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Rash on face - Sulfite Sensitivity / Histamine Intolerance

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Posted 2/24/2015 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am new here. Recently I've come to believe that a rash reaction that I frequently get around my mouth is related to sulfite sensitivity and / or histamine intolerance.

This has been happening for a long time (probably 40 years or so). I used to think it was hormonal. Over the years I've seen several medical doctors, but they didn't help me with anything. They would prescribe drugs like antibiotics and accutane or else give me a topical cream like vitamin a acid gel.

Time has passed and I'm age 58 and 10 years post-meno. But, I still get this rash. There are times that it clears up and I get hopeful that it is gone for good, but then something triggers it and there it is again. The rash doesn't itch. But, it isn't what I would call acne. It is a different kind of pimple. Once it is there it is hard to heal up. It often spreads, but I'm now thinking that I just have more pimples because I'm ingesting more sulfites and reacting to them.

I feel so self-conscious about this, even though I know that I could be dealing with worse things and that I should count my blessings.

A few months ago I identified that balsamic vinegar and some dried fruits are triggers. Right now I'm keeping a food journal and trying to identify foods that I think I might react to.

As a kid and younger adult I had some patches of eczema on my feet, hands, knee, hip. From age 40 on I started having ocular (silent) migraines which were particularly frequent during peri-meno. Now I seem to have them when there are drastic changes in the weather and atmospheric pressure. I had seasonal allergies as a child and have had problems with that again now that I'm in my 50s. My nose is either stuffed or running it seems. When I have seasonal allergies my eyes are horribly itchy. Recently I've started having a problem with dry scalp and am trying to sort that out as well.

I've read several of the threads here and am learning that there are others with this and that many people suffer a lot with sensitivities and allergies to sulfites. There is some good information here and I thank the contributors. I have much to learn and I've only just begun.

Has anyone tried the diamine oxidase for histamine intolerance?
Posted 2/26/2015 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum.

If you read the older threads you'll find lots of references to keeping a food journal. It's the only way I know to pretty reliably find out if you have a sulfite intolerance.

In your case, with a visible rash, you may have the true allergy, not just the intolerance. It's also possible you are allergic to something else instead, or in addition to, sulfites.

People whose reaction to sulfites is migraine can react as long as 2 days after eating something with sulfite.
Posted 2/27/2015 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Alcie, thank you for responding. I appreciate your comments.

I'm just going to continue with writing about my situation on this thread about what I determine and learn.

:-)

Another thing I've noticed so far ... I have never liked to eat raw onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc. When those vegetables are raw, they have always left my mouth feeling ... well, the only word I can think of to describe the sensation is "fuzzy". Then it feels like the inside of my mouth has thickened. I never understood this. It never occurred to me that this might be a reaction to these raw vegetables and that what I experienced was swelling and irritation.

If I cook the vegetables even just to tender crisp (in the case of broccoli and cauliflower), then I don't seem to have the irritation in my mouth.
Posted 2/28/2015 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
According to some experts, cruciferous vegetables do not often cause oral allergies. But other opinions are that uncooked vegetables of these types can cause oral symptoms in people who have certain pollen allergies. Check out the information at allergywise.com/2011/05/when-healthy-food-and-allergies-collide/ They say that cooking destroys the protein that causes the symptoms.

Do you have any pollen allergies?

Your symptoms aren't exactly typical of what I've heard from most members who have the so-called "true" sulfite allergy - throat closing and such. However, I'm not an expert, certainly not a doctor.

Keep working on a food journal, writing down what you eat, drink, meds, time of day, reactions, etc. Then break down meals into ingredients and see what parts are the triggers. This is tough to do if it takes time for your oral symptoms like rash to show up.
Posted 3/1/2015 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Grape Seed Extract reduces histimines and I've been taking Grape Seed Ex going on 20 yrs....it does SO MUCH but for one reduces histimines.....I have NOT taken an anti histimine since 1995...

I take MOSTLY supps and vitamins for my total health management.
Posted 3/1/2015 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Alcie, thank you for the link. Very interesting.

I have never had any allergy tests. But, when I was a child I reacted to pollen and had seasonal allergies. Over the years I would find that there were some years that I had stronger reactions and other years it was less. It seemed that I reacted to poplar fuzz. Once I was in my fifties the seasonal allergies were worse again. I don't know what type of pollen I react to.

With regard to the article and my perceived reaction to cruciferous vegetables, the article states that this may be connected to mugwort pollen. I don't think we have mugwort nearby, but I could be wrong. I also notice that I react to raw nuts and I rarely eat them because my mouth feels swollen when I ingest those as well. The article states that reaction to certain types of nuts may indicate sensitivity to birch pollen. We have a lot of birch trees around here.

