Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Itchy Skin

Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Your Skin Or Scalp To Itch

When you think of hayfever, you think of watery eyes, sneezing, coughing and wheezing. Do seasonal allergies have other symptoms? Can seasonal allergies cause your skin or scalp to itch? Yes, seasonal allergies release a neurotransmitter called histamine that causes blood vessels to dilate and this can cause your skin to itch and even rashes such as hives or eczema.

Can Allergic Rhinitis Be Prevented Or Avoided

Allergic rhinitis cannot be prevented. You can help your symptoms by avoiding the things that cause your symptoms, including:

• Keeping windows closed. This is especially important during high-pollen seasons.
• Washing your hands after petting animals.
• Using dust- and mite-proof bedding and mattress covers.
• Wearing glasses outside to protect your eyes.
• Showering before bed to wash off allergens from hair and skin.

You can also avoid things that can make your symptoms worse, such as:

• Aerosol sprays.
• Wood smoke.

How Seasonal Allergies Affect Skin

Many factors can affect the health and appearance of your skin, including sleep, hormones, hygiene, diet, hydration and more. Another factor you may not suspect is at play is your seasonal allergies. Airborne allergens such as pollen can cause irritation in the skin, just as it does in the eyes, nose and throat.

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How Do I Treat My Labs Food Allergies

The symptoms mentioned above are easily treated with courses of antibiotics. But if your Lab has a food allergy, the symptoms will return when the treatment is stopped. Because theyre still being exposed to the allergen causing the symptoms.

The easiest way to treat food allergies is to feed your Lab a diet that doesnt contain the ingredient theyre allergic to. Your vet can perform allergy tests that will determine which allergens your dog reacts to.

What Are Seasonal Allergies

Allergies are chronic and occur when the immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it. This causes individuals to experience a number of reactions, ranging from mild to fatal. Allergies are unique to individuals, meaning different people suffer from a different mix of allergies. Its also possible to not suffer from allergies at all if you happen to be one of the lucky ones.

Commonly known as hay fever, seasonal allergies occur during different times of the year, like spring, summer, and fall. This is generally when plants pollinate, causing higher pollen counts in the air. They are different from normal allergies in the way that they only affect an individual at certain times of the year. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, it is important to be aware of the ways they can cause new issues for your skin as well as irritating existing conditions.

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How Is Itchy Skin Best Treated

If you get itchy skin as a result of allergies, the best thing you can do is take medication to reduce the bodily reaction. There are many medications available, called antihistamines, that can help alleviate allergy symptoms. However, if you have a dangerous reaction to an allergen, such as anaphylaxis shock, you will need other solutions that an allergist can discuss with you.

How Are Allergies Treated

Although avoiding the allergen is an important treatment approach, it usually doesnt completely end the allergic reaction.

Medications such as antihistamines , decongestants , or a combination of over-the-counter and prescription medications, are used to treat your allergy symptoms. Nasal sprays such as topical nasal steroids , cromolyn sodium, and topical nasal antihistamines also can be used to treat allergy symptoms.

Asthma medications, which reduce allergy symptoms, include:

• Inhaled bronchodilators.
• Oral anti-leukotrienes .
• Injected medications, such as omalizumab , dupilumab , reslizumab , benralizumab , or Mepolizumab .

Immunotherapy or allergy oral immunotherapy is recommended if your symptoms arent adequately controlled with a combination of avoidance measures and regular medication use. This shot has been shown to be effective in properly selected patients with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma.

Another treatment option is saline irrigation using a sinus rinse kit. These rinse kits are sold over-the-counter or can be made at home. To make your own rinse, combine one-half teaspoon non-iodinated salt with one-half teaspoon baking soda in eight ounces of distilled or boiled water. This mixture rinses out allergens and decreases the amount of inflammation they cause.

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Food Allergies And Eczema

Children with eczema are also more likely to have food allergies. They often make eczema symptoms worse for kids but not for adults. If you have eczema, eating — or just touching — certain foods can make your skin flare up. Food allergies linked to eczema may include:

• Cow’s milk and other dairy products
• Soy
• Wheat

How can you tell which foods cause flare-ups? Sometimes, the best way is to look for skin symptoms after you eat that food. Your doctor can also give you a test called a food challenge. You eat the food that you think may cause the symptoms, and your doctor watches for a reaction.

What Are The Symptoms Of Allergies

Allergy symptoms are classified as mild, moderate or severe:

• Mild reactions include local symptoms such as a rash or hives, itchiness, watery/red eyes, hay fever and runny nose. Mild reactions do not spread to other parts of your body.
• Moderate reactions include symptoms that spread to other parts of your body. Symptoms may include itchiness, hives, and/or swelling and trouble breathing.
• A severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, is a rare, life-threatening emergency in which your bodys response to the allergen is sudden and affects the whole body. Anaphylaxis may begin with severe itching of your eyes or face. Within minutes, more serious symptoms appear, including throat swelling , abdominal pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, hives and swelling . You may also have mental confusion or dizziness, since anaphylaxis may cause a drop in blood pressure.

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Tips To Prevent Flare

To manage eczema, you need to moisturize daily and take your medication as your doctor prescribed it. It also helps to avoid allergy triggers. Try these tips:

You can also ask your doctor about allergy shots. These slowly expose your body to more and more of something that triggers your allergies. Over time, these shots can stop allergy symptoms. They can also help some people with their eczema.

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Allergy Diagnosis And Treatment In Illinois

If you have allergies and notice symptoms such as the ones listed above, its best to see an allergist even if your symptoms are mild. You can get tested and find out what exactly you are allergic to so that you can avoid the allergens that are bothersome to you. In addition, you can come up with a treatment plan for when you do get exposed.

