Pumpkin Allergy Rash [And How to Prevent It]
One day I was out in my pumpkin patch pulling out dead flowers and training some vines on my pumpkin arbor. Later that evening I had a burning rash on my hands and face. It felt like a carpet burn. I don’t have skin allergies, so this perplexed me. Was it my pumpkin plants? Turns out it was.
And it’s not just me either. This article breaks down my and other’s experiences as well as medical advice given to me by my doctor.
Can You Be Allergic to Pumpkin
Yes, you can have a pumpkin allergy. However, my doctor said that pumpkin allergies are rare. Some people have nickel allergies and pumpkins do contain a low amount of nickel.
What happened to me and others wasn’t from eating pumpkins or carving them, but rather from being in the garden with pumpkin plants and flowers. So what could do this?
Why Does Pumpkin Make My Skin Itch
Pumpkins are part of the Cucurbitaceae family just like zucchini and cucumbers. While pumpkin allergies seem to be rare, local contact reactions occur more commonly.
These types of vegetables have a protein makeup shown to have cross-reactivity with pollens like ragweed (Advanced Allergy and Asthma Center).
Image: White prickly hairs on pumpkin vine and leaves.
Enough exposure to pumpkin protein can lead to local rash and swelling. These proteins are found in the pumpkin flesh, seeds, and pollen. I was in my garden touching the pumpkin flowers, which is probably why I had a rash form.
If you are touching these parts of the pumpkin, you can develop an itchy, burning rash. There was also an article in the New York Times about 12 years ago about a similar case (NYT). Dr. Wolffe Nadoolman identified a boy with a similar rash and attributed it to the pumpkin plant’s prickly hairs on its leaves and stems.
I’ve also heard of others developing a rash after carving pumpkins which also makes sense because you would have prolonged exposure to the flesh and seeds which also have this protein.
The good news is that everyone I spoke with agreed that cooking the pumpkin changes the protein. So most likely, even if you get a contact rash from handling pumpkins, you can still eat them. If you’re unsure though, you should always consult your doctor.
I’ve seen others post about histamine causing this reaction. Histamine does cause your skin to itch and swell, but most sources I’ve spoken with all agree that pumpkin has low histamine levels. So far, I’ve seen no evidence that makes me believe this is the primary factor for a reaction.
What Does Pumpkin Rash Look and Feel Like
Pumpkin rash doesn’t always develop immediately after you are exposed to pumpkin proteins and plants. In my case, I was in the garden working in the cool hours of the morning and my rash didn’t develop until early evening.
Image: Pumpkin rash on hand
It looks slightly red in color. Some people have described it as similar to breaking out in hives, although I’ve never experienced it that bad. It is itchy and it feels like a carpet burn or sunburn.
How to Prevent Pumpkin Rash
Pumpkin rash can be prevented by avoiding contact with certain parts of the pumpkin and plant. And no, you don’t have to rip out your pumpkins.
Use Protective Gear
This probably doesn’t surprise you, but wearing gloves, long sleeves, and pants to prevent contact with your skin will help. Dress like a farmer.
You can buy a pair of farmer’s sleeves on Amazon. They’ll cover you all the way up to your elbows. Here are the ones I bought, but you can buy them in different colors and patterns if you need to make a statement in your garden fashion.
Wash Your Hands and Arms
Anytime you work around pumpkins in the garden or carve them, wash your hands and arms up to your elbows. This will help reduce the likelihood that you’ll develop a rash later.
What to Do if You Have a Pumpkin Rash
If you’re like me, I think most of us find out the hard way. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you already have a rash and you’re looking for answers.
Aquaphor
Aquaphor works great for poison ivy and insect bites, but it also works for rashes caused by pumpkins. It will boost rash healing and minimize discomfort.
If you haven’t used it before, it’s a cream that you can gently apply to your skin. If you are unsure about whether you can use this product, always ask your doctor first. Here is the kind I use. You can buy it on Amazon.
Aloe
We grow a couple of aloe plants in our backyard for this very reason. Aloe soothes inflammation and will provide relief for mild rashes. It does have limited effectiveness and only provides temporary relief, but it does provide relief. You can also buy aloe vera or make homemade aloe vera.
Milk
Milk can’t penetrate your skin, but it does contain a lactic acid which can reduce inflammation. Also, the cold temperature of milk will soothe your rash just like it does a sunburn. Again, this is a temporary relief and I’ve found it even less effective than aloe. But if you don’t have aloe or Aquaphor on hand, chances are you have some milk in your refrigerator. You can damp a towel with it and gently dab it onto your skin.
Cole Sperry has built an extensive suburban garden at his home in Riverside, CA. He is a proponent of sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, as well as eating closer to what nature intended. Today Cole can be found in his backyard garden experiementing with new gardening techniques and buidling garden memories with his children.