Quick answer: Yes, you can be allergic to peppers, and to the capsaicin in them. But true allergy is uncommon. Most reactions to chilli or capsicum are either an intolerance or a simple burn from capsaicin, not an immune allergy. Whatever the cause, the reaction is real. This guide covers the symptoms, the difference between allergy and intolerance, and how to treat it. It uses the terms chilli, chili, capsicum, capsaicin, and pepper, since people search all of them.
Capsaicinoids are the chemicals present in chili pepper that provide intensity and dietary benefits. But in people with chili pepper allergy, the immune system treats these chemicals as a threat to the body. An antibody IgE is released, which tries to find and destroy them.
If a person is allergic to peppers, then he might be allergic to both hot and bell pepper both. It is consumed as a whole, paste, flakes, or in powder form.
Symptoms of this allergy are external manifestations of the chemical reactions which take place inside the body between capsaicinoids of chili pepper and IgE of the immune system.
Pepper and Chilli Allergy at a Glance
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Other names | Chilli allergy, chili allergy, capsicum allergy, capsaicin allergy, pepper allergy |
| What triggers it | Proteins in the pepper (a true allergy), or capsaicin (a burn or intolerance) |
| Peppers involved | Chilli, cayenne, jalapeno, habanero, poblano, bell pepper (capsicum), red pepper flakes, paprika |
| Common symptoms | Mouth tingling, itching, hives, rash, stomach upset, sneezing, and rarely trouble breathing |
| Allergy or intolerance | True allergy is uncommon. Intolerance and simple capsaicin burn are far more common. |
| How it is tested | Skin prick test and blood (IgE) test by an allergy doctor |
| See a doctor now if | You have swelling of the lips or throat, or any trouble breathing |
Allergy vs Intolerance vs Capsaicin Burn
Not every bad reaction to chilli is an allergy. There are three different things, and they are easy to mix up (Columbia Doctors).
| Type | What causes it | Usual signs |
|---|---|---|
| True allergy | The immune system reacts to proteins in the pepper | Hives, swelling, itching, and rarely trouble breathing |
| Intolerance | The body has difficulty handling capsaicin or the food | Bloating, stomach pain, gas, loose stools, no hives |
| Capsaicin burn | Capsaicin irritates the nerves, not the immune system | Burning in the mouth, throat, stomach, or on the skin |
Identifying the allergy matters because care differs. A burn or mild intolerance might not be a major concern and passes on its own. A true allergy needs a doctor, and a severe one is an emergency. If you get hives, swelling, or breathing trouble, treat it as an allergy and get medical help as soon as possible.
Chili Pepper Allergy Symptoms
Gastrointestinal Problems – Gastrointestinal symptoms might occur due to consumption of chili pepper or exposure to it. As a result, a person might feel nauseated or vomit. In severe cases, one might also get diarrhea. Stomach pain may also occur and can be mild or, in rare cases, severe.
Rashes – Mild to severe rashes, which also itch, might arise due to this allergy around the mouth in most cases or the whole body. Dermatitis or a rash might also occur where the pepper touches the skin. Remember not to scratch other body parts, as it could spread too.
Other Symptoms for Chili Pepper Allergy
- Oral Irritation: Tingling, burning, itchiness – sometimes confused with heat from capsaicin rather than true allergy.
Study on oral allergic reactions - Skin Reactions:
- Contact dermatitis (“Hunan hand”) from handling chilies – burning, erythema, blistering.
Clinical case study - Urticaria or eczema flare-ups – itchy welts or chronic rash after exposure.
Urticaria overview
- Contact dermatitis (“Hunan hand”) from handling chilies – burning, erythema, blistering.
- Respiratory Symptoms: Sneezing, cough, nasal congestion; may trigger asthma.
Capsaicin inhalation effects - Gastrointestinal Manifestations: Nausea, cramps, bloating, diarrhea – similar to other food allergies.
NIH GI allergy resource - Anaphylaxis (rare): Severe symptoms like throat tightness, hypotension, dizziness.
AAAAI on anaphylaxis - Chronic Irritant Effects: Long-term exposure may worsen reflux, chronic cough.
