Skin Allergy

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Skin Allergy – Overview


What is a Skin Allergy? A skin allergy is when skin becomes irritated because the immune system reacted to something that is usually harmless. This is called an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction can cause rash, itching, burning, redness, bumps, hives, and swelling.

Itching, redness and swelling are common to most skin allergies. Yet there are some differences that help in the diagnosis of specific conditions.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Symptoms

Itchy, red or dry skin. It may “weep” or leak fluid that crusts over when scratched, which means that it is also infected.

In infants, eczema often appears on the face. Children are prone to have the rash at the bends of the elbow joint, wrists, behind the knees and behind the ears. Adolescents and young adults typically have the rash in the same locations as children, as well as on the hands and feet.

Patients with the faulty filaggrin gene often have hand eczema with excessive little lines on the skin of their palms.

Diagnosis

In many, the exact cause of the eczema is not clear and treatment depends on regular use of moisturizer and topical medicines to dampen down the inflammation. One such treatment is topical steroids. In children where the skin is oozing, crusting and painful, an infection that needs treatment with antibiotics may be the primary trigger.

Infants and young children with more severe eczema should be evaluated for food allergy. It’s important to see an allergist / immunologist for diagnosis and management. It is often needed to receive input from a dietitian as well.

Food allergies causing eczema are much less common in older children and adults. If you are suspected of having eczema that is caused by a food allergy, a confirmed diagnosis requires avoiding the trigger food for about four weeks with the help of a dietitian before doing a food challenge under your doctor’s supervision to confirm that the food was actually causing the flare.

Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema

Symptoms

Urticaria is itchy, red and white raised bumps or welts that range in size and can appear anywhere on the body. Angioedema often appears on the face around the eyes, cheeks or lips. This deeper layer of swelling can also occur on hands, feet, genitals, or inside the bowels or throat. In acute urticaria, the welts disappear within minutes to a few weeks. Chronic hives last for months or even years.

Diagnosis

In the majority of chronic cases, the exact cause cannot be determined. Routine testing such as general blood counts or screens are not cost-effective, nor do these tests make a difference in treatment strategies to relieve the symptoms. There are certain instances when allergy testing is helpful, especially when eating a particular food or coming in contact with a particular substance triggers symptoms of acute hives.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes in direct contact with an allergen. For instance, if you have a nickel allergy and your skin comes in contact with jewelry made with even a very small amount of nickel, you may develop red, bumpy, scaly, itchy or swollen skin at the point of contact.

Coming in contact with poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac can also cause allergic contact dermatitis. The red, itchy rash is caused by an oily coating covering these plants. The allergic reaction can come from actually touching them, or by touching clothing, pets or even gardening tools that have come in contact with the oil.

FAQs

What skin allergy looks like?

If you have red, bumpy, scaly, itchy or swollen skin, you may have a skin allergy. Urticaria (hives) are red, itchy, raised areas of the skin that can range in size and appear anywhere on your body. Angioedema is a swelling of the deeper layers of the skin that often occurs with hives.

Which foods cause skin allergy?

When it comes to food allergies, peanuts, wheat, eggs, cow’s milk, soy and shellfish are among the most common culprits. The itchiness caused by these foods and subsequent scratching can then lead to flare-ups or worsening of dermatitis symptoms.

What are the most common allergies?

  1. Pollen
  2. Mold
  3. Dust mites
  4. Medications
  5. Latex
  6. Insect stings
  7. Perfumes and household chemicals. People who are sensitive to chemical scents found in perfumes, air fresheners, room sprays, and other household chemicals may have an allergic reaction when exposed to these products.

How can you stop itching?

For temporary relief of itching, try these self-care measures:

  • Avoid items or situations that cause you to itch
  • Moisturize daily
  • Treat the scalp
  • Reduce stress or anxiety
  • Try over-the-counter oral allergy medicine
  • Use a humidifier
  • Use creams, lotions or gels that soothe and cool the skin
  • Avoid scratching

Is hot water good for eczema?

Does hot water make eczema worse? A hot shower can help relieve stress and aching muscles, but it’s not the best choice for people with eczema. Hot water can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy. This can make your skin dry and lead to worse itching and irritation

Is Aloe Vera good for itchy skin?

First and foremost, aloe vera has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. This helps it soothe the skin that it is applied on. It is a great at-home way to soothe rashes and itchy skin. To increase its soothing properties, you can keep aloe vera gel in the fridge and apply it to your face when it is cool.

Is there a blood test for allergies?

There are two general types of allergy blood tests: A total IgE test is used to measure the total amount of IgE antibodies in your blood. A specific IgE test measures how much IgE your body makes in response to a single allergen. A separate test is done for each allergen that may be causing your allergies.

What is the best vitamin for itchy skin?

Additionally, vitamin D supplements have been shown to significantly improve symptoms of skin disorders that cause dry, itchy skin, including eczema (3). What’s more, research has indicated a correlation between vitamin D and skin moisture.

Can psoriasis spread by touching?

Psoriasis causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. It can look like a rash, so you may worry that you could get it from someone else or pass it to others. But rest easy: It’s not contagious. You cannot catch the disease by touching someone who has it.

Does coconut oil work for eczema?

Coconut oil is a safe and effective natural treatment for eczema. It has antimicrobial properties, which make it effective at killing bacteria on skin. It’s also highly moisturizing and may reduce inflammation as well as discomfort.

Can I put ice on eczema?

Ice can come in handy in soothing a really bad flare-up. “Ice therapy” works by applying an ice pack to your flaring skin to numb the area, contracting your veins and cutting down blood circulation. This method helps eliminate the itching and feels wonderful on burning-hot skin.

Can I pass psoriasis to my baby?

How is psoriasis hereditary transmitted? If both parents have psoriasis then the risk of children developing psoriasis is 75% and if one parent has psoriasis, the risk of children developing the disease is 15%.

Is psoriasis a lifelong disease?

Because psoriasis is a lifelong disease, it’s understandable that you may want to stop treatment at some point. Always talk with your dermatologist before you stop treatment. Some treatments can be stopped immediately. Others need to be discontinued slowly to prevent psoriasis from worsening (rebound).

Has anyone got cured from psoriasis?

Although there is no cure, there are more effective treatments for psoriasis today than ever before. Treating psoriasis can help improve symptoms as well as lower the risk of developing other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and depression.

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