If you wheeze, sneeze, and feel bad after eating squash, cauliflower, and blueberries, you might be allergic to salicylate. Salicylate is a naturally occurring chemical found in a variety of fruit and vegetables. The chemical may also be an ingredient in aspirin, penicillin, and other medications. Learning more about salicylate and how to avoid or treat it can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle.
What's Salicylate?
The majority of the cheeses, fruits, nuts, spices, and vegetables you eat can help you stay healthy and thriving throughout your lifetime. However, some of the foods you might eat contain a chemical known as salicylate.
Salicylate is a type of salt that comes from salicylic acid. The salt protects plants from disease, insects, and other things that might harm them. Companies also use salicylate to create food preservatives and medications. Although most people don't have a problem eating foods or taking medications that contain salicylate, some individuals do. The individuals who have problems with salicylate often develop allergic reactions to it.
The allergy symptoms associated with salicylate may be mild in nature or severe, depending on your immune system. Your symptoms may include the following:
- itchy skin
- sneezing and wheezing
- stomach and head pain
- skin discoloration
People who have severe reactions to salicylate may struggle to breathe or experience swelling in their throat and nasal passages. No matter how mild or severe your symptoms are, you need to do something about them fast.
How Do You Treat Salicylate Allergies?
If you develop allergy symptoms immediately after eating certain types of food or taking specific types of medications, avoid them. Keep a list of the things you can't tolerate on your refrigerator or in your purse or wallet. Give copies of the list to your loved ones for security.
Next, see an allergist for care. An allergist may have treatments you can use to control or prevent your symptoms, such as antihistamines. You may also need special injections in your skin to manage your condition.
An allergist may also skin test you for additional allergens. The test may reveal the type of salicylate allergies you have and why. If needed, a doctor may monitor your allergy symptoms over a marked period of time. Sometimes allergies go away on their own. But if your symptoms worsen or increase, a doctor can establish other treatment options for you.
If you become ill after eating or taking certain things, contact an allergy treatment service to see if you have a problem with salicylate.
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