Review on capsaicin sensitivity
Why Spicy Food Makes You Itchy or Gives Hives
Many people notice they get itchy, flushed, or break out in hives after spicy food. This does not always mean a true allergy. Capsaicin can make the body release histamine, and histamine is what causes the itch and the welts (AAAAI). Cayenne and other hot peppers can set this off even without an immune allergy.
- You may feel warm, red, or sweaty. This is the flush.
- You may get itchy skin or raised welts, called hives.
- You may get a runny nose or watery eyes.
If it is mild and passes soon, it is likely histamine from the spice. If you get swelling of the lips or throat, or any trouble breathing, treat it as a serious allergic reaction and get help fast.
Which Peppers and Spices Can Cause a Reaction?
Capsaicin is found in many hot peppers, so a reaction can come from more than one. Bell pepper is sweet and mild, so reactions to it are more often a true allergy or intolerance than a burn.
| Pepper or spice | Notes |
|---|---|
| Red and green chilli | Common triggers. Green chilli causes lip and mouth tingling. |
| Cayenne | Hot and often powdered. A known histamine liberator. |
| Jalapeno | You can react to it at any age, even if it never bothered you before. |
| Habanero | Very hot, so the capsaicin burn is strong. |
| Poblano | Milder, but can still cause a reaction in sensitive people. |
| Bell pepper (capsicum) | Sweet and mild. Reactions are usually a true allergy or intolerance. |
| Red pepper or chilli flakes, paprika | Dried forms. Powder and dust can also cause sneezing when inhaled. |
| Black pepper | A different plant, not a chilli. A black pepper reaction is separate. |
Blood tests like RAST and skin patch tests can identify the chemical responsible for this condition. Severity can also be assessed based on the planned start of treatment.
Chili Pepper Allergy Treatment
Food allergies currently have no cure. Awareness of the condition, keeping a list of foods containing the trigger, and avoiding them are simple and effective ways to prevent it.
While mild symptoms require no treatment, moderate-symptoms may require antihistamines, medications, eye drops, and nasal sprays. Some people may suffer from a severe form of this allergy called anaphylaxis.
It is a medical emergency which requires immediate hospitalization and medical attention as soon as possible. The allergy quickly spreads throughout the body and begins affecting major organ function. An EpiPen is an injection that can be given to the patient in this condition so that the time for hospitalization can be avoided.
Knowing the critical Chili Pepper allergy symptoms helps you diagnose it early and prevent it from happening again.
Chili Pepper Allergy FAQs
1. How do you know if you are allergic to capsaicin?
If you are allergic to capsaicin, you may experience a range of symptoms, including rhinorrhea, itchy eyes, hoarseness, runny nose, phlegm, nasal blockage, and difficulty breathing. Exposure to the chemical can be fatal in extreme cases. In addition, capsaicin is found in chili peppers (including jalapeño and green bell pepper), so if you are sensitive to them or their oils, you might also be allergic to capsaicin.
2. What allergens are in chili?
To date, researchers have not characterized the allergens in chili. However, thaumatin-like protein and profilin are two allergens found in sweet pepper. Therefore, Chilli might contain these allergens, but no scientific research has been done.
3. Can chilies cause a rash?
Some people may develop a rash after consuming large quantities of chilies, but the cause is not always clear. Some people believe that chilies can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. In contrast, others speculate that the compounds found in chilies (such as capsaicin) might irritate skin cells and initiate inflammation. However, research does not support any theory about why Chilies could cause a rash. If you are concerned about this potential side effect, you must consult your doctor before consuming them regularly.
4. Can inhaling chili pepper dust trigger an allergic reaction?
Yes, inhaling chili pepper dust can trigger allergic reactions in some. The allergic reactions might be more for people who handle dried chili peppers or chili powder. Symptoms may include pulmonary problems such as sneezing, coughing, or wheezing, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing. One should wear a protective mask or work in a ventilated place when handling chili pepper dust.
5. Are there any skin conditions associated with chili pepper allergies?
Yes, individuals with chili pepper allergies may develop skin conditions such as hives, eczema, or contact dermatitis. These conditions leads to red, itchy rashes and swelling. Proper skin care and avoiding direct contact with chili peppers can help control these symptoms.
