Limit The Use Of Decongestants But Take Antihistamines
In the fight against other allergy symptoms, you may take decongestants. Decongestants bring relief to respiratory symptoms. But, they are dehydrating and can cause dry, itchy skin. Thats a terrible side effect when youre itchy to start. While taking decongestants, be sure to drink more than the recommended amount of water to keep your skin and the rest of your body hydrated.
Do take antihistamines to combat your itchy skin from seasonal allergies. Start taking your allergy medication at the first signs of symptoms and dont stop until allergy season ends. New generations of allergy medication dont cause drowsiness and are safe to take for an extended period of time.
A word of caution about discontinuing use of allergy medication: while the FDA doesnt officially recognize itching skin as a withdrawal symptom of cetirizine hydrochloride the internet is full of people that are faced with this side effect when they stop taking this allergy medication cold turkey.
Nasal Allergy Symptom : Sneezing
If youâve ever had a bout of uncontrollable sneezing, you know what a nuisance it can be. Some people have such severe sneezing episodes that they interfere with their daily life. But sneezing doesnât have to be that serious to seek relief.
If you canât avoid the allergen thatâs causing the sneezing, or if doing so doesnât help, try an over-the-counter antihistamine. Be sure to read and follow the directions on the label for any over-the-counter medicine. If that doesnât help, your doctor may prescribe a nasal steroid spray.
Types Of Skin Allergies
They come in different forms. Here are the most common kinds:
Contact dermatitis. If youâve ever gotten a rash after wearing a new ring or using a different soap, youâve probably had this condition.
Your skin touches an allergen, like nickel or a chemical in a soap, lotion, or sunscreen.
Particles in the air, such as pollen, can also trigger dermatitis when they land on the skin. Your doctor may call this âairborne contact dermatitis.â
In some cases, youâll have a reaction only after youâve been in the sun. This is sometimes called âphotoallergic contact dermatitis.â Itâs brought on by some chemicals, such as those in sunscreens, shaving lotion, and perfumes.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. They include:
- Redness
- Scaly patches
- Rashes
You usually donât get a reaction right away. It can take anywhere from a few hours to 10 days. Typically, it takes from 12 hours to 3 days.
Even with treatment, symptoms can last 2 to 4 weeks.
Learn more about contact dermatitis causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Hives. These are raised, itchy red welts or bumps. Contact dermatitis can trigger them, but allergic reactions to insect bites, medications, and foods can also bring on a reaction. Hives tend to appear right away, and they fade within a few hours or days.
Read more on the symptoms of latex allergies.
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Dealing With Skin Allergies
The American Contact Dermatitis Society is an organization dedicated to cultivating advancements in the diagnosis and care of dermatitis, which is itchy, dry skin, or a rash on swollen, reddened skin.
The ACDS has a database called CAMP . It is designed to help patients with skin allergies, also known as allergic contact dermatitis, find personal care products that are free of the ingredients that are causing their allergic reactions. Each list generated is personalized for the patient. While the list is not exhaustive, it is a solid starting point for patients to find products that can quell their allergic reactions.
Theres an app for that, too. The CAMP database is available via an app on iTunes and . Your Skin Cancer & Dermatology Institute Provider will walk you through understanding your test allergy patch results and how to use the app.
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Normal Episode Of Itchy Skin
Itchy skin is also called pruritis. There are a number of ânormalâ causes for itching, meaning the cause is not disease-related and does not result in seriously damaged skin.
The most common causes are:
- Dry skin, due to bathing in soap or bubble bath that may be too harsh and is stripping the natural oils from the skin.
- Mild allergies, which may be caused by dust certain plants and flowers nickel-containing jewelry and any sort of soap, detergent, lotion, or perfume.
- Pregnancy, due to stretching of skin or to a condition called prurigo. Prurigo causes small, itchy bumps which may be due to an autoimmune system dysfunction during pregnancy.
Menopause, due to hormonal changes that may leave the skin overly dry.
Diagnosis is made through physical examination and sometimes allergy tests.
Treatment involves bathing only with mild, hypoallergenic soap regular moisturizing with unscented lotion wearing soft, loose, non-synthetic clothing avoiding any substances that seem to provoke the itching and sometimes prescription medicated creams.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: feeling itchy or tingling all over
Symptoms that always occur with normal episode of itchy skin: feeling itchy or tingling all over
Urgency: Self-treatment
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Dust And Dander Allergies
If youve ever come home and immediately felt like your eyes were watering or itchy and your throat and chest felt congested, youve probably got an allergy to dust and dander. Dust builds up from debris from plants, soil, insect secretions, animal matter, fibers, and even sloughed off human skin cells. This layer creates a fine powder that causes an allergic response once its disturbed and becomes airborne. Dander comes from animals salvia, with a sticky protein as the culprit. It is typically associated with homes with pets, but can actually be picked up anywhere and deposited around your home while on shoes, clothing, hair, and other absorbent materials.
