Food Allergy Reaction Lip Rash

[alasadourian]

On Wednesday last week I had by mistake sundried tomatoes.  I've been allergic to tomatoes for 12 years now, unfortunately this person didn't know the ingredients until later and I'm currently still suffering.  At first I started to get hives and then an hour later my lips got bright red and swollen.  Thursday and Friday they looked the same.  My mom had me put hydrocortisone cream on them thursday, but that did nothing.  So I called my dr. on Thursday and she said there was nothing she could do for me but that I should keep taking the benedryl, so I did.  Saturday, I still hadn't healed and wasn't feeling well so I went to the drug store to ask a pharmacist what to do.  He suggested Benedryl and Claritin but 2x the dose.  So since Saturday I've been doing that.  Nothing has worked and my poor lips have a rash on them and around them and they are also red and dried out.  

Do you have any suggestions on what I can do?

Thanks,
Andrea

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Your symptoms are suggestive of angioedema of the lips. Angioedema is a swelling, similar to hives, but the swelling is beneath the skin rather than on the surface.

Treatment for angioedema is the one that you are already taking that is antihistaminics like benadryl or Claritin and corticosteroids.Pls apply mild corticosteroid cream on the lips. Topical creams like tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) are also useful. Avoid licking the lips as saliva evaporates quickly resulting in them being drier than before. Drink plenty of water and take multivitamin supplements and do not apply lipstick or other cosmetic products for some days. Use a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home and apply shea butter or Vaseline on your lips.

Severe cases may need oral steroids .In that case you have to get a prescription from your doctor.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or of you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[ChitChatNine]

I would seek the advice of an allergist and he/she may very well script you an epi pen given the lip swelling.  In the meantime, as a patient, my instnicts say what you are doing is about all you can do short of oral steroids which they probably won't do for a lip swelling at this timeframe.  However, keep in mind it's your body's way of warning you tomato is still allergy .. such a shame when these things show up so unexpectedly in the food and I feel bad you are going thru this right now.

C~