Healthy Tips For Better Live

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).

Transition between seasons can shake your kids’ health a bit and make them more prone to seasonal allergies. These allergic reactions vary from ragweed allergy, mites, dust, mold, and some foods. It is often very hard to keep track of allergies symptoms with children who may catch it in school or while they are playing outside.

Studies have shown that allergic reactions may be hereditary. In case both parents have allergies, there is a about an 80% chance that their children will develop allergies too. Most children show symptoms of seasonal allergies once they reach 5 years olds. Asthma is often an indicator of allergies and often start to show when they are between 1 to 3 years old.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergy

Parents can look for three kinds of symptoms when they suspect that their kids are suffering from seasonal allergy:

* Nasal – They will have stuffy or runny nose, sneeze a lot, and have itchy nose and throat. Just like allergic rhinitis.

* Eye Symptoms – There is often redness, itchiness, and watery eyes which can make your kids really uncomfortable.

* Asthma – Watch if your kids will have difficulty breathing or when you hear some wheezing or coughing.

Tree pollens, grasses, and ragweed often cause these allergic reactions. Tree pollens are very abundant in the air between April and June. Grasses like Rye, Timothy, and Orchard trigger reactions when they are mowed. Ragweed grows almost everywhere and billions of pollens can travel in the air starting mid-August.

Protect your children from seasonal allergies

Parents should always keep track of the level of pollen in your city or region. These indices can be found on the internet and are seen on TV reports.

It will be best to keep your doors and windows shut during the pollen season to prevent these allergens from entering your home.

You can also set up a play pen inside your home instead of kids spending time outdoors where they can be exposed to ragweed and other allergens. The sun can also aggravate their photosensitivity when they have ragweed allergy.

Remember to keep all surfaces clean of dust. You can get an air filter to make sure that your kids breathe clean air.

In case they still catch seasonal allergies, you can try the following to relieve them of the symptoms:

* A warm bath always helps. You can also apply warm compress to decongest their nose and sinuses.

* Encourage them to drink a lot of water throughout the day. A cup of tea with honey can also soothe their itchy throat.

* Tell your kids not to scratch their eyes since this will just worsen the condition. Try to apply cold compress to decrease inflammation or wipe them with wet cotton pads.

* A dab of petroleum jelly can help with their red or swollen nose

* Add some ginger, garlic, or pepper when you serve a bowl of soup. These are natural decongestants to clear their airways.

* You can dissolve 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of water which your kids can use to gargle with to relieve their sore throats.

Allergies can be fatal when you do not do something about it. Seek the guidance of your pediatrician if your children will need some medications for their allergies.