Do You Suffer From Cedar Rash
Jamie Jamison AdamsAsk The Expert:Does anyone else suffer from what I call Cedar rash?The minute we get close to fall and xmas season, and we start working with cedar I break out in an contact rash all over my hands and lower arms. It does not hurt but it does really burn and looks horrible
Any suggestions on how to deal with this? And yes I know not to use cedar and that rubber gloves dont workLOL Corinne
Plant Expert Reply:
You might want to wear a mask when you initially prep the cedar especially when cutting it into more manageable piece. Every time you cut the cedar, it releases oil. Sometimes just breathing the oil can cause a reaction. My mother-in-law has this problem with poison ivy. Limiting your exposure to the oils should help. If possible, it might help to prep the cedar outside.
I hope these suggestions help. Maybe others will have suggestions that will help.
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My Doughters Cedar Allergies
Recently my dog got a new bed, one that smells great and is full of cedar shavings. Lo and behold, what do you know, after my daughter played with her on the new bed, she broke out in hives. It was the cedar. She was fine with some Benadryl and well switch out the bed to a non cedar stuffed one, and chalk it up to a lesson learned. I did some research, though, and its interesting what I found.
Cedar, apparently, is one of the most allergy causing trees, pollens, and shavings around. One site pointed out that people use it to control moths, in other words, kill moths. If it kills moths, it obviously has some pretty lethal tendencies. The trees are causing quite the problems in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. It is a major source of allergies in Japan as well. There is even an active organization, People Against Cedars.
Exposure to cedar wood is documented as an occupational hazard among timber workers. The culprit is plicatic acid which can cause asthma and other respiratory complications. That can be the cause of allergies that people have to cedar shavings and cedar chests.
Animals have also been documented to have cedar allergeis. In my reading, I found that many animals like mice and gerbils who have cedar shavings in their cages develop rashes or hair loss due to the cedar shavings. When its switched to pine, the symptoms go away.
Heres another story about my daughters cedar allergy:
What Is A Pollen Allergy
Pollen is one of the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. Many people know pollen allergy as hay fever. Experts usually refer to pollen allergy as seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Each spring, summer and fall, plants release tiny pollen grains to fertilize other plants of the same species. Most of the pollens that cause allergic reactions come from trees, weeds and grasses. These plants make small, light and dry pollen grains that travel by the wind.
Grasses are the most common cause of allergy. Ragweed is a main cause of weed allergies. Other common sources of weed pollen include sagebrush, pigweed, lambs quarters and tumbleweed. Certain species of trees, including birch, cedar and oak, also produce highly allergenic pollen.
Plants fertilized by insects, like roses and some flowering trees, like cherry and pear trees, usually do not cause allergic rhinitis.
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Keep Outdoor Allergens Outdoors
Pollen and molds can hitch a ride on clothes, hair, and shoes. Keep them outside by removing shoes before you come inside. Store jackets and hoodies on hooks by the door. They are likely loaded with pollen that you dont want in the rest of the house. In addition, shower, wash your hair and change clothes when you do come inside.
Dont change clothes in the bedroom or leave pollen-coated clothes in the bedroom. Change clothes in the bathroom. The abundance of hard surfaces in a bathroom makes it easier to clean and remove pollen hitchhikers. When you spread pollen in your bedroom, you will just end up sleeping with it. Thats a bad idea.
Since pets can bring pollen and mold in on their fur, its a good idea to keep them inside as much as possible. If they do enjoy time outdoors with you, brush their fur frequently to remove pollen before it can come inside. Brush the pet outside.
Easing The Misery Of Hives
If you get hives from dust, dont scratch. Its hard not to scratch, but you can injure the skin and risk infection from MRSA or impetigo.
Oral antihistamines can reduce the itch and swelling from hives. Soaks in Epsom salt or colloidal oatmeal baths can soothe hives. Always soak in warm or cool water and pat skin dry, dont rub skin with a towel.
Calamine lotion or aloe gel can also easy the misery of hives. Dont use any topical solution with an antihistamine. These can cause allergic reactions that will just make the hives worse.
Till next time
Cheryl
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Things You May Not Know About Ragweed Pollen Allergy
Ragweed pollen allergy is a major cause of seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. Its light pollen easily spreads far and wide, triggering nasal allergies and allergic asthma in its path.
If you have a ragweed pollen allergy, it helps to know what you are up against. If you live in the U.S., you probably feel the effects of ragweed pollen in the late summer and fall. Here are some things you may not know about ragweed.
