Skin allergy can be defined as the over-reaction of the body to some allergens present in the environment. These present as itchy, red, scaly and swollen skin. Often skin allergy is caused by various things such as plants, animals, foods, medicines or even clothes. Allergic dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with something that it is allergic or sensitive to.
Types of skin allergies:
Skin allergy
Skin allergy can be classified into dermal allergies and systemic allergies that show up as skin rashes. Allergies that occur in the spring season are because of tree pollen, weeds and grass. At places where water tends to collect such as in shower curtains, damp basements and window moldings, molds are very common.
Causes of skin allergy:
The primary reason for causation of allergy is the oversensitive immune system, which in turn leads to a misguided immune response. The immune system in a body generally protects the body against harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses. It also reaches to agents that are otherwise harmless and do not cause a problem in most cases.
Some of the other causes of skin allergy are dust mites, cow’s milk, soya, fruit and nuts, hen eggs, fungal or mould spores in damp areas and poison ivy occurs when plant parts come in direct contact with the skin.
Symptoms of skin allergies:
Skin allergies show up with a variety of symptoms like black heads and white heads, pimples, pustules and some other skin cysts. Children with allergies get dark circles under their eyes, which are often referred to as allergic shiners.
Urticaria or hives which is another skin disorder, generally is considered as a symptom of allergy, but not every urticaria case is caused due to allergic response. Urticaria occurs mostly either due to food, drug or latex allergies. In most cases, the cause that triggers urticaria is not known.
Treatment of Skin allergies:
The most common treatment for skin allergies is the ointment preparation of cortisone. Skin allergies can also be treated by antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and other moisturising lotions. Some of the precautions to be taken are given below:
- During heavy pollination seasons, it is advisable to keep doors and windows closed.
- Use of air conditioner inside the house as well as in the car is advisable. Make sure the home is well ventilated.
- Keep your home free from indoor plants and other mildew sources.
- It would help to gargle with warm salty water in order to help reduce swelling and get relief from discomfort. You may gargle at least one time in an hour.
- Make use of insecticides that kills house-dust mites and a tannic acid solution that neutralizes the allergen of mite droppings.
Avoiding allergy is often the best treatment for skin allergy, irrespective of which kind of allergens triggers the skin allergy. Though, the most inexpensive and simplest of options are often not practiced. Most people prefer vaccinations or medications, overlooking their drawbacks.
