Allergies to the skin: types, symptoms, ways to deal with and how to prevent

Definition

What are skin allergies?

Allergies are non-abnormal reactions of the immune system when fighting foreign compounds that are actually harmless to the body. If you experience an allergic reaction, you may experience certain symptoms, such as shortness of breath, coughing, and watery eyes.

In certain cases, allergies also cause skin reactions. Allergic reactions to the skin are quite diverse, namely skin irritation, rash, itching, redness, to swelling.

Everyone may have different causes and triggers for allergies. In addition, this one allergic reaction can also occur due to infections, exposure to chemicals, drugs, to dust.

This condition can happen to anyone, regardless of age and risk factors. However, most allergy sufferers, especially those who experience skin problems occur since childhood.

Type

What are the types of skin allergies?

Everyone may have different types of allergies and have different reactions. However, generally allergy symptoms will affect the skin condition.

If you have a less severe condition, your symptoms may include a red rash. Meanwhile, for allergy sufferers with severe enough conditions, they may experience certain skin diseases, such as the following.

Eczema (dermatitis)

Eczema or dermatitis is a condition when the skin becomes more prone to itching, irritation, and dryness. This allergic condition is quite common in children than adults. This is because the risk of an allergic reaction due to eczema is higher if you have a family history of eczema or asthma.

However, eczema symptoms, such as skin blisters and peels, can get better on their own with age.

In addition, skin diseases caused by allergic reactions are associated with asthma, food allergies, and cold allergies. There are several things that can make this skin problem worse, such as food, stress, soap, and weather.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with an allergen. Symptoms that usually appear can include a rash, blisters, burning, and itching.

For example, someone who is allergic to metals may experience an allergic reaction when wearing jewelry with the same material. In addition, this condition can also occur due to infection with staph bacteria on the skin.

Urticaria (hives)

Urticaria, aka hives, is a condition when the skin has bumps due to an allergic reaction. A lump called a cec or wheals this occurs when the immune system releases histamine into the bloodstream under the skin.

Histamine is a chemical compound produced by cells in the utbuh to trigger inflammation and an itching sensation. Apart from food, this skin disease can also be caused by allergies to insect bites.

Angiodema

If you experience swollen skin after coming into contact with an allergen, you may have angiodema. This condition is similar to hives. It's just that angiodema causes swelling under the deeper layers of the skin and doesn't cause redness or itching.

This condition usually has no definite cause, so it is likely to recur when the sufferer comes into contact with allergens.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of allergies on the skin?

Reporting from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the most common allergy symptom on the skin is a rash. In addition, there are several other signs that you are experiencing skin problems due to allergies, namely:

• rash,
• itchy,
• reddish skin,
• swelling,
• scaly or peeling skin, as well
• cracked and blistered skin.

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms listed above may vary from person to person, depending on the type of allergy you are experiencing. In fact, there are times when you may develop different symptoms when you come into contact with the same allergen.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience some of the symptoms above, you should consult a doctor. The reason is, angiodema and hives can be signs that the body is experiencing a serious allergic reaction that can cause anaphylactic shock.

Immediately consult a doctor or go to the emergency room if you experience symptoms:

• difficulty breathing,
• hives all over the body,
• there is pus or blood in the rash, or
• the rash does not improve after 2-3 weeks.

Cause

What causes skin allergies?

An allergic skin reaction occurs as a result of the immune system's response to an allergen. This allergic reaction then causes irritation, rash, swelling and itching. The cause of allergies also depends on the condition and the allergen.

However, there are several things that can trigger itching and irritation on the skin due to allergies, such as:

• latex,
• cold or hot temperature,
• the use of certain detergents or body wash,
• metal or jewelry made of nickel,
• certain chemicals,
• pet hair,
• insect bites,
• cosmetics and skin care products,
• sun allergy,
• water,
• food.

If you experience the allergy symptoms mentioned even though you don't have a history of allergies to anything, it's best to do an allergy test.

