Can people with skin allergies eat grapefruit?

Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Patients with skin allergies can generally eat grapefruit. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, grapefruit is considered cool in nature with a sweet and sour taste. It has the effects of aiding digestion, transforming phlegm and stopping coughs, harmonizing the stomach and regulating qi, as well as detoxifying alcohol. Clinically, it is rare to encounter patients allergic to grapefruit, so it is usually safe for people with skin allergies to eat grapefruit, unless they are absolutely allergic to it.

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What is seasonal skin allergy?

Seasonal skin allergies are allergic reactions of the skin triggered by allergens that occur during specific seasons. For example, in spring, pollen allergies might lead to dermatitis, eczema, or urticaria; in summer, the intense ultraviolet rays can cause solar dermatitis, and in the cold weather of autumn and winter, cold urticaria or allergic dermatitis might occur. These conditions only appear during specific seasons and generally ease off or disappear after the season ends without the need for treatment. These are characteristics of seasonal skin allergies. In such cases, it is advisable to regularly exercise to boost the immune system to fight against allergens, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and refrain from staying up late.

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Can I eat crab if I have a skin allergy?

People with skin allergies should avoid eating crab. Crab is cold in nature and salty in taste, containing a rich array of trace elements and is a high-protein food. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that crab has the effects of clearing heat, relaxing tendons and activating blood circulation, and facilitating joints. However, it is also considered a product that can activate internal wind, classified as an allergenic food. Similarly, Western medicine recognizes crab as a form of foreign protein. Clinically, we have seen patients who are allergic to crab, so for those with skin allergies, we do not recommend eating crab.

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What should I do about allergic eczema on the skin?

Eczema is an allergic skin disease with multifactorial triggers. The skin lesions in eczema may present in various forms, including erythema, papules, vesicopapules, blisters, as well as exudation, crusting, and scaling, accompanied by varying degrees of itching. Based on the duration of the disease, eczema can be classified as acute, subacute, or chronic, and can occur anywhere on the body. It is necessary to enhance skin moisturizing care and provide symptomatic treatment such as anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory measures. Oral medications such as levocetirizine tablets, total glucosides of paeony capsules, and tripterygium glycosides tablets can be used. For the skin lesions caused by eczema, topical steroid ointments can be applied for early symptom control, which can later be switched to non-steroidal medications, such as ketoprofen cream, oxibendazole cream, and compound heparin sodium cream, etc. (Please follow the doctor's prescription for medication use.)

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Can you drink alcohol with a skin allergy?

Skin allergy is a very common skin disease, mainly caused by exposure to certain allergens, resulting in corresponding skin symptoms. After suffering from skin allergies, it is definitely not advisable to drink alcohol. Alcohol is considered an irritant food, which may worsen the symptoms of skin allergies. In addition to not drinking alcohol, other spicy and irritating foods should also be avoided, such as not smoking and not eating stimulating foods like onions, ginger, and garlic.

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What should I do if I have skin allergies and itching?

Skin allergies and itching require actively searching for the triggering factors, i.e., allergens. Identifying what has irritated the skin and caused the allergic reaction is crucial, then avoiding further contact to prevent recurrence or worsening of the condition. If the allergy is triggered by consuming fish, shrimp, seafood, tropical fruits, etc., it is important to avoid eating similar foods in the future. If the use of certain cosmetics or skin care products causes allergies, avoid using other products containing the same ingredients. If the allergy is caused by certain medications, typically appearing within four days to a month of usage, it is advised to switch medications and avoid taking the same one again. For more severe allergic symptoms, such as significant itching, oral antihistamines like loratadine, desloratadine, cetirizine, and ebastine can be taken. Topical anti-itch medications like calamine lotion can be used, and for more severe conditions, topical corticosteroids or tacrolimus ointment can be applied. If symptoms do not improve or worsen with the aforementioned treatments, short-term oral steroids might be considered to manage the condition. (Note: Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)