There are different types of skin allergies and one of them is called an “allergic reaction”. This happens when you have a certain type of allergy to a particular substance. The most common types of allergies are to food, drugs, plants, animals, and chemicals. Allergies are a problem for many people and can affect their quality of life in many ways.
Allergies can affect your skin, eyes, nose, throat, ears, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and heart. They can also affect your blood vessels and nerves.
Symptoms can include a sudden rush of heat or cold feeling, swelling, itching, aching, redness, burning, a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, stuffiness, sore throat, hives, or even difficulty breathing. At times you may also get an upset stomach, diarrhea or vomiting.
Some people may experience a rash, while others may develop eczema, or hives. Here are a few causes of Skin Allergies:
* Food
* Medications
* Plants
* Animals
* Chemicals
* Inorganic substances
* Organic substances
When you have an allergic reaction you may feel as though you are coming down with a cold, flu or some other infection. You may feel like you are having a bad case of the sniffles, or feel as if you have a sinus infection. However, all that you are experiencing is an allergic reaction.
You may have been exposed to something that triggers that allergic reaction. If you are not sure what is causing it, you may want to consult your doctor. He or she may suggest a few tests to determine the causes. These tests may include:
* Skin prick test
* Patch test
* RAST (radio allergy sorbent) test
* Serum test
In addition to testing for allergies, your doctor may also recommend:
* An elimination diet
* Prescription medications
* Natural remedies
* Homeopathic remedies
* OTC (over the counter) medications
* Immunotherapy
* Surgery
* Other treatments
An elimination diet is a special diet that will help you determine which foods are causing your allergies. It involves eating only certain foods for a short period of time and then eliminating them from your diet. When you eliminate a food, you will see if the symptoms you are experiencing go away. If they do not, you will need to identify the food that is causing your allergy. This can be done through an elimination diet.
Prescription medications are used to treat allergies. You may be prescribed a pill to take daily or a cream or ointment to apply to your skin. If you are allergic to aspirin, you may need to be on a medication that prevents you from getting an aspirin allergy.
Natural remedies are substances that you can use to help control allergies. You may need to consult with your doctor before using natural remedies.
Homeopathic remedies are substances that are derived from plants, animals, minerals and chemicals. They are used to treat allergies and other conditions.
OTC (over the counter) medications are substances that are sold without a prescription. You can purchase them at your local pharmacy. Some of these medications may be used to treat allergies.
Immunotherapy is a treatment for allergies. It involves exposing yourself to small amounts of the substance that you are allergic to. This exposure causes your body to build up antibodies to fight against the allergen.
Surgery is used to remove the source of the allergy. This includes removing the tissue that is causing the allergy or removing the organ that is affected by the allergy.
Other treatments for skin allergies include:
* Acupuncture
* Aromatherapy
* Biofeedback
* Chiropractic care
* Massage therapy
* Nutrition counseling
* Relaxation techniques
* Yoga
* Herbal medicine
* Meditation
* Hypnosis
* Hypnotherapy
* Exercise
* Massage therapy
