Hi all,

Three weeks ago I started having dry, flaky, and itchy skin on my face. I also had hives on my wrist. At first I didn't think the two were remotely related, I also mistook the hives as insect bites. Nonetheless I found it strange that my face was so dry etc. since I hadn't put any acne related stuff on my face for at least 2 weeks. Overall I've been a healthy 21 year old, I had asthma but haven't had it for 10 years. My siblings are allergic to crabs, and shrimps, but their lips usually just gets swollen. Sometimes I find my nose to be slightly itchy from eating crabs or the skin around my mouth is itchy after eating mangoes but it quickly goes away.

At the end of the week, Thurs/Fri, I suspected allergies, hence I started taking Benadryl, which relieved the itchiness considerably. However, I still had the hives and by Saturday I woke up with puffy/swollen eyes. I saw a general medicine doctor on Sunday, who gave me benadryl and prednisone. He also told me to not put anything on my face. The hives disappeared the next day, and the only symptom that was still there was the dry skin on my face, but it didn't itch. By Thursday, I was done with the prednisone and benadryl and I even use the Cetaphil cleanser and face lotion (w/ AHA and SPF 15). By Friday my skin looked normal, and I did the face regimen again. I ate out and had shrimp and lobster fettucine, and I felt my face flush red (like when I drink an alcoholic beverage). It went away later on. Saturday I stayed outside, this time with SPF 30, longer than usual out in the park. Sunday I went out again, but I was going from store to store and the sun wasn't even out (I also ate some spicy food). By Sunday nite my face was red and irritating (mostly it felt sunburnt for days afterwards). Monday the hives came back and I went back to taking Benadryl. I have also noticed that this week my eyes feel dry.

But as of today the hives have disappeared for 24 hrs, and I haven't taken Benadryl because I realize that I should try to get off the meds asap. My skin is still dry today, but I put on the Cetaphil cleanser and face lotion and it helped a lot. I think I will be extra careful for a long time with what I eat and how long I stay out. Has anyone else had this experience? I've heard of people having allergies and never having it again, is that true? How long before I should try eating spicy foods and seafoods again?

Sorry for going on long, but I want to make sure I covered everything. I look forward to seeing any feedback. :)

Dear winnie,
DO NOT EAT SHELL FISH!!!
You are clearly allergic. the more you expose yourself the worse your reactions will become. This could result in a anaphylactic reaction which can result in a fatal reaction. Shell fish allergies are partically serious. They tend to run in families as well. As you indicated by your siblings. I have experienced all the same symptoms as you have. They dont get any better.
Please be careful in what you eat and where you eat out. Cross contamination in very common and you may not know your eating a shell fish based product until it is to late.
Good luck!

Dear winnie,
DO NOT EAT SHELL FISH!!!
You are clearly allergic. the more you expose yourself the worse your reactions will become. This could result in a anaphylactic reaction which can result in a fatal reaction. Shell fish allergies are partically serious. They tend to run in families as well. As you indicated by your siblings. I have experienced all the same symptoms as you have. They dont get any better.
Please be careful in what you eat and where you eat out. Cross contamination in very common and you may not know your eating a shell fish based product until it is to late.
Good luck!

Thanks for the response April. I never heard that the more you expose yourself to something you are allergic to the worse your reactions would be. I've always been stubborn, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger kinda mindset. But I am doing my best to be more considerate to my body now (since the allergy resurfaced last week again).

Now the only remnants I have of the allergy symptoms is a slight dryness on my face, and darn itchiness on my chin, but could it be bec. of the pimples and not the allergy on there? I am also feeling tingleness, pins and needles type of sensation on my face whenever I am exposed to the sun too long and I feel my face about to turn red or sweat. This reaction also occurs when I am near chemicals (i.e. Windex), which I guess gets on my face when it gets blown by the air. I'm not sure if this reaction is caused by the allergy or the steroid I used for 5 days...