If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you are definitely not alone. When it comes to dreadful times, the phrase “allergy season” is up there with “tax season”, “finals week”, and “the yearly visit with the in laws”. Allergies affect millions of Americans every year. Although there is no way to eliminate allergies altogether, there are some things you can do to avoid some of the most common allergens.
The main allergens include pollen from trees, grass and weeds, mold, animal dander, and dust. Allergies that occur in the spring often arise from tree pollen. Allergies in the summer are often from grass and weed pollen, and allergies in the fall are often from ragweed. Mold allergies are usually worse during humid and rainy weather because mold is more common where water collects. Proteins found in the skin, saliva, and urine of furry pets such as cats and dogs are allergens. Many allergens, such as dust mites, are in dust. They live on dead skin cells and other things found in house dust.
There are some things you can do to help avoid these common allergens. To avoid pollens, it’s good to shower at bedtime in order to wash off pollen in your skin or hair. Staying indoors as much as possible on dry or windy days may also reduce your allergies. You can minimize the amount of mold in your house by frequently washing shower curtains, windows, and other places where mold may grow. Opening doors and windows and using fans can increase air movement and prevent mold. Unfortunately the only way to avoid pet dander is to give away your pets, or stay away from other people’s as much as possible. No matter how cute Rover and Trixy are, they won’t help your allergies. As for dust mites, frequently cleaning carpets and curtains, and dusting appliances and other surfaces will reduce your allergies.
Also, remember that allergies can make you more susceptible to a catching a cold. Be sure to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, avoid touching your eyes and nose, and wash your hands often.
If you are one of the many people suffering from these seasonal allergies, there are things you can do to lessen the severity of your symptoms. Follow these simple tips as best you can and the term “allergy season” won’t give you that sick feeling in your stomach anymore!
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Skin Allergies are different for every person. Someone who gets a skin allergy can get it in a confined area or over their entire body. There are even times when a person can get them on their hands and feet, making it difficult to do every day tasks. When a person gets a skin allergy, it’s called allergic contact dermatitis. The skin has a chemical reaction to the substance it has come into contact with. In these cases, you have to physically touch it to get the allergy. Some of the culprits may even surprise you.
Testing for Skin Allergies
One way to figure out what causes skin allergies is by playing a guessing game. However, there are no winners in this one. You would test products on your skin to see if have a reaction. Don’t worry, there is an easier way. Doctors will do patch testing. They take a small piece of skin (this doesn’t hurt) and then put each patch of skin in contact with the common allergens. They look to see if there is a reaction. The doctors do all the hard work for you and you don’t have to suffer.
These are some of the most common causes of skin allergies:
1. Nickel and gold. These metals are usually found in jewelry. The nickel is found in clasps or buttons. Gold is a little more common. Many pieces are made or plated with gold. If you have an allergy to either of these metals, usually a rash will break out where the metal touched your skin. Many people tend to have a reaction to costume jewelry.
2. Balsam of Peru. This fragrance is found in many lotions and perfumes. Another name for it is myroxylon pereirae. If this is the culprit of your skin allergy, check the ingredients in perfumes and lotions you use to see if this is present.
3. Neomycin sulfate. This substance is commonly found in first aid creams and ointments. Unfortunately, a doctor might prescribe a topical cream for a previous skin rash, only for the patient to find out they also have skin allergies to this substance. It can also be found in cosmetics, soap and pet food.
4. Bacitracin. This is a topical antibiotic. Some people might use it on cuts or burns.
5. Cobalt chloride. This is a real problem for some people because this is normally found in antiperspirants. However, there are other places cobalt chloride shows up such as hair dye and pieces plated in it (buttons, snaps, tools).
6. Quaternium 15. This is a preservative found in many products than women tend to use. It can be found in self tanners, shampoo, nail polish and sunscreen. Try to find products that do not use this if you have skin allergies to Quaternium 15.