A peanut allergy is an abnormal, potentially life-threatening immune system response to the consumption of peanuts or food containing peanuts. Symptoms of this allergy vary from person to person, but commonly include changes to breathing and digestion, as well as skin alterations. Skin peeling is one potential symptom of an allergic reaction to peanuts.
Background
Peanut allergies frequently appear during childhood, and roughly 400,000 school-age children in America have this type of allergy, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Allergic reactions begin when elements in the immune system called antibodies mistakenly identify peanut proteins as foreign invaders and tell the body to produce a substance called histamine. Your body's response to the presence of histamine leads to the symptoms associated with a reaction. In addition to developing a reaction from consuming peanuts, a person with a peanut allergy can potentially develop reaction symptoms by inhaling peanut particles in the air.
Eczema and Skin Peeling
A peanut allergy produces essentially the same set of potential symptoms as any other form of food allergy, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology reports. Possible skin reactions include swelling or redness around the mouth and face, and formation of a bumpy rash called hives or a rash called eczema. Skin peeling is a potential symptom of eczema. Other known eczema symptoms include skin blistering accompanied by oozing and crust formation, skin inflammation or redness and changes in normal skin color.
No Specific Treatment
There is no specific medication used to treat eczema or any other symptoms of a peanut allergy, the Nemours Foundation explains. To avoid skin peeling or other allergy symptoms, you need to avoid consuming peanuts or peanut-containing products. Foods most likely to include peanuts or other types of nuts include cookies and other baked goods, African or Asian foods, ice cream, candy and various types of sauces. The Nemours Foundation lists specific terms that commonly appear on the labels of nut-containing products. These include "produced on shared equipment with nuts or peanuts, " "produced in a facility that also processes nuts" and "may contain nuts."
Considerations
Children under the age of two commonly develop eczema on the scalp, face, feet or hands. Older children and adults commonly develop eczema on the inside surfaces of their elbows or knees, or on the feet, neck or hands. To diagnose a peanut allergy, an allergist may place a peanut extract on a small segment of your skin, then scratch this area to give the extract access to your skin's interior. If your skin gets red and bumpy, an allergy is present. Do not attempt to diagnose an allergy on your own. In some cases, people with peanut allergies develop a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, which can involve swelling of the tongue, constricted breathing and dangerous reductions in blood pressure. Consult your doctor for more information on peanut allergy, skin peeling and other potential symptoms.
