You may not expect to develop rashes from consuming caffeine, but if you're allergic to this substance, you may develop more than one type of rash. Caffeine is found in an array of food products and in some medications. If you develop rashes after consuming caffeine, discontinue consumption and call your doctor. A caffeine allergy can lead to serious health complications, such as the inability to breathe, an increased heart rate and a sudden drop in blood pressure.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is mainly known for its ability to increase mental awareness and wake you up. It is a naturally occurring substance in cocoa beans, coffee beans and tea leaves, and is synthetically made for use in sodas, energy drinks and medications. When you ingest caffeine, it quickly enters the bloodstream and affects your central nervous system, according to MayoClinic.com. Consuming caffeine can cause unwanted side effects, such as lightheadedness, excitability and mild body tremors, but skin rashes are a sign of an allergic reaction.
Hypersensitivity
It's possible to have an allergic reaction to any foreign substance that enters the body. Drugs.com states that common signs of an allergic reaction to caffeine may include shortness of breath, facial swelling, lip swelling, throat swelling and hives. Allergic reactions are the result of a hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance, called an allergen. The immune system mistakes the substance as harmful and attacks it to defend the body. This action releases various chemicals that cause your blood vessels to dilate and become inflamed.
Skin Rashes
The most common skin rash from a caffeine allergy is hives. Hives develop in clusters of welts that can move, change shape and size in a matter of minutes for no apparent reason. Hives are extremely itchy and may be a sign of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Other common rashes that develop from an allergic reaction include eczema and general itchiness and redness. Eczema is a chronic skin condition that is commonly triggered by an allergy. Eczema forms fluid-filled blisters that weep and crust over.
Treatment
Call your doctor immediately if you develop rashes from consuming caffeine. If you develop hives along with the inability to breathe, an increased heart rate, confusion and swelling in your body, you may be experiencing anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is treated with an injection of epinephrine, synthetic adrenalin. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, so it is essential that you seek medical attention at the first sign of it.
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