Spice Allergies

Spice allergies are troublesome food allergies that occur in as many as 2% of people who experience food allergies, but they may be very difficult to diagnose, in part because the spices used in prepared foods are often a “secret blend,” and are not listed on the ingredient label. Some of the spices that may cause an allergic reaction include garlic, paprika, cumin, and coriander. Mustard and celery seed are common causes of allergic reactions to spices. If you have had allergic symptoms associated with meals or snacks, you should visit Dr. Boyan Hadjiev, a top New York allergy doctor, to determine if the hidden cause of your allergy is a simple spice that is consumed in your diet.

Many spices actually have specific actions on the cells of the body, which means that they may be more likely to cause sensitization and allergic reactions. When Dr. Boyan Hadjiev, a leading New York allergist, test patients for hidden food allergies, he tests broadly for allergies to spices, which are flavoring ingredients for food that come from leaves, seeds, bark, roots, fruit, or buds of a plant. He also tests for allergic sensitivity to herbs, which are substances that flavor food that come exclusively from plant leaves.

Usually, you will be exposed to spices when you eat, but you can also have a reaction to spices that contact your skin, including spices in foods that you handle and from cosmetics that sometimes have spices as one of the ingredients. Some natural cosmetics may have spices in them. If you work in the food industry, you may inhale spices that are airborne. Any contact with a spice in a person with an allergy or sensitivity can result in symptoms.

Symptoms of spice allergy do not include the runny nose or watery eyes you may experience if you eat something spicy like a chili pepper. If you sneeze from black pepper, this is not caused by an allergic reaction. These things are caused by the affects of irritant substances on your mucus membranes, like the skin inside your nostril.

Dr. Boyan Hadjiev, one of New York’s top allergy doctors, warns that some people who are allergic to spices may have hives or swelling in the tongue or mouth, and sometimes people with spice allergies have wheezing or other asthmatic symptoms. Rarely, people develop anaphylaxis, with shock and breathing difficulties, resulting from an allergic reaction to spices.

When you visit a top allergy doctor for a consultation, you should bring a list of symptoms you may have experienced, and Dr. Boyan Hadjievcan perform allergy testing to many spices. Patch testing and blood tests for antibodies to certain spices can be performed, in addition to other allergy tests.

If you suspect that your allergic symptoms may result from hypersensitivity or allergy to a spice or an herb, it can be difficult to diagnose. This is why you should contact a top New York allergy doctor like Dr. Boyan Hadjievfor a thorough evaluation. Call our office today at 212-319-5282 to schedule your initial consultation at one of the city’s top allergy clinics.