Eating sardines can cause skin rashes if you're allergic to fish. A fish allergy is a rare condition, affecting 2 percent to 3 percent of Americans, according to National Jewish Health. A fish and shellfish allergy is one of the most common causes of a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis. If you develop a rash after eating sardines, call your doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Hives is a sign of a severe allergic reaction that should be assessed by a doctor. Avoid eating sardines if you have had an allergic reaction to them before.
Sardine Allergy
Fish are one of the most common foods that cause an allergic reaction. If you're allergic to sardines, your immune system overreacts to the proteins found in the flesh of the fish. Your immune system protects the body from illnesses and diseases. During an allergic reaction, your body reacts to the sardine proteins as if they were harmful and creates chemicals to fight them off, according to MayoClinic.com. IgE, or immunoglobulin E antibodies, are created to protect the body. The introduction of these antibodies causes the production of histamine. Histamine is used by the body to protect it from infection but causes inflammation in soft tissue, such as the skin.
Skin Rash Symptoms
Skin rash symptoms after eating sardines appear within a few minutes or up to an hour after ingesting them. As histamine increases in the body, your skin can become itchy, inflamed and swollen. You may also experience tingling in your face or mouth right after eating the fish. Skin rashes can develop anywhere on your body but primarily begin on your face from a fish allergy. Common skin rashes associated with a fish allergy are hives and eczema, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Both conditions are very itchy and can lead to secondary infections if your skin breaks from scratching.
Consideration
Hives that appear right after eating sardines may be a sign of anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction that could lead to death. If hives develop along with facial swelling, difficulty breathing and lightheadedness, call 911 immediately, according to MayoClinic.com. During anaphylactic shock, your entire body experiences an allergic reaction, causing your body to experience a state of shock.
Treatment
Allergic skin conditions from eating sardines can be treated with antihistamines and steroid-based creams, as directed by your doctor. Antihistamines block the mast cells from creating histamine, reducing your skin reactions. Steroid-based creams, such as hydrocortisone, alleviate the itch and swelling from the skin rash.