This is because some people may have a trigger that is clearly visible, but not a few who require special tests to diagnose this condition.

Diagnosis

How to diagnose this condition?

Many allergy sufferers do not seek treatment because they feel they can be cured with over-the-counter drugs or ointments. In fact, allergy sufferers cannot fully recover and require direct treatment from a doctor to control symptoms and prevent recurrences.

Therefore, when you experience symptoms in the form of a rash, irritation, or swollen skin, consult a doctor immediately.

During the exam, your doctor may check your eyes, nose, throat and chest for signs of an allergy. After that, your doctor may also recommend that you undergo a number of allergy tests, such as:

Skin prick test (skin prick test)

This prick test or skin scraping test aims to simultaneously check for allergies to 40 different allergens. Generally, a skin prick test is done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, to dust and food.

The doctor or nurse will usually prick your skin with a needle, but it doesn't penetrate the surface of the skin. If your skin shows a rash, redness, or feels itchy within 15 minutes, it means you may have a specific allergy.

However, there are times when you experience irritation due to things that are not related to allergies. Therefore, you may need other tests to confirm this problem.

Skin patch test (skin patch test)

You may also be encouraged to do so skin patch test . This skin allergy test uses the help of special patches or patches. This aims to see if a substance can cause skin irritation, such as contact dermatitis.

In certain cases, the doctor will fill a patch with a certain amount of allergen extract before applying it to your skin.

Injection test

Unlike the skin prick test, this one is done by injecting a small amount of allergen extract into your arm. After 15 minutes the extract is injected, the doctor will check for symptoms of an allergic reaction.

The skin injection test is usually recommended for those suspected of having an allergy to insect bites or drugs.

Blood test (IgE)

Blood samples taken from patients suspected of having certain allergies will be sent to the laboratory for examination. Then, the officer will insert the allergen into the blood and analyze IgE, which is the antibody made by the blood to attack the allergen.

Unfortunately, this one allergy check is not very reliable because it often indicates the presence of an allergy, but in reality it doesn't.

Direct contact with allergens

While in the examination room, the doctor may ask you to inhale or eat a small amount of the substance that is suspected to be an allergen. This way, your doctor can see if your skin is showing allergy symptoms.

This examination is usually done to diagnose an allergic reaction to certain foods or drugs.

Medicine and medication

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat skin allergies?

Actually, there is no medicine that can cure allergies, especially on the skin. One of the most effective ways to treat skin allergies is to avoid the triggers.

Meanwhile, medications and treatments recommended by doctors usually aim to treat allergy symptoms and reduce their severity. Here are some medications and treatments that are used to treat skin allergies.

Anti-inflammatory corticosteroid cream

Topical moisturizers and ointments, such as corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, are used to reduce the level of inflammation in the skin.

Antihistamines

Allergy sufferers who experience skin problems in the form of angiodema may be given antihistamines by a doctor. The use of antihistamines aims to stop recurring allergy symptoms.

Antibiotics

If your skin allergy is triggered by a bacterial infection and causes symptoms of hard, painful skin, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. However, during the use of these antibiotics you are usually not recommended to take oral steroids because they can cause serious side effects.

If you have certain health conditions, such as hypertension, don't forget to tell your doctor. This is done to prevent drug interactions that can occur when taking skin allergy medications.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies for treating food allergies?

In addition to getting medications and treatments recommended by doctors, you also need to take proper self-care measures to prevent skin allergies.

The home remedies listed below also work to treat the symptoms that appear and reduce the risk of recurrence.

• Avoid allergy triggers.
• Keep skin moisturized by using a moisturizer.
• Do not scratch the itchy skin area as it can cause infection.
• Use care products, such as a special soap for allergy sufferers.
• Apply a cold cloth to the itchy area to make it feel cooler.
• Reduce the habit of bathing with hot water.
• Choose cotton underwear to reduce the risk of irritation.

If you have further questions, consult your doctor to make it easier for you to find the right solution.