Starling allergen awareness blog - this week we're talking about almonds.
I used to think almonds were delicious, nourishing and healthy. And paired with chocolate, forget about it! I remember those days. They were amazing…
Also back then, almond oil did wonders for my skin, too. It was glowing, clear and smooth.
My skin never looked better ... until it didn’t. Out of nowhere, I had a crazy, itchy rash on my face, and a nose as red as a reindeer. I felt ugly and uncomfortable. I looked tired all of the time. I was itchy everywhere. Something was definitely wrong. After many arduous visits to many doctors, I was actually grateful for the diagnosis of an almond allergy so that I could start to look like a normal person again. Everything it turns out, is connected when it comes to allergies, health and your skin.
I was deeply ungrateful when I realized what had to come out of my skincare routine and my diet. I was using products and eating nuts frequently, and almost everything had to change. I was lucky that I only had myself to worry about at that time.
It's not as often spoken about, but very important to be aware of: moms of nut-allergy babies/kids need to watch out for their beauty product ingredients. It is too common to buy a product, use it, miss an ingredient and watch your child's allergy spike; and you move into overdrive trying to figure out the culprit. Starling products are formulated without any of the most common food allergens to help you eliminate the guesswork for your loved ones.
Almond allergies are the most common of the tree-nut allergies. If you are allergic to almonds, you can expect some or all of the below side effects:
- Stomach bloating and pain
- Itchy skin/rashes (can be caused by skin contact or ingestion of allergen)
- Acne
- Runny nose/constant sinus problems
- Swollen lips/mouth
- In very serious cases, anaphylaxis and constriction of air passages
If you suspect a nut allergy, please see an allergist and get a diagnosis, right away. If you have an allergy, there are several things that you will want to avoid. Here we will focus on ingredients that are “hidden” in plain sight. They identify the ingredient but use lengthy scientific names and don’t show the common name of the ingredient.
If you are allergic to almonds, please make sure you are looking on labels for any of the terms below as identifiers.
Prunus dulcis
Prunus
Prunus amygdalus
Prunus amara
Amanda douce
Amande
Amygdalus dulcis
Prunus communis dulcis
Amygdalus communis L
Sweet almond oil
Almond oil
This is not an exhaustive list. Please be a detective and inspect your skincare (and food) labels very carefully. Always consult with your physician if you have questions or need guidance.
Do you have an almond allergy? We'd love to hear your story.