Food allergy is often associated with development of atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with a strong association with skin barrier gene mutations. Loss-of-function mutations in skin barrier genes increase transepidermal water loss. Also, reduction of the skin barrier can be mediated by environmental exposures. In preclinical studies of mice with skin barrier disruption, exposure to allergens on the skin induces food allergy. Exposure to food allergens on the skin with coexposure of the skin to other environmental factors induces signals in the skin for activation of food allergy, allergen-specific IgE, and oral food–induced anaphylaxis. In contrast, oral food allergen consumption before skin exposure to food allergen induces tolerance to the food allergen. However, this induction of tolerance may be blocked if skin is exposed to environmental allergens at the time of initial oral food allergen consumption. Further studies are needed to address the mechanisms of induction of food allergy by coexposure of the skin to food allergens, aeroallergens, and other environmental factors. Furthermore, clinical studies are needed to determine the effects of food allergen on skin before skin development of atopic dermatitis.

食物过敏通常与特应性皮炎的发展有关。特应性皮炎是一种与皮肤屏障基因突变密切相关的慢性炎症性皮肤病。皮肤屏障基因的功能丧失突变会增加经皮水分流失。此外，皮肤屏障的减少可以通过环境暴露来介导。在对皮肤屏障破坏的小鼠进行的临床前研究中，暴露于皮肤上的过敏原会诱发食物过敏。皮肤上的食物过敏原与皮肤同时暴露于其他环境因素会在皮肤中诱导激活食物过敏、过敏原特异性 IgE 和口服食物引起的过敏反应的信号。相反，在皮肤暴露于食物过敏原之前口服食物过敏原会诱导对食物过敏原的耐受性。然而，如果在最初口服食物过敏原时皮肤暴露于环境过敏原，这种耐受诱导可能会被阻止。需要进一步的研究来解决通过皮肤共同暴露于食物过敏原、气源性过敏原和其他环境因素来诱导食物过敏的机制。此外，需要进行临床研究以确定食物过敏原在特应性皮炎发生皮肤之前对皮肤的影响。