6. Can chili pepper allergies affect children differently than adults?
Yes, children often experience more severe reactions to chili pepper allergies than adults. Symptoms in children include gastrointestinal distress, skin rashes, and respiratory problems. Parents should monitor their children’s reactions to chili peppers and see a doctor if symptoms becomes serious.
7. Can you be allergic to peppers?
Yes, but it’s uncommon. Peppers are not one of the top food allergens. When a true pepper allergy does happen, the immune system reacts to proteins in the pepper, like profilin. This can cause itching, hives, or swelling. Many people who react to peppers actually have an intolerance or a capsaicin burn, not an allergy.
8. Can you be allergic to capsaicin itself?
Capsaicin is mainly an irritant, so it causes a burning feeling rather than a classic allergy. Still, it can trigger histamine release, which can cause itching, hives, or a runny nose. So a capsaicin reaction can look like an allergy even when the immune system is not truly involved.
9. Is it a chilli allergy or a chilli intolerance?
They are different. An allergy is an immune reaction and can cause hives, swelling, or breathing trouble. An intolerance is trouble handling the food, and it mainly causes stomach upset such as bloating, gas, and loose stools. Intolerance is far more common. A doctor can tell them apart with proper testing.
10. Why does spicy food make me itchy or break out in hives?
Spicy food can make your body release histamine. Histamine causes the itch, the flush, and the hives. This can happen even without a true allergy. If it is mild and fades soon, it is usually the spice. If your lips or throat swell, or you cannot breathe well, get help at once.
11. Can you suddenly become allergic to jalapenos or other peppers?
Yes. A pepper allergy can start at any age, even if you ate that pepper for years with no problem. If you notice new symptoms like hives or swelling after jalapenos or chillies, see an allergy doctor to check it.
12. Is bell pepper (capsicum) allergy common?
It is uncommon, but it does happen. Bell pepper is sweet and has little capsaicin, so a reaction to it is more likely a true allergy or an intolerance than a burn. Symptoms can include mouth itching, hives, or stomach upset.
13. Is black pepper allergy the same as chilli allergy?
No. Black pepper comes from a different plant than chilli and capsicum. So a black pepper reaction is separate. You can react to one and not the other. If you are unsure which spice is the problem, an allergy test can help.
14. What helps with the burning from eating or handling chillies?
For a capsaicin burn, milk or yogurt works better than water, because the fat and casein in dairy wash the capsaicin away. A little oil or sugar can help in the mouth too. For a burn on the hands from cutting chillies, wash with soap and oil, then rinse. This is for the burn only. A true allergy still needs a doctor.
41 Comments
Capsaicin Intolerance, Has caused me severe ( Migraine ) type headaches with light sensitivity and stiff / sore neck. I have been treated for migraines for years till I found that it was caused by red peppers in its many forms. We are quick to accept what we are told by the medical establishment, but none of the normal migraine protocols would work for me. There is a time delay between what we eat and when the pain would hit, so I set up an experiment on myself and ate a meal with 2 heaping table spoons of red pepper flakes in it. Approximately 3.5 hours later I had my answer with the worse headache that I have ever had, it hit the left side of my head behind my eye and not able to see, I had to be helped back into the house. After recovering and eliminating Capsaicin from my diet I am doing allot better. It is only been a few days, but I wanted to let others know if it helps stop the suffering of one person, it is worth it!!
I have the same problem!! It started after I had my first child and it has gotten progressively worse. I was treated for migraines as well. The Only thing that would help my headaches was benedryl. But, like you mentioned, sometimes it would be hours after I ate so it was hard to pinpoint. It almost always happens instantly now though and I’ve had to use the epi-pen 3 times in the last 8 years. It’s so discouraging. It’s in SO many things -Cheese Its, Miracle Whip, mayonnaise, pickles, mustards. I now seem to have issues with tomatoes and red wine. Maybe it’s just a re allergy! :-). So sorry to hear you are suffering g with same problem. I would recommend having benedryl stashed everywhere, an epi-pen and making most of your own food. Good luck.
Me too. Ate all the spicy peppers with my second babe and not too long after it is epipen for me. Even those sweet baby bell peppers are officially out of my life.