More on sulfites ... what I noticed first was a reaction to balsamic vinegar. I was trying to eat healthier foods and used quite a lot on salad and a baked potato. Within a few hours, my chin reacted a lot. Sure enough, the label stated sulfites. Then I noticed that when I ate dried pineapple, mango, and apricot, I reacted. The label stated sulfites. Those foods were my first clues. I had never heard of sulfite sensitivity before.

Since the reaction bumps appear within a few hours, I hope that I'll be able to identify triggers with the food journal method. I recognize that what I'm dealing with is trivial compared to what other people face, but it's still an issue that I'd like to deal with.

Thanks again for responding and for your comments, Alcie. I appreciate your help.
Posted 3/1/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Jaminhealth, would you mind telling me more about the grape seed extract? What strength are you taking and how frequently?

I've not heard of using grape seed extract before.
Posted 3/1/2015 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Marlyns,

Here's a website that explains sulfite intolerance. www.learningtarget.com/nosulfites/index.htm

But if you think you might have the "true allergy" which is what I would consider possible because of your reactions, you might see if Razzle, who knows lots more about the allergy, would help out. I "only" have the sensitivity, which is bad enough. Try putting up a new post or emailing Razzle.

Here's a link to an old thread with lots of info. www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=7&m=948461
Razzle is on this one. Just don't post a reply on old posts as they aren't likely to be answered.
Posted 3/2/2015 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Alcie, for adding those excellent links.

Something I just noted in one of Razzle's posts ... that water filter systems might be a problem because of some of the carbon filters (sulfited coconut). We have a Rainfresh water filter system and I drink a lot of water. I will have to research more about our system.
Posted 3/6/2015 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I'm beginning to think that very ripe bananas are a trigger of rash because of the histamine. It might be that I need my bananas cooked too.
Posted 3/6/2015 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
It's entirely possible to have several types of allergies and sensitivities at the same time. I am intolerant to sulfites but have true allergy to sunflower seeds and Avelox. I also have allergic reactions to mold, grass pollen, some tree pollens, dust mites. There's no connection between all my allergies. I only got allergic to grass a couple of years ago when the pollen count was high.

I love cooked bananas. I don't think bananas have much, if any, sulfite, but they are allergens to some people.

Keep working on the journal. Not all your reactions are necessarily due to sulfites, and you may be able to figure out which types of reactions go with which allergens. Cheaper than an allergist, although if you get any really nasty reactions you should see one.
Posted 3/6/2015 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I think that there are several sensitivities involved for me.

In the case of a very ripe banana, I think that histamine is an issue for me, but I don't believe that there are sulfites in the bananas.
Posted 4/3/2015 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I am pretty sure I have a sulphite sensitivity. I do have a sulpha allergy (rash) and consumed artificial sweetners for over 40 years. I have read all of learningtarget.com as well as numerous others and have discussed at length with my naturopath. I am beginning to figure this out (I think!). However, my question to you (or anyone reading this) is this: Have you ever heard from people that instead of tachycardia or asthmatic reactions, they have muscle stiffness, joint pain, particularly around the hips and upper legs? Sometimes I can barely walk it is so painful. It is worse several hours after wine or balsamic vinegar. Learningtarget mentions this in one place just in passing. Has anyone come across this? Thanks for any information.
Posted 4/3/2015 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
There are so many things that can cause muscle pain and deterioration. I keep reading about more every day. PPI stomach acid reducers, certain antibiotics, cholesterol meds ... I don't know much about this reaction.

I have the rather unusual tachycardia reaction, but migraine headaches and stomach upsets are quite common. If you get a rash or difficulty swallowing you might have the "true allergy" and should be very careful.

It's possible to have several unrelated allergies. I'm truly allergic to some antibiotics, sunflower seeds, grass, the usual pollens and dust, etc.

I especially avoid balsamic vinegar, also barbecue sauce and gelatin, corn starch and brown sugar. I can get away with an occasional small soda.

To find out how much sulfite is in a food item, see the tables in Rick's book, website above. You can learn to calculate how much is in foods and how much you tolerate. It's important!
Posted 4/3/2015 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your quick response! I have been having muscle issues for several years, take no prescriptions, mild osteo, Celebrex just about put me in the hospital, a facial at a spa gave me a rash and hives on my face for a week (all organic!), labels are so deceptive, but after a glass of wine, many hours later sometimes, all the muscles in spine and hips are so painful. Some days I am 100% and then the next day, I am down. So confusing.... I keep a diary, right now I am only eating rice, oatmeal, cantaloupe and chicken until I clean out and then I will try adding....very carefully. I have a mutated gene (MTHFR) which deals with clearing toxins from your genes.... It's enough to make you crazy!
Posted 4/4/2015 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Dear crabby,

How about starting your own page. Just hit "new topic" instead of writing in the "quick reply" box. I'd love to hear more about the mutated gene on your own page, and others would also.
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