Garlic Allergy is a little different from other food allergies and can occur by mere handling of the helpful bulb. People who are required to work with it constantly often develop a thickening of skin tissues on their hands which may soon result in peeling off the outer layers of the skin resulting in a condition similar to second and third degree burns.

Reasons for Garlic Allergy

While working with fresh garlic is most likely to cause contact dermatitis or an allergy like condition, inhaling the oil of garlic or consumption of raw garlic pods may also result in similar bodily reactions although the allergy on ingestion is not very common. Details of the allergy have been known since the late 1950s.

The actual cause of garlic allergies might lie in the body mistakenly identifying the garlic proteins as harmful antigens triggering off a host of adverse reactions that cause us discomfort and pain. The substance known as DADS present in garlic oil might also be responsible for the allergic reaction of the body.

Working with fresh garlic everyday or breathing garlic oil and dust regularly may increase the risk of developing the allergy. A family history of food allergy along with instances of previous Skin infections may also make the individual more prone to allergic reactions from garlic.

Garlic Allergy Symptoms

• Skin rashes can cause discoloration and misshaping of the skin with fissure like scar tissues forming on the hand.
• The rashes can become severe and attain the form of a second or third degree burn injury.
• Intense itching of the skin
• Skin hives may spread to the entire body if left untreated.
• Ingestion of garlic may cause diarrhea or digestive problems with intense stomach cramps in extreme cases.
• Inhaling garlic oil or dust may result in rhinitis with runny nose and streaming eyes coupled with sneezing which might lead to wheezing and asthmatic conditions later on.
• Anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions characterized by dizziness, lightheadedness and ultimate loss of consciousness is rare in this type of allergy.

Diagnosis of Garlic Allergy

• Physical examination
• Skin Patch testing with a bit of the offending substance. 
• Elimination of garlic from diet
• Skin prick testing where the allergen is injected beneath the skin.

Treatment of Garlic Allergy

• Avoidance of both garlic and onions
• Oral medicines like acitretin and psoralen along with UV therapy cures contact dermatitis
• Asthma medicines or OTC anti allergic drugs.
• Topical application of corticosteroids.

 Prevention is the only way of getting rid of garlic allergy in the long run. 

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