The 5 Most Common Sources Of Hives
- Allergies
An allergic reaction is the single most common cause for an outbreak of hives. It can happen to anyone at any time. Some children with allergies seemingly outgrow them, and adults can develop them almost out of nowhere. Food allergies will cause hives. Other foods that can cause hives include milk, eggs, shellfish and peanuts . An allergy to medications will also result in hives, so your doctor will ask if you have started taking any new drugs or assess whether your hives may be the result of an ongoing medicinal treatment.
Bites and stings by insects like bees, mosquitoes, or wasps can cause hives. This reaction is called papular urticaria and can result from the bites and stings of almost any insect, including fleas and bedbugs. These hives may last longer than other types of hives. Contact with animals, most commonly domestic ones like cats or dogs, can cause an allergic reaction and hives. However, the exposure to the dander, saliva, or urine of many animals can trigger a reaction.
Pollen is another common allergy, and unsurprisingly a reaction to a pollen allergy can manifest as hives. Physical exposure to or touching allergens like latex can cause hives as well. Even allergy shots can cause hives, since these shots expose you to allergens in order to strengthen your immunity.
- Stress
- Infections & Illnesses
- Exercise
- Exposure to the Elements
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Narrowing Down The Cause
One key to finding the cause of your rash is to observe how long the rash persists. A rash that keeps coming back may be related to hay fever, rather than temporary exposure to something.
Also, what time of year does the rash normally appear? If you notice youre developing recurring rashes consistently during certain seasons , it may be related to the pollens of that season. This is known as seasonal allergies.
Note that allergic reactions arent limited to the pollens in the spring. Fall allergies are common and, in some areas, trees and certain plants grow in the winter and summer that can cause skin irritation. Ragweed and grass can cause hay fever during spring and summer, the two best-known seasons for allergy problems.
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Put simply, cedar fever is an allergic reaction to cedar pollen in the air. Something allergy sufferers know too well.
Symptoms of cedar fever include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sore throat and fatigue as well as aches and pains.
Those symptoms sound like coronavirus right?
While it doesn’t actually cause fever, the inflammation and triggering of your immune system associated with allergies can raise your temperature, but not above 101° — if you have a high fever, or you lose your sense of taste or smell, you should get tested for COVID-19.
Smedley is looking forward to the rain, and she’s right to hope for precipitation, a strong north wind, as well as staying indoors and changing your air filters can help.
Over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal decongestants and nasal sprays can also help.
A map published by Texas A& M Forest Service shows where juniper trees are most prevalent. Clearly, the highest concentration is to the southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“Cedar fever is the worst west of I-35, where you have primarily juniper mixed in with oaks and some other species,” said Jonathan Motsinger, the Central Texas Operations Department Head for Texas A& M Forest Service. “And because all of those junipers are producing pollen at the same time, you’re going to get a higher concentration of pollen in the air.”
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Allergy Capital Of The World
Many places in the United States claim the title of allergy capital because people in the area suffer significant symptoms. Austin is usually rated in the top five worst places for allergies. Different geographic regions have different predominant pollens and seasons. For instance, in the Midwest, fall hayfever may be especially severe in August and September until the first freeze. In fact, most of the U.S. has fall and spring pollen seasons.
Austin is unique in having three distinct pollen seasons. In the fall, ragweed and other weeds release pollen from mid-August to early November. This season is much longer than in other parts of the country. In the spring, Oak, Ash, Elm and Pecan trees pollinate from February to early June. Grasses pollinate from March through September. The hot, dry, summer weather often kills off much of the grass, so some years there is very little pollen in July and early August.
In the winter, Mountain Cedar pollen season extends from December to February this allergy season is unique to Central Texas. Cedar pollen counts in Central Texas are the highest pollen counts of any plant anywhere in the world. Cedar allergy, referred to as cedar fever, can be intense and debilitating. On days of very high pollen counts, many cedar allergic people cant go outdoors without experiencing severe symptoms. Some people must miss work or school and cant get good control of their symptoms despite taking lots of medication.
How What You Breathe Affects Your Skin
It may seem strange that something you breathe can cause a problem with your skin, but its all related to the immune system.
Seasonal allergies are caused by windblown ragweed pollen or mold spores. These tiny bits contain proteins that your body misidentifies. When you inhale an allergen, your body doesnt see a harmless protein, it sees an evil invader.
The immune system begins strong warfare, and one of its primary weapons is histamine. Histamine affects almost all parts of your body, including the nervous and digestive systems. It causes blood vessels to swell. You can have hives or eczema or just dry, itchy skin. Thats how seasonal allergies cause your skin to itch. Now heres what to do about it.
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Each Method Of Testing Has Positives And Negatives
The main thing to keep in mind is that test results need to be interpreted side by side with the medical history of the patient.
Children of individuals who have an allergic disposition generally have a greater chance of developing allergies themselves.
Doctors learn about a particular patients allergies after going through personal and family medical records.
Based on this along with the test results, the doctors make the final diagnosis.
