Could salicylate sensitivity be causing your skin condition?

As a long term urticaria sufferer I was interested to read recently about salicylate intolerance.

What are salicylates?

Salicylates are a protein formed naturally in plants. They are also manufactured artificially and are found in some medicines (namely aspirin), perfumes as well as in beauty products containing benzoate preservatives.

Salicylates are thought to be a trigger of skin conditions such as dermatitis, hives and urticaria. People who are salicylate sensitive are also likely to develop a histamine intolerance – which is what causes that uncontrollable itching in those afflicted by urticaria!

Just some of the foods that are particularly high in salicylates are:

– tomatoes
– broad beans
– green peppers
– apricots
– citrus fruits
– avocadoes
– strawberries
– almonds
– peanuts

Interestingly, no current method of food intolerance or allergy testing can identify a salicylate intolerance.

Which perhaps explains why some people suffering from skin reactions get frustratingly inconclusive results from this form of testing – some food for thought.