Same happens to me afer having chillies, but i daignoesed it very late ,
I live in the heart of Texas. My husband bought a bushel of roasted hatch chiles for us to work up and freeze for the next twelve months. Within several minutes of washing and chopping the chile peppers, I started coughing, choking, eyes watering, stomach cramping; a full blown asthma attack. I hadn’t eaten any and I was wearing gloves. I left the kitchen, downed Benedryl, used my inhaler and my nebulizer. I hadn’t had an asthma attack in many months; had never used my epipens which had expired. I got myself out of the kitchen and managed to survive until I could see my allergist. But I kept having reoccurring coughing episodes despite double antihistamine dosages. The allergist said It was pretty evident I was anaphalactically allergic to peppers, possibly all night shade vegetables. What was notable was that I am like people who are allergic to peanuts or shellfish–reacting to the food without ingesting it. I got a strong lecture about keeping the epipens up-to-date and near at hand, not to mention, knowing when to get my fanny to the hospital.
What is difficult is not only not eating any night chile peppers, but staying away from any proximity to chile peppers. They’re in mayo, tomato sauce, every type of salad dressing and seasoning blend, all Italian food, all Indian food, all Mexican food, half of all Chinese food, almost every canned soup, and condiment. Chile peppers include not only jalepenos and anaheims, but green, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers and paprika. After spending untold hours calling 800 numbers, I feel secure in saying that if any product has “spices”, “flavorings”, or other nonspecific listed in the fine print of ingredients, one of those will be a pepper. I just keep reacting.
Even when my family bakes pizza and I banish myself upstairs, I will start coughing and hacking and have to use the inhaler and nebulizer . My girls have tried to empty my cabinet and refrigerator of pepper products, but I’m not sure how thorough they’ve been. And I can’t go do it. I have to stay away from the stuff. What more do I have to do? At this point I just want to get over this long episode of asthma and allergic reaction. I want to feel reasonably healthy again. If my husband needs to travel for work and wants to take me along, can I fly safely? How about overseas? I’m finding out about peanut allergies, but nothing about peppers. Am I that weird?
i have an allergy to capsaicin which is in paprika and all peppers BUT bell peppers (genetic lack of ability to produce this chemical). i make my own dressings and also have eliminated anything with spices or flavorings in ingrediants. i get rashes/hives from ingesting. lately – i have been continuing to have outbreaks. i’m going to start investigating some of the nightshade plants.
I understand, I live in New Mexico and it is everywhere. I didn’t know I was allergic till I moved here. The worse thing is I work in a Hospital and my coworkers eat in our work area. So almost everyday I am sick, and they just laugh about it.
I really feel for all of you because it is so hard to avoid.
Me too! Just found out today Im allergic to poblano and serrano peppers. In fact Im still trying to return to normal, its been 20 minutes. I was using them for the first time, removing the seeds. These arent really hot, but boy what a reaction I had! Severe coughing and mucous, severe problem breathing.. Ive never had any food allergies..I also have emphysema.. right now, my hands are burning too..
Deirdre and Victor, you may have what is know as night shade sensitivity. Peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and potatoes are members of the night shade family, botanically. I would suggest doing research on night shade vegetables. There are more of us out there than anybody realize. I believe I suffered with the sensitivity for several years–lymphodema, mental confusion, fibromyalgia, joint stiffness–before developing a full blown allergy. It’s hard not to be discouraged now and then when the symptoms never seem to let up. Treating the symptoms, one by one, can disguise the sum total of those same symptoms. My naturopath/nutritionist/chiropractor ( she’s multi-degreed) has helped immeasurably .
I have and react exactly the way you do Carla- any advice? It used to only be an intolerance but now is a full blown allergy. I react like you do just when I breathe it too! Did you have to take out all nightshades? How do you heal after accidentally ingesting bell peppers?
I get a full blown all over headache and pain radiating down my neck from any Chile peppers. I can hardly move my neck. I feel nauseated and my entire head hurts. I have to stay away from anything hot!. The pain happens within hours of me eating a chili. We are our best health experts. Doctors probally would not believe me if I said chili was causing my headaches.
