Healthy Tips For Better Live

Common causes for skin allergies are : Jewelry metals such as Nickel (found in belts, coins), gold, various substances used in cosmetic products (fragrance mix, Quaternium 15, Formaldehyde, Ethylene diamine, etc), rubber (gloves, shoes), some plants, etc. Skin allergies can also be caused by food intolerance or food allergy – symptoms may include rashes or hives and may last from one minute to hours or days. Finally, Skin allergy may be due to dust mites, various air borne particles such as pollen, house dust, etc

Allergy skin testing is a safe and simple procedure that can provide useful information about your allergic sensitivities.

Term Eczema is broadly used in many persistent skin conditions which cause dryness and recurring skin rashes (The term eczema is sometimes interchanged with another skin allergy condition called dermatitis. Eczema is acute dermatitis)

Rosacea is a common skin disorder and can affect people of any age (usually starts in the 30s and 40s), It begins as erythema (flushing and redness) on the central face and across the cheeks, nose, or forehead but can also less commonly affect the neck and chest.

Urticaria (or hives) is a skin condition, commonly caused by an allergic reaction, that is characterized by raised red skin welts.

Urticaria symptoms : red, itchy, swollen area of skin that often appers in circular, raised welts in clusters (Hives can vary in size and usually affects the throat, arms and legs). Hives are usually caused by adverse reaction to medication, foods (e.g. peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish) insect bites or other irritants. When the rash lasts less than 6 weeks it’s called acute urticaria. When the rash lasts more than 6 weeks it’s referred to as chronic urticaria.

Skin Allergies

Red, bumpy, scaly, itchy, swollen skin….any of these symptoms can signify an allergic skin condition.

These skin problems can be caused by a range of different things: animals, plants, medicines, foods, jewelery or even your clothes.

Generally these attacks that are brought on by the unfortunate intersection of allergies and skin rashes fall into one of two categories: dermal allergies and systemic allergies that present as skin rashes.

What are the most common allergens?

Pollen from trees, grass and weeds. Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are often due to tree pollen.

Mold. Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings and damp basements.

Causes Skin Allergies

Dust mites, cockroaches, molds and animal dander, are examples of year-around allergens.

Tree, grass and ragweed pollens are primarily seasonal outdoor allergens. Seasonal pollens depend on wind for cross-pollination. Plants that depend on insect pollination, such as goldenrod and dandelions, do not usually cause allergic rhinitis.

Allergy is caused by an oversensitive immune system, which leads to a misdirected immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.

Grass and tree pollens

Dust mites (living in and feeding on house dust)

Food (cow’s milk, hen eggs, wheat, soya, seafood, fruit and nuts)

Fungal or mould spores (in the bathroom and other damp areas)

Poison ivy is the classic example of acute ACD in North America. ACD from poison ivy is characterized by linear streaks of acute dermatitis that develop where plant parts have been in direct contact with the skin.

Symptoms Skin Allergies

Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and some skin cysts are markers of acne. Get up to speed on acne symptoms

Allergic shiners – the dark circles children with allergies often get under their eyes

An allergic salute common in children – the upward tilt of the nose with a crease on top, caused by the child’s continual upward swiping at an itchy nose.

Another skin condition, urticaria (hives), is often considered a symptom of allergies, but not all urticaria is caused by an allergic response. Allergic urticaria is often related to drug, food, or latex allergies, but many times it is not known what triggers the urticaria.

wheezing, noisy breathing or shortness of breath

rash or redness of the skin

loss of consciousness

Treatment Skin Allergies

Antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlortrimeton, or loratadine (Clari tin, Clari tin RediTabs, Al avert); and moisturizing lotions.

Keep windows and doors closed during heavy pollination seasons.

Use the air conditioner in the house and car.

Rid the home of indoor plants and other sources of mildew.

Gargle with warm salt water to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort:

Gargle at least once each hour with 1 tsp (5 g) of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz of warm water.

Use acaricide (a chemical that kills house-dust mites) or a tannic acid solution (solution that neutralizes the allergen in mite droppings).

Many people do not think that young children can have allergies as doctors at one time believed since the nasal cavities are not completely developed then allergy problems should not exist.

Today, we now know allergic rhinitis is one of the most chronic childhood diseases. The main reason some children have allergies and some do not, comes down to heredity. If only one parent has allergies their children have a 30% to 50% percent chance of developing allergies and if cases where both parents have allergies the percentage goes up to 60% to 80%.

The most common allergy seen in both infants and children is an allergy to cows milk protein. This usually happens during the first year. Before a child can develop an allergy, he or she must first be exposed to a substance that may later be considered an allergen.

Besides food, some allergies that children may have include indoor allergens such as molds, household dust mites, and pets, outdoor allergens include weeds, tree pollen, and grasses.

If you think that your child may have allergies, then there are some physical symptoms that might help you make an educated decision prior to visiting your doctor.

Symptoms of food allergies in infants can cause your little one to be colicky, vomit, have diarrhea, rashes, eczema, cry more than they should, and have cold like respiratory congestion.

