Are nightshades or citrus fruits a problem for you?

[DevaMajka]

Just curious how common it is for nightshades to be a problem. From googling "nightshades eczema" it seems like they are awful horrible foods that no one should eat. lol.

If nightshades or citrus are problems for you, what is the symptom from them? I've read they can cause eczema- what about digestive problems?

[kjbrown92]

For my son, he can't have potatoes, but can have the other nightshades. He was off them for about 3 years and tested him again (food challenge) about 6 months ago. Yup still a problem -- that night, and the next two nights he screamed all night with stomach pain and wet the bed (10yo). He had about 5 potato chips as his challenge, and boy did he savor them.

For citrus, he was severe to orange, moderate to lemon, and mild to lime. After being off them for a couple years, lemon and lime were added back in. I haven't tested orange yet. His are pretty much all digestive. He hasn't had eczema from anything.

[bodhitree]

DD reacts to citrus with bad sleep, so I'm guessing it causes stomach pain for her. It doesn't seem to cause eczema for her--I think her eczema is more related to dairy.

[Brees_Mama]

DD is allergic to white potatoes but not citrus. Potatoes give her a tummy ache and make her eczema flare up.

[sbgrace]

Citrus causes hives in my son and also eczema. This is IGE mediated (hence hives) but I'm thinking broader lately and that's why I'm responding. Some nightshades cause eczema but others don't. Some spices are rash/eczema and GI it seems. He's no longer positive to those spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne (nightshade) and I can't remember right now the others). I'm starting to piece together that he might have skin reactions to balsam of peru linking all of it together. Some nightshades (tomato notably), spices, and citrus fall under that unbrella which is why I mention it as I had never heard of it until a wise dermatologist diagnosed it in a friend's child who had "unexplained" severe eczema and no food allergies. Eliminated the foods and body products with balsam of peru eliminated severe eczema he had all his life. I'm amazed and I think it may be my son's issue too. Over the years I've eliminated all the foods that are related for him because of reactions and he doesn't tolerate anything but a select few soaps/lotions and, as it turns out, they don't have a balsam of peru related ingredient. That said, my son tolerates many nightshades. So, it may be just nightshade and citrus. But since you mentioned citrus and eczema I wanted to throw out the possibility.

[DevaMajka]

very interesting- I'm going to look into that.

[earthmama369]

DS is allergic to nightshades. Skin contact causes bleeding welts. Tobacco smoke causes respiratory issues. Accidental ingestion of a small amount causes a fine rash of skin-colored bumps all over his body, a red rash around his mouth, explosive diarrhea, and up to a week's worth of nighttime screaming due to stomach pains.

DS has some gut damage resulting from his birth, so we were told allergies were likely. He's also allergic to penicillin.

[DevaMajka]

Originally Posted by sbgrace 

Citrus causes hives in my son and also eczema. This is IGE mediated (hence hives) but I'm thinking broader lately and that's why I'm responding. Some nightshades cause eczema but others don't. Some spices are rash/eczema and GI it seems. He's no longer positive to those spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne (nightshade) and I can't remember right now the others). I'm starting to piece together that he might have skin reactions to balsam of peru linking all of it together. Some nightshades (tomato notably), spices, and citrus fall under that unbrella which is why I mention it as I had never heard of it until a wise dermatologist diagnosed it in a friend's child who had "unexplained" severe eczema and no food allergies. Eliminated the foods and body products with balsam of peru eliminated severe eczema he had all his life. I'm amazed and I think it may be my son's issue too. Over the years I've eliminated all the foods that are related for him because of reactions and he doesn't tolerate anything but a select few soaps/lotions and, as it turns out, they don't have a balsam of peru related ingredient. That said, my son tolerates many nightshades. So, it may be just nightshade and citrus. But since you mentioned citrus and eczema I wanted to throw out the possibility.

I looked this up briefly, and I wonder if this is MY problem. I'm sensitive to every mainstream hair care product I've tried- including baby shampoo and expensive salon shampoo. This started about 7ish years ago. For a bunch of years, I was just fine with most hfs products, but now my scalp itches even when I use Angel Baby Earth Mama baby shampoo. bah. I always thought it was the "fragrance" in hair care products, but it didn't make sense to me how I could react to *all* fragrances, kwim? This ties things together, so maybe this is it. Thanks for the idea!