Allergies Causes and Treatments for Allergic Reactions on the Face By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN Updated on April 22, 2024 Medically reviewed by Jurairat J. Molina, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types Causes Treatments An allergic reaction on the face can be caused by conditions such as eczema, contact dermatitis, hives, and swelling. Symptoms may include a red, itchy rash that requires medication. This article will discuss types of face rashes, as well as what causes allergic reactions and how they're treated. iStock / Getty Images Plus Allergies Types of Face Rashes Caused by Allergies Allergies are caused by a misfire of your immune system. When a normally harmless substance, like pollen, enters your body, your immune system confuses it with a serious threat and attacks. This attack results in inflammation, itching, and other problems. Four common conditions that can cause allergic reactions on the face include contact eczema, contact dermatitis, hives, and swelling. Eczema Eczema is a form of dermatitis called atopic dermatitis. The rash occurs most often where the skin flexes—inside the elbows, behind the knees, and in front of the neck. However, eczema can also appear on the face. The rash causes severe itching, redness, oozing, and flaky scales. These symptoms can be painful and can cause changes in skin color and blisters. Contact Dermatitis Contact dermatitis can be caused by an irritant, an allergen, or both. This rash happens when the skin comes in direct contact with a substance that causes a reaction, such as cosmetics, hair dye, metals such as nickel, topical medications, or dental materials. Symptoms can include a red rash, and bumpy, scaly, itchy, or swollen skin at the point of contact. The rash is typically located only in the area of contact with the offending substance. Hives Hives, also known as urticaria, is an itchy rash that can occur at any age. Urticariacan be acute (lasting less than six weeks) or chronic (lasting more than six weeks). This rash appears as swelling of the surface of the skin with red- or skin-colored welts (called wheals). These raised bumps can be of various shapes and sizes and last for minutes to hours, but not usually more than 48 hours. These welts can be very itchy. Allergic reactions can last for hours to weeks. Long-lasting reactions are common in allergies that produce hives or chronic reactions like eczema. Swelling Swelling, also called angioedema, is similar to hives, but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface. It can occur with hives or it may be caused by an allergic reaction. It often involves the lips, eyes, hands, and feet. Angioedema can feel itchy or it may burn, sting, or cause a tingling sensation instead. In rare cases, severe swelling around the throat can block the ability to breathe. This is a medical emergency known as anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention and can be life-threatening. What Is Anaphylaxis? Severe allergic reactions can lead to swelling in your mouth or throat called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. This response makes breathing difficult, includes a drop in blood pressure, and is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.Other symptoms of anaphylaxis can include: A warm sensation Flushing Red skin Itching Lightheadedness Anxiety Pain Cramping Vomiting Diarrhea Causes of Allergic Reactions on the Face Skin and seasonal pollen allergies are among the most common, but this can depend on age. Milk is the most common allergen for babies. Many foods, pollens, and medications can cause allergic reactions. Below are some of the most common allergens. Skin Allergies Seasonal Allergies Seasonal allergies can be caused by mold and pollens that tend to spike in numbers during certain times of the year. Some of the most common sources of seasonal allergies include: Grass pollen (e.g., bahia, bermuda, blue) Tree pollen (e.g., cedar, oak, pine) Ragweed (e.g., short, giant, western) Weeds (e.g., burning bush, tumbleweed, lamb's-quarters) Some years may be worse for seasonal allergies, and things like wind and rainfall can also impact severity. Symptoms of seasonal allergies may include: Runny noseSneezingCongestionCoughingWheezingHeadachesItching in the nose, roof of the mouth, back of the throat, and/or eyesWatery eyesBloodshot eyesRed, swollen eyelids Animals and Insects Allergies to animals or insects usually involve sensitivity to proteins found in animal skin cells (dander), saliva, and hair. Even when the animal isn't around, these proteins can linger and trigger a reaction. You may also develop a response to things like pollen and dust on a pet's fur. Symptoms of animal allergies include: SneezingRunny or stuffy noseFacial pain (from nasal congestion)Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and wheezingWatery, red, or itchy eyesSkin rash or hives Symptoms related to insect allergies include: PainRednessSwelling (in the area of sting and sometimes beyond)FlushingHivesItchingAnaphylaxis (less common) Food You may be sensitive to many foods, but only a true allergy should trigger a visible reaction, such as a rash or hives on your face. These eight foods make up about 90% of all food-related allergic reactions. Eggs Milk