Are skin allergies life-threatening?

On their own, skin allergies are not usually life-threatening. However, if skin allergy reactions are just a small aspect of a bigger allergic reaction, it can be fatal. For example, if a person develops hives after eating peanuts, that person could also experience severe swelling of the airways, causing them to stop breathing. Usually, though, a skin allergy alone may be a painful or irritating condition for a few days or weeks, but it isn't a life-threatening condition.