Contact allergy to food

Abstract

Contact allergies to foods, spices, and food additives can occur to individuals in the workplace or at home. Seven different reaction types have been described. These include irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, protein contact dermatitis, phototoxic contact dermatitis, photo-allergic contact dermatitis, and systemic contact dermatitis. The causes of each of these are reviewed and an approach to the diagnosis and management of contact allergy to foods, spices, and food additives is formulated.