I have the same problem in my mouth from last 1 year..i have concern many doctors and take medicine also but still no relife…redness around lips, itching in both side of mouth..throt irritation..i am having itching up to liver..as iam a diebetic pateint this problem increase as the sugar level in my body increase..so please suggest me the treatment of this itching..
Rehana Gulrez, I suffer from an auto-immune disease called Lichen Sclerosus. Eating peppers, chillis and other nightshades makes me break out in painful blisters, so I completely avoid them. I would get yourself checked for Oral Lichen Planus, which has similar symptoms, including the severe itching.
i am 44 years old india man, so our mostly all fool cook with cilli i don’t know about cilli allergy, since my childhood i had stomach problem whole my life every day 3-4 time i need to go toilet, all other mild chilli allergy symptoms i had. my life was in hell. day by day my problem go worse, i had no idea this is happening because of cilli. by God’s help two years ago i feel maybe i am sick because of cilli so when i totaly stop to eat all kind of cilli, now i am very very health. it was a very horrible nightmare thanks God, after leave cilli, i feel much better & very happy. you can say it is happy ending.
I have been diagnosed with lichen scelrosis. I have had this for about 4 years and have tried every ointment, cream, herbal medicine and I am now having acupuncture – anything to relieve the horrendous itch in my genitalia! I love chillies and my husband has said I could be allergic, but I have dismissed this as I just cannot fathom that this would only effect my private parts. But last night had lots of chilli sauce and 4 hours later had an attack and now red raw from the itching. Could this be possible – that only this area is effected. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
Rita, I think it can affect people in different ways, so try to avoid chillies and see how you are. If I eat them after about 3 1/2 to 4 hours I will have bad stomach cramps and terrible diarrhoea which will last for up to 48 hours. I feel terrible.Too bad to work. Even the smallest amount of chilli will affect me. And chilli is in so many products you can buy from the supermarkets so I read the ingredients of everything and am very careful when I eat out. I am fine with bell peppers and all other spices, which is good because I like spicy food. Fortunately my local take away Indian food shop will wash all their pans twice before making me their food without chilli and I am fine.
Oh sister..Forget about it!! Eating salsa chli..chili sauce.. is down the drain..I have just, these last few month, returned to the salsa and chili sauce..great while it lasted..it build up to a real blow out for me..the body just goes ape.. you can probably eat minor amounts.. stipulate minor..but a lover of salsa can be facial disaster for some..me.. red rash eating,desolving your top layer of skin..blotches..it had a persistent itch in the nose years ago and figured out it was chili ulsers..so I really toned it down to almost nill..but recently went to the well (dip) too often.. bonsai. .leave it behind.. (no scratching in the assin)
I see that your post is two years old but I just came across it and wanted to reply. I developed an allergy to chilis after my boyfriend roasted several batches of them with my bath towels and threw them in the laundry with my clothes. I had a whole body hive attack that lasted 10 days, now every time I eat chilis I get hives but only on my feet. I scratch them until they are raw and no other part of my body is affected. So yes, it is possible for you to just get a reaction in one area. Everyone thinks I’m crazy and that this can’t exist but it does. I hope you have gotten some relief in the 2 years time since your post.
Wow, did he mean to do that? If so, how mean. Sorry this happened to you..
Thank you for this, I was begining to think I was odd. I’ve been told by many medical professionals that they had never heard of chili allergy, with the implication that I was making it up. At least I now know I wasnt imagining it all.
It’s real Martyn, I’m allergic to all hot peppers as well. This was offcially diagnosed in the hospital. I get extreme itching rash on my stomach area and my eczema worsens a lot when I eat it. Also, everythime I ate spicy food (which I don’t anymore, for obvious reasons) I had to run for the toilet within half an hour. I suffered from bloating, cramps and d***** for a week afterwards. Not exactly worth it.
For me this explains why I never really liked spicy food anyway, just adapted to other people’s food wishes.
I want to thank the writer of this article, I didn’t understand why I’m allergic to paprika (powder) but not to the fresh fruit (bell pepper), now I know 🙂
My allergist confirmed I am allergic to paprika, cayenne, all kinds of red chilis, and my body breaks out in horrible eczema that itches like hell. I am currently in a state of wretched itch because I ate two bags of Doritos last week. Guess what’s in Doritos, yep, bell pepper powder, paprika, etc. I am taking Hydroxyzine and using Clobetasol cream and I am still suffering. The allergy is real.