or dairy Fish Shellfish Peanuts Tree nuts Soy Wheat These are the most common food allergy symptoms: Swelling and itching of the lips and mouth Tightness in the throat or hoarse voice Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea and cramps Hives Swelling of the skin Itchy skin Anaphylaxis: the most severe form of an allergic reaction Medication You can develop side effects or reactions to any medication, but several in particular are prone to triggering allergic reactions. The most common medications associated with actual allergic reactions include: Antibiotics, especially penicillins Aspirin Anti-inflammatory medications Opiate medications Some cancer drugs Drug allergy reactions can occur in any part of your body. Symptoms may include: Skin rash or hivesItchingWheezing or other breathing problemsSwellingAnaphylaxis Beauty Products Some of the common products and ingredients in beauty products that can cause a skin allergy include: Fragrances in cosmetics, soaps, and moisturizersDetergentsCosmetics, such as eye shadow, lipstick, foundationPerfumesHair dyesSunscreensNail polish Symptoms associated with beauty products include: HivesItchy skinRashFlaking or peeling skinFacial swellingIrritation of the eyes, nose, and mouthWheezingAnaphylaxis Environmental Substances in the environment that can cause a rash include the following: Indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold, and cockroaches. Metals such as nickel and chrome. Nickel is found in costume jewelry, belt buckles, watches, zippers, snaps, and hooks on clothing. Chrome is often used as a coating over nickel. Poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac, which are among the most common causes of contact dermatitis Symptoms caused by environmental allergens include: Runny noseSneezingItchy eyesHivesSinus infectionsShortness of breathAnaphylaxis Can You Be Allergic and Not Know It? Not all allergic reactions have an obvious cause. A day in the sun could make your skin red, but that redness might also be from a medication you took. Sometimes symptoms of allergic reactions can be confused with symptoms of other conditions or exposures, especially if your symptoms are mild. One way to tell whether it's an allergic reaction is to pay attention to the timing and consistency of the reaction. Reactions that appear within about an hour after exposure to a specific food or substance are likely allergic in nature. Treatments The best strategy for treating allergies is to avoid allergens. This requires allergy testing to pinpoint the exact allergens that could be triggering your reaction. Once you know your triggers, you can avoid them, but you should also have a plan to manage unforeseen exposures. Medications to treat allergies include: Antihistamines Steroids Anti-itch creams or ointments Immunotherapy These medications can help treat your allergic reaction, but symptoms from severe reactions may still last for weeks. You and your healthcare provider should decide the best course of treatment based on your specific allergies and their severity. Can You Be Allergic to Epinephrine? Summary Allergic reactions on the face can include skin rashes, redness, itchy patches, tiny bumps, hives, swelling, and more. The body's production of antibodies causes these symptoms after exposure to allergens, such as animals, food, pollen, fragrances, and metals. Severe allergic reactions can bring about anaphylaxis (swelling of the mouth and throat), making it difficult to breathe. The best way to treat allergies is to avoid specific triggers, which you can determine through allergy testing. However, you should always have a plan to manage allergies in case of exposure. 24 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Eczema. National Eczema Society. Facial eczema. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Skin allergy. Medline Plus. Hives. Medline Plus. Angioedema. Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R. Urticaria and angioedema. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(S2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Allergic reactions. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Seasonal allergies. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Seasonal allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Pet allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Pet allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Insect sting allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Food allergy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Food allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Rashes. American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Drug allergies. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Contact dermatitis. Medline Plus. Contact dermatitis. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Allergens in cosmetics. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Indoor allergens. National Eczema Association. 5 environmental allergies (and how to manage them). MedlinePlus. Allergic reactions. Yale Medicine. Allergic contact dermatitis. By Rachael Zimlich, BSN, RN Zimlich is a critical care nurse who has been writing about health care and clinical developments for over 10 years. 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