Have you ever eaten something or used a certain product and felt your lips become swollen or experienced a tingling sensation? If so, this may be a sign of an allergy.

What is an allergy?

An allergy occurs when the body reacts to a particular substance in an adverse manner. The symptoms you experience when you are allergic to something are caused by the reaction of the immune system; this system is the body’s defence mechanism and when you have an allergy, the system mistakes the trigger from something harmful and this brings about a reaction. During the reaction, certain chemicals, including histamine, are released and this causes you to suffer symptoms. The most common symptoms include itchiness and irritation of the eyes, nose and skin, skin rashes, a tingling sensation and swelling; in severe cases, when a person has a very serious reaction to something, they may develop breathing problems.

The most common examples of allergies include dust and animal fur allergies, allergies to grass and pollen, which is known as hay fever and food allergies.

Allergies and the mouth

It is fairly common for people to experience mild allergic symptoms when they eat certain foods. Some people have very severe food allergies, in which case, they must avoid these foods and foods that contain traces of them completely, while others only have minor allergies. The most common foods to cause tingling and swelling in the lips are fruits and some types of vegetable. Tomatoes can often cause the lips to tingle and this may also be the case when you eat tomato-based foods, such as sauces and soups.

In cases where allergic symptoms are mild, there is usually no need to seek treatment; however, if your allergy has an impact on day to day life or you have more severe symptoms, it is a good idea to seek medical attention.