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The basics of skin allergies

Perhaps the most noticeable and annoying of all allergies is skin allergy, not just because they create maps and maps of little red blotches all over our bodies when they attack, but also because they leave marks when left untreated or if we fail to respond to them the right way, like frequent scratching. The most common of skin allergies include eczema, contact dermatitis and uticaria, also known as hives. People usually mistake dermatitis for eczema and assume immediately that they are one and the same. However, dermatitis is just the milder version of eczema, which is considered one of the most serious and advanced types of skin allergy. Meanwhile, contact dermatitis, true to its name, occurs when our skin comes in contact with a certain allergen that caused the outbreak. Symptoms of skin allergy usually come out within 30 minutes after the skin has been exposed. Inflammations ensue, with levels depending on the degree of contact. They include scaling, redness and blisters. Hives Hives are usually harmless. They are comprised of roundish red welts that come out in groups and are normally very itchy. Their sizes also vary, with diameters ranging from several millimeters to around a few centimeters. They are triggered by a number of factors, including insect bites, food and certain types of drugs and medications. Hives that stay for over six weeks are commonly referred to as chronic urticaria, while those that last for less than the said period are called acute urticaria. Also, while it is said that hives are harmless, their exact cause has yet to be determined, that's why it is a little difficult to prevent. Treatment for skin allergies Skin allergies, although very annoying and not always preventable, can be treated. You may use topical ointments and steroids to help relieve the itchiness and the swelling, and these are available over the counter. You don't normally need a prescription to gain access to these medicaitons, but it is still always best to consult your dermatologist instead of immediately resorting to self medication. Hydrocortisone is a known steroid medication against skin allergy. Antihistamines also work just as well and are available both in topical (like corticosteroids) and in oral form. People who are allergic to certain types of food usually take in antihistamines before they eat offending foods so that outbreaks don't occur. You can also ask your doctor about steroid injections, which include methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, prednisone, triamcinolone and betamethasone. Some antihistamines, however, are sleep inducers, like hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, so you might want to steer clear of these drugs if you want to stay awake while medicated. Recommended antihistamines include Seldane, Benadryl, Atarax and Tagamet. Almost everyone suffers from some kind of skin allergy, with varying levels. Thus, if you are suffering from skin allergy, you are not alone. Treatments and medications are available to combat them so you don't have to worry too much about major outbreaks. Just be sure to stay away from potential triggers and keep your drugs in hand. Discover how you can naturally and safely free yourself from the annoying symptoms of allergies. Sign-up to get this FREE natural allergy remedy info-kit today. http://AllergyandAsthmaTreatment.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Herrington

Identification and Treatment of Skin Allergies

Allergies can be defined as a hypersensitivity to some substance. This sensitivity can present itself in three basic ways: 1. Breathing system presentations, such as rhinitis and asthma. 2. Intestinal allergies such as diarrhea. 3. Skin allergies, such as dermatitis. Skin allergies are very common, but can also be confused with other common skin irritations, such as insect bites. It’s even harder to determine where the allergic reaction came from. When you suddenly find a red patch of skin or a rash, ask yourself: 1. Does the irritated skin cover a large part of your body or only a small patch, such as the palm of your hand? If the latter, it may be due to a contact allergy. Stay away from the suspected allergen. If the marking is broader, over a larger section or even the entire body, suspect a food allergy – something carried with the blood flow through your body. 2. Have you eaten any unusual foods; something you’ve never eaten before? Have you started taking a new prescription medicine? Street drugs? How about vitamins or other food supplements? 3. Are you using a new detergent for washing your clothes? It’s important to do this analysis as soon as you can, because it’s easy to forget what you ate or came in contact with as time moves on. You’re much more likely to hit on the source or your allergy if you think about it as soon as you notice the adverse reaction. If you’re having a mild allergic reaction you can relieve skin redness and itching with a corticosteroid combined with antihistamine cream or ointment. Here are some topical corticosteroids used in treating allergies: Betamethasone Dexmethasone Clobetasol Fluocinolene Clobetasone Desonide Flumethasone Difluocortolone Dexsoxymethasone Some natural herbs are also used for allergy relief. For skin allergies, aloe is helpful. If you’ve got an aloe vera plant, a common houseplant, just break off a leaf and rub the juice liberally over the reddened skin. It will stop the itching and relieve the redness quickly. Other prepared and packaged herbal remedies are helpful. As always, check the label to make sure they do not contain any drugs you’re trying to avoid. (And if they do, they must be classified as a drug, not an herbal remedy by law.) Most of the time skin allergies are easily relieved and not too serious to your overall health. However, you should consult your doctor in any of these situations: 1. You’ve tried a topical treatment and it did not work. You see no reduction of the redness, swelling or rash. 2. You have another more severe allergic reaction in addition to your skin allergy such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, fast heartbeat or headache. These symptoms could be precursors for the often-deadly anaphylactic shock and need to be treated by a medical professional immediately. It’s a good idea to get an allergy test today. It’s fairly simple. An allergy specialist will give you a “scratch” test where he or she will introduce very small amounts of common allergens into your skin. After about a half hour, he’ll be able to tell if you have adverse skin reactions to any of the allergens he used. These tests are not painful or harmful, but they can go a long way to keeping you healthy, since you’ll know what substances you need to avoid. Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Allergies Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell