, at the birth, became allergic to Ivory bar soap which I had used all my life (I still can't use it!!!!!!! )....it doesn't always happen with NEW things....sometimes, it just happens...and I have been Dr prescribed allergy medicine and this does not necessarily help the problem...you have to figure it out by trial and error, and then AVOID that product like the plague... or go to a dermatologist for tests...I understand that is quite expensive.... also, for years, I washed my clothes with Tide, and then all of a sudden, this was an issue...I would itch all day till I changed clothes...and got a rash too...I now use detergents that are dye and perfume free....

barbaramitchell101

If they aren't going away, contact a dermatologist and set up an appointment. There are some types of rashes caused by viruses that need to be treated right away. For example, Shingles is one that appears with some people who had chicken pox growing up and you need some sort of treatment or you end up with severe pain. I would say if it's coming and going, than it probably is an allergic reaction but if it won't go away..... The only other thing I can think of would be a fungal infection. It's basically bumps that don't go away. You can put Desitin on it, the zinc helps it. The other thing is to get a foot powder with an antifungal. Yes, it's possible to get a fungal infection from exercising. I highly recommend washing your bras with hot water or really, really warm. Basically, you can have candida live in them (yeast). I'd never heard of it till this past year. I tend to research all sorts of health topics and ran into that one regarding busty women and skin issues. Weird eh?

I was able to find help with allergic issues (dermatologist) for FREE...on Just Answer.com....right now they have a special 7 day FREE trial of unlimited questions to all sorts of professionals....if you would like to continue after that, you can subscribe for a decent price....THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL...I was also able to trace and correct an issue I had with my internet connecitons, and also problems that I was having with my Magic Jack..... check this out, as I said it is FREE for the first 7 days....