Oooh, I get mouth sores within the hour after eating any chili product, and walnuts and pecans. I am very allergic to penecillin. I may have other food allergies, and mold and dog dander. A lot of these things seem to cross over. It might be involved in some digestive problems. At least I don’t have anaphalactic reaction to foods, but I do keep Benedryl and an inhaler handy…and I live near the hospital! I use an oral steroid cream on the sores, but it’s not good to use it too often. Very little research is done on aphthous ulcers in the mouth, but I am convinced it is food sensitivities.
Charlotte, where did you find the info re cross-reactivity of chilis and walnuts/pecans? I have always been allergic to tree nuts but suddenly developed what seems to be a green chile allergy. I would love to know about the food allergy cross reactivities and ways I can try to work toward a cure.
Hi Charlotte. I empathize with you. My reaction to capsaicin is similar. If I eat it, my mouth burns for hours and ultimately blisters form and the mucosa peels off leaving the inside of my mouth raw. If used externally in an arthritis rub, my skin turns bright red and burns for hours. Washing it off doesn’t help. I do ok with small amounts of sweet paprika and bell peppers but I avoid capsaicin as much as I can.
I found this thread by searching for this very symptoms, but they’re not in this list. At least I’m not the only one.
I will stop chilli’s today😑😶😥
I’ve been suffering with an upper swollen lip for almost a year now. I am at my wits end. Have seen 3 allergist and one dermatologist. Still do not know the culprit. I am wondering if it could be chilies all though its not something I dis on a daily basis.
Wow after reading that I realise I have a strong allergy to chillies had quite a few bonnet chillies in a mince dish suffered stomach and abdominal pain extreme headaches dizzy spells couldn’t see to drive its the 4th day and I still have strong abdominal pain and fuzzy head some pain when does it go away ?
I am allergic to chilly, bell pepper, curry. As a Chinese stay in south-east Asia, 80% of food are with chilly. I always suffered soar throat and given strong antibiotic by doctor. In 2014, I happened to asking the doctor, is it allergic, then he gave me Prednisolone in stead of antibiotic, it’s cured.
I can’t eat any food with chilly pepper, even just a little bit. The allergic will cause my throat swollen, sleepy and I found that my antibody become weaker.
Anyway I got not problem with pepper (powder) or ginger.
I think I’m allergic to just dry red chillies. Two days ago, I made kimchi with the dried red chilli powder I bought from an online Korean store, after that, I had it with some rice. Three hours later I couldn’t breathe I was feeling very nauseous and started throwing up, it was terribly bad and went on for about 2 hours. My body was just rejecting everything in my stomach out. I can eat fresh green chilli but not the dried red chilli. In the past, my symptoms were just bad diarrhoea, bloating and nausea.
I am allergic to capsaicin I cannot eat anything containing any kind of paper that even means table Pepper . I recently had a fish sandwich at a restaurant that did not state there was is anything spicy on it. And I asked the server, he said absolutely not after two bites I went into anaphylactic shock. While I was in the hospital recovering I called the restaurant and they told me there was a Siracha sauce , I am now suing. Capsaicin allergies are very serious I have been hospitalized four times, I now carry an EpiPen with me.I ask every chef or preparer of my meal to make sure there is no type of pepper of any kind
What a nightmare!!!! So glad you are suing, best of luck. (I had anaphylaxis and hospitalization last year from pepper and also carry an Epipen.) I wish others would take the allergy seriously because IT IS.
You are all so right! 30 years ago I had constant severe gastrointestinal pain and had tests for liver, kidney and gall bladder functions, also a barium meal test for ulcers all came up blank. Doctors said take antacids and pain relief. These did not help much. Went to a naturopath who identified allergy to capsaicin. Within a few days of deleting all suspect foods from my diet, the pain was completely gone.
It is hard to avoid completely as almost all processed food contains some, and restaurants even with good chefs do not seem know what contains it. I later developed more obvious symptoms including blisters and swelling of lips swollen tongue eczema etc. so now have to be very careful when eating out.
