Israeli study finds skin contact with allergenic foods poses minimal severe risk for children

A multi‑center study led by Dr. Idit Lachover‑Roth at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa examined the risk of allergic reactions when common food allergens contact the skin of children. The trial involved 293 participants aged 1‑18, including 192 children with confirmed food allergies and 101 controls. Researchers applied foods such as milk, peanut, egg, sesame and various nuts to the forearm skin for 15 minutes and monitored responses.

Overall, 83.7% of exposures produced no reaction. About 15% caused only mild local symptoms like redness or slight swelling, and three children experienced a broader reaction on the arm that resolved after antihistamine treatment. No cases of anaphylaxis or systemic allergic reactions were observed. The authors conclude that intact‑skin contact with allergenic foods carries an almost negligible risk of severe reactions, offering reassurance to families who worry about accidental skin contact. Standard precautions—avoiding ingestion of allergens, carrying prescribed epinephrine auto‑injectors, and washing skin with water after contact—remain recommended.