Any food allergy can cause skin rashes that resemble scratches. The two most common skin rashes caused by food allergies include eczema and hives, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Both of these skin conditions can appear as scratches, especially if they're scratched. Allergic skin rashes resulting from food allergies are very itchy that cause inflammation and redness. Talk with your doctor if you develop any reactions after eating specific foods. Identifying which foods cause an allergic reaction is the first step towards treatment.
Common Food Allergies
About 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by eight foods: fish, shellfish, peanuts, nuts, soy, milk, eggs and wheat, according to MayoClinic.com. When you eat a food that you're allergic to, your immune system overreacts to the proteins found in the food. For example, if you're allergic to milk, your immune system identifies the whey or casein proteins in milk as dangerous substances. This reaction causes the body to protect itself by creating immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies. These antibodies attempt to fight off the proteins, causing cells in your body to create histamine. Histamine is responsible for the inflammation and swelling throughout the body.
Allergic Skin Rashes
Allergic skin rashes are caused by increased levels of histamine that irritate the skin, which leads to inflammation and itchiness. Hives can form anywhere on the body and first appear as clusters of welts with defined borders. You may begin scratching your skin before hives appear, making them appear as scratches. Eczema is a chronic skin condition that can be triggered by a food allergy. Eczema forms as blisters that easily weep and crust over, leaving your skin thick, dry and cracked. In this state, your skin appears to have been scratched.
Diagnosis
In order to effectively treat your food allergy rash, you need to receive a clinical diagnosis of which foods you're allergic to. Blood tests and skin prick tests may be used to determine which foods you're allergic to. Once diagnosed, you should eliminate these foods from your diet. Eating a food that you're allergic to can cause a severe allergic reaction that can lead to death.
Treatment
Doctors typically advise you to treat allergic skin conditions by taking an oral antihistamine and using a steroid-based topical cream to reduce the redness and itching.