Physical symptoms that may show that your child has an allergy include bluish/brownish discoloration around both eyes, puffiness under the eyes and the eyes may look red and irritated, and the ears and cheeks may appear flushed. Your little one may not be able to explain to you how they feel but you may notice them breathing through their mouth, rubbing their noise, sniffling, sneezing, and have congestion that may make it hard for them to breath.

If you notice that your child is always complaining of a sore throat, has nasal congestion quite a bit and has had to be treated for chronic ear infections you may want to ask your doctor is your little one could be suffering from allergies since these also accompany allergies.

Remember, allergies can cause excess mucus secretions, this causes swelling of the nasal cavity and breathing can be difficult when your child lies down. It can be so bad that he or she may gasp for breath, cough or awaken in the middle of the night unable to breathe properly. If disturbed sleep does occur from allergies, it can result in sleep apnea.

Every year millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergy. However, a certain percentage of those who suffer from seasonal allergies dismiss it as chronic cold. To better understand this, we need to define and differentiate it from the common cold.  

Unlike colds that occur during winter or usually when there is a sudden change in temperature, allergies are caused by allergens. This causes an allergic reaction on the bodily function of a human sensitive to that particular allergen which is not experienced by the average individual.     

Allergic rhinitis can be classified as perennial and seasonal.  Perennial allergies happen any time of the year as long as the individual is exposed to the allergen such as house dust mites and pet dander.  Seasonal allergies on the other hand happen at the same time every year or during particular seasons, hence the term. These are caused by pollens of flowering plants which are transported thru the air during the process of pollination.  

When a person has colds, he starts to sneeze then later begins to have runny and congested nose. Sneezing is less common after the initial phase. If one has allergies, symptoms happen at the same time. Sneezing is more frequent coupled with runny nose and watery eyes. Itching of the nose and eyes are particularly bothersome in allergies. In several cases though, this develops into allergic rhinitis and asthma. And unlike colds that usually last from 7 to 10 days, allergies continue until the person is no longer exposed to the allergen.  

Ragweed allergy, also known as fall allergy or hay fever, is the most common seasonal allergy. This occurs from mid August until October. About 75% of allergic individuals develop become allergic to ragweed pollen.  Ragweed thrives in vacant lots and roadsides. Studies also mentioned that that most of those allergic to ragweed also develop allergic reactions to other pollens. Thus it is not surprising that they develop allergic symptoms during spring and summer when pollen grains from flowering trees and grasses are present in the air.   

The nasal discharge of people who have colds is usually yellowish which means that it is caused by an infection. Sometimes colds are also accompanied by fever. Those who suffer from seasonal allergies do not usually have fever, and since it is not caused by any viral or bacterial infection, the nasal discharge is clear and watery.  

Whether the sickness is caused by a cold or is a sesonal allergy, it still takes a toll on one’s health. In both cases there is a loss in appetite and sleeping problems also occur that disrupts how a person conducts his normal activities. Prevention is still the cure. Proper information too helps in the diagnosis of the ailment so that the appropriate medication can be taken.

When it comes to allergies there are all kinds of cause and all kinds of symptoms. Do you suffer from a single allergy symptom? Or many symptoms? There are some common symptoms seen among most:

1. Sneezing with either a runny nose or clogged nose

2. Coughing

3. Postnasal drip

4. Itchy eyes and/or nose

5. Sore throat or itchy throat

6. Watery eyes

7. Conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the membrane the lines the eyelid which causes swelling of the eyes.

You need to know what the most common airborne allergens are and find out the main allergy symptom or symptoms.

1. Pollen Allergy – this is an allergy that strikes every spring, summer, and fall as tine particles are released from the various trees, weeds, and grasses. These particles are pollen and the main allergy symptom they cause is hay fever. Pollen is the most common allergy out there. With a host of people suffering at different levels. There are many excellent natural products that can help you a lot. If you can determine what is causing your allergy you will be in much better shape. It is the makeup of the pollen that causes the allergy symptom known as hay fever.

2. Molds – Mold spores can pop up anywhere and dealing with it requires that you get down and dirty. It will take some elbow grease and some persistence. If there is mold it can result in an ugly allergy symptom that affects the respiratory system. Mold will grow many places.

If mold is a problem you need to lower the humidity in the house and add fans for ventilation. Remove any visible mold. To clean mold use a product like Captan’s Powder or Orthocine.

3. Dust Mites – you might be surprised to discover that dust mites can produce an allergy symptom like asthma. Dust mites are a microscopic organism that lives in the dust. They are not a single substance. Instead they are a combination of fiber, fabrics, animal dander, food particles, and the list goes on and on. These little creatures are virtually impossible to get rid of so you will want to control your allergy symptom. Of course using hepa filters and dusting and vacuuming regularly will really help.

4. Animals – Pets are one of the most common reasons for developing an allergy symptom like runny watery eyes. Of course there are many different allergies that can be caused by the dander from your pet. There is actually a higher rate of allergies with cats. Pet allergies can actually take up to two years to develop. The allergy symptom can be one or many and it can be no more than an annoyance through to very serious

Whatever your allergy symptom trying to discover the cause is worth your effort because you may be able to eliminate the cause or you may be able to find a natural product that can help you.

An allergy symptom is your clue that your immune system is malfunctioning. It’s time you worked to straighten it out with herbal remedies..