I enjoy cooking food with flavour and am developing recipes using different kinds of peppercorns, sechuan pepper, ginger, mustards, horseradish, nasturtium etc. Does anyone think it would be good to publish these?
I get full blown anaphylaxis from Chili Flakes and I get severe itching/ rashes from the powder version. I didn’t find out that I had an allergy for a good year when one of my favorite dishes I use to eat (Scallops in pepper brown sauce) started making me rather ill (throwing up and stomach pretty much turning on me). Happened twice. While in the LPN program basic chip snacks that I was eating started to make me extremely overheated and nauseated. It wasn’t until my brother made me a dish called “Bang Bang Shrimp” did I put two and two together. The dish is loaded with chili flakes and it caused my throat to swell almost shut.
Having the allergy has forced me to check everything I eat. I never realized how common Chilies were in foods and it can be a real hassle to modify my diet to avoid ingesting it. I still carry an Epi-Pen just in case I forget to ask. There was once I did forget to ask when at Olive Garden and recently they changed one of my favorite soups (Zupa) to have chilies in it. Once again, my symptoms came back and I freaked out my parents because I didn’t have my Epi-Pen with me at the time.
I have found ways around the Chilies in most of my meals anymore. I’m not allergic to Capsaicin thank goodness, so I can use white pepper, bell pepper, and sweet peppers as substitutes. For those with full Capsaicin allergies, I feel for you. A little bit of spice keeps foods from being bland.
I have been allergic to chili my entire life. My mother would make a hamburger for me anytime she made chili. It was so obvious at even an early age chili and I’m out back vomiting. It takes days to get it out of my system. Nausea and headache above one eye, white as a sheet and useless for two days.
I started having trouble urinating and having bowel movements when I frequented a local Mexican restaurant, exacerbated by my love of habanero peppers when I’d make a palate on a plate and torture myself. After I quit going, I still experienced some issues, but stopped all alcohol and have since been on a paleo diet. Lately, I get joint pain and numbness in my hands, and general inflammation in my joints. I love potato salad, and eat a lot of it since I’m so restricted. The other day I got a bowl from Chipotle, which was spicier than normal. Within a half hour, my fingers were numb, and severe pain in my hands. I was fine yesterday, today I had a clean lunch with grass fed burger, kale, carrots and pickles which were home made by the restaurant–but made with hot peppers. Lo and behold, my fingers are a little numb and my muscles/joints are sore. I think I’m finding a reaction to nightshade veggies. I would be so happy if that’s what this is…I’ve been sick for a year with gastro issues, inflammation and health anxiety. Anyone else have these issues?
I’ve only recently been having allergic reactions to eating anything with chili flavour in it – and the reaction is either in or around my eyes – bad burning like a chemical burn feeling on the outside lash area top and bottom, swelling of the eyelids, or and eye half shut, or the burning is on the inside of the eye, either both eyes, or just one eye. i’ve also had my eye running like a tap along with the burning. this several HOURS after having eaten the chili flavoured food. responds to hayfever tablets which brings the pain from a 7 to a 2. so weird how something can suddenly affect you like this.
I ate chilli in some beef soup, not realising what it was till I was half way through the bowl. Woke up 3 hours later feeling like I had a block of wood in my throat. I took a week to get over it. I don’t like chilli and never have, I thought that the chef had been a bit heavy handed with ordinary pepper
Just finding out I have a capsicum allergy (habaneros & Jalapenos). Reading ingredients carefully now. Trying to avoid ingredients that say “seasoning” and “natural flavorings”. Are there any salad dressings I can buy without these ingredients. No more margarine either.
If you all have figured out any other surprising foods with capsicum, please share. Has anyone found a “stay away” list of foods to avoid?
Today I was cutting up and removing the seeds from poblano and serrano peppers. I instantly had a respiratory reaction. I had never used them in my cooking before and it was very severe. I’m still trying to return to normal and it’s been 15 minutes. I have emphysema, I know these chilis arent hot, so I really wasnt expecting this from peppers that arent hot. It was so bad, I searched for what to do but could find no answers. Im glad I could at least leave a comment here. I instantly had excessive mucous and coughing severely too.