Sudden tree nut allergy
Discussion
I'm in my mid 40's and never had a (known) allergy my entire life.
However, just before Christmas I had some mixed nuts and came out in an itchy rash, mainly on my face, chest and the backs of my elbows and knees. I didn't realise at first what had caused it but narrowed it down to the nuts.
I tested my theory out by eating peanuts (no reaction) and then some satay sauce from a takeaway (fairly big reaction!).
Any thoughts on why this has happened? Are allergies just 'random'? Luckily, even with getting the rash, it's not life threatening and it does seem to be limited to the "tree" nuts.
However, just before Christmas I had some mixed nuts and came out in an itchy rash, mainly on my face, chest and the backs of my elbows and knees. I didn't realise at first what had caused it but narrowed it down to the nuts.
I tested my theory out by eating peanuts (no reaction) and then some satay sauce from a takeaway (fairly big reaction!).
Any thoughts on why this has happened? Are allergies just 'random'? Luckily, even with getting the rash, it's not life threatening and it does seem to be limited to the "tree" nuts.
Type 1 hypersensitivities can occur at any age. Traditionally it was thought that genetic predisposition was the major driver but given the massive increase in allergy rates (and severity) there are probably a number of environmental factors at work.
It's possible that you may already have had a mild predisposition to this hypersensitivity and either a change in diet or some environmental exposure (to a potentially unrelated substance) has triggered the allergy to tree nuts.
They hypersensitivity can worsen or subside as time goes on. Most tend to subside as you get older. As a child I had a pretty bad reaction to penicillin-based antibiotics (enough to warrant an overnight in hospital), whereas now I have no reaction to any of the penicillin derived antibiotics.
It's possible that you may already have had a mild predisposition to this hypersensitivity and either a change in diet or some environmental exposure (to a potentially unrelated substance) has triggered the allergy to tree nuts.
They hypersensitivity can worsen or subside as time goes on. Most tend to subside as you get older. As a child I had a pretty bad reaction to penicillin-based antibiotics (enough to warrant an overnight in hospital), whereas now I have no reaction to any of the penicillin derived antibiotics.
It seems you can get sudden allergies, my skin has been breaking out worse and worse over 3 years hence the reason I have 76 patches on my back and more tomorrow 
I think it is wheat related for me, but need to be sure although not eating wheat my skin heals a lot better but not fully (eczema type skin)
I am late 40's as well.
I think it is wheat related for me, but need to be sure although not eating wheat my skin heals a lot better but not fully (eczema type skin)
I am late 40's as well.
The simple answer is, yes.
I have been healthy all my life, never overweight, kept fit and could eat anything and never a stomach upset or anything that I would have to be careful with.
Then at the age of 50 was struck down one morning with the most violent upset stomach imaginable. Doctor diagnosed food poisoning and put me on a diet of plain boiled pasta and rice. Did not improve and kept loosing weight - 3 stone in 8 weeks - I was only 12.5 stone to start with.
Wife thought I had the big C. Eventually went for a private diagnosis and the specialist took one look at me and said you have Coeliac Disease - an intolerance to gluten. He prescribed a strict gluten free diet from then on and within 24 hrs I was feeling a lot better. Been on a gluten free diet for 12 years now and feel remarkably well, although I do get tired quite quickly.
I was always very dismissive of 'faddy foodies' and still am, but my cure for any eating ills was 'nothing a good helping of stew and dumplings followed by jam roly-poly pudding and custard wouldn't cure. How wrong I was. Genuine medically diagnosed allergies and intolerances are very real, but unfortunately it has become very fashionable to have an eating disorder.
I have been healthy all my life, never overweight, kept fit and could eat anything and never a stomach upset or anything that I would have to be careful with.
Then at the age of 50 was struck down one morning with the most violent upset stomach imaginable. Doctor diagnosed food poisoning and put me on a diet of plain boiled pasta and rice. Did not improve and kept loosing weight - 3 stone in 8 weeks - I was only 12.5 stone to start with.
Wife thought I had the big C. Eventually went for a private diagnosis and the specialist took one look at me and said you have Coeliac Disease - an intolerance to gluten. He prescribed a strict gluten free diet from then on and within 24 hrs I was feeling a lot better. Been on a gluten free diet for 12 years now and feel remarkably well, although I do get tired quite quickly.
I was always very dismissive of 'faddy foodies' and still am, but my cure for any eating ills was 'nothing a good helping of stew and dumplings followed by jam roly-poly pudding and custard wouldn't cure. How wrong I was. Genuine medically diagnosed allergies and intolerances are very real, but unfortunately it has become very fashionable to have an eating disorder.
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