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.
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Though the root causes are often unclear, perhaps the most prevalent acid reflux cause is a poor diet. Acid reflux occurs during digestion, when the stomach churns up acid or refluxes it into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat. So if you eat too many highly acidic foods like tomato sauces and/or fatty, fried foods, the stomach has to process an overabundance of acid. Too much acid can push back through a valve between the stomach and the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Acid reflux culprits include but are not limited to tomato based sauces, fried and fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, peppers, and caffeinated beverages.
Along the same lines as diet, overeating also causes reflux. When you overeat, the stomach can’t keep up with the demand to process all the acids. So food gets backed up, and digestive acids infiltrate the esophageal valve to cause that unpleasant burning feeling centered in the chest.
Also diet-related, another acid reflux cause is being overweight. There is a clear correlation between being overweight and a notable increase in the occurrence of acid reflux. Many believe this is because the extra weight puts more pressure on the stomach and esophagus. This pressure has been known to open the lower esophageal sphincter (esophagus valve), when the valve should be closed. This allows acid to escape into the esophagus.
Other factors that create a predisposition for acid reflux include smoking, use of alcohol, food allergies, certain medications, and lying down after meals. As you can tell, most of these factors can be overcome by practicing some behavioral modifications. In fact, in many cases of recurrent acid reflux, lifestyle changes are all that is necessary in preventing heartburn from becoming a chronic disease.
Further reading: Acid Reflux Symptoms.
Read more about what foods to avoid if you have acid reflux: Acid Reflux Diet.
More about acid reflux symptoms: What does acid reflux feel like?.
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