Request an appointment with Oak Brook Allergists if youre seeking relief from allergy symptoms, including itchy skin. Call 574-0460 to make an appointment. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you soon!

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What Causes Dog Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies in dogs occur when they inhale or come in contact with something that they’re sensitive to. Going a little deeper: allergies happen when the immune system becomes less tolerant of an allergen. After that, any time the immune system encounters that allergen in the environment, it goes haywire with an inflammatory response that causes all or some of the reactions mentioned above.

Seasonal allergies are brought on by factors only present during specific times of the year, such as tree and grass pollen, dust and dust mites, mold and mold mites, flea bites and fresh grass in the fall or summer.

What Are Natural Remedies To Help Relieve Allergy Symptoms For Dogs

Just like with humans, figuring out other ways to help relieve allergy symptoms for your dog can take some trial and error.

Here are a few recommendations:

• Fatty acid supplements: These can help soothe itchy and irritated skin, according to the NASC.
• Regular bathing with hypoallergenic shampoos: This can help remove possible allergens like pollen and grass that your dog may come in contact with as part of your daily routine.
• More ways to help: Some people use remedies like tea tree oil, coconut oil, fish oils or other omegas and oatmeal shampoo, according to Carvalho.

At SmartyPaws, our multifunctional health supplements include omega-3 EPA & DHA fatty acids and organic turmeric. These ingredients support a normal inflammatory response and dogs with seasonal and environmental allergies.

We also use additional omegas, including omega-3 ALA from organic chia seeds and alfalfa, to help promote healthy skin, maintain normal moisture content and support animals with sensitive skin.

In addition to providing support for dogs with seasonal and environmental allergies and sensitive skin, our SmartyPaws chews support joint, gut, immune and urinary tract health – all in one easy serving.

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How To Tell If Your Dog Has Seasonal Allergies Versus Food Allergies

It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether a dog has seasonal vs food allergies, said Carvalho. Seasonal allergies tend to be a certain time of year, historically spring or fall. However with severe changes in our weather pattern, I’m seeing a continuation of seasonal allergies in southern California.

Food allergies tend to be year round, but the sudden onset of symptoms, can make it hard to tell.

Plus, when it comes to food, even if you havent changed anything in your dogs diet, theres always the chance that your food manufacturer may have changed their formula. The new ingredients could be causing a reaction.

Signs Of Dog Seasonal Allergies

The reactions dogs have to allergens are slightly different from those of humans. Itchy skin and recurrent ear infections are the most common signs of seasonal allergies in dogs, but your pet may also experience red, swollen eyes, a clear, runny nose and fits of sneezing.

The itchiness your pet may experience can range from intense to mild, and is most likely to occur in the armpit, groin, muzzle or paw regions. Note: Dogs can scratch themselves raw. So if you notice them scratching, rubbing on carpet or furniture, chewing or licking themselves more than normal, it’s worth taking them to see a veterinarian. This behavior can lead to painful infections signs of which include unusual odor and discharge that will require treatment.

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How To Manage An Allergy

In many cases, the most effective way of managing an allergy is to avoid the allergen that causes the reaction whenever possible.

For example, if you have a food allergy, you should check a food’s ingredients list for allergens before eating it.

There are also several medicines available to help control symptoms of allergic reactions, including:

• antihistamines these can be taken when you notice the symptoms of a reaction, or before being exposed to an allergen, to stop a reaction occurring
• tablets, capsules, nasal sprays or liquids that can be used as a short-term treatment for a blocked nose
• lotions and creams, such as moisturising creams these can reduce skin redness and itchiness
• steroid medicines sprays, drops, creams, inhalers and tablets that can help reduce redness and swelling caused by an allergic reaction

For some people with very severe allergies, a treatment called immunotherapy may be recommended.

This involves being exposed to the allergen in a controlled way over a number of years so your body gets used to it and does not react to it so severely.

Diagnosis Of Seasonal Allergies

• A doctor’s evaluation

• Sometimes a skin test or an allergen-specific immunoglobulin test

The diagnosis of seasonal allergies is based on symptoms plus the circumstances in which they occurâthat is, whether they occur only during certain seasons. This information can also help doctors identify the allergen.

Typically, no testing is necessary, but occasionally, the nasal discharge is examined to see whether it contains eosinophils .

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How To Keep A Dog’s Seasonal Allergies At Bay

You’ll also want to limit your dog’s exposure to allergens. After outside playtime, use a baby wipe on their underside, paws and legs before letting them inside this can remove allergens from your dog’s skin.

Weekly baths with oatmeal shampoos can also be helpful, but make sure the water is lukewarm, as hot water can dry and irritate their skin. Dogs tend to respond well to a bath with a medicated shampoo that contains antihistamines or steroids. Prescription-strength lotions and sprays are also available.

While seasonal allergies are a thing every single year, their impact on your dog’s well-being can be reduced with proper treatment and active prevention measures. Not every approach will be right for every dog, but with a little trial and error, you can figure out how to keep seasonal allergies from slowing your pet down.

Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis

Your symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of your allergies. Symptoms can include:

• Sneezing.
• Itching .
• Runny nose.
• Pressure in the nose and cheeks.
• Ear fullness and popping.
• Watery, red, or swollen eyes.
• Dark circles under your eyes.
• Trouble smelling.
• Hives.

Allergic rhinitis can last several weeks, longer than a cold or the flu. It does not cause fever. The nasal discharge from hay fever is thin, watery, and clear. Nasal discharge from a cold or the flu tends to be thicker. Itching is common with hay fever but not with a cold or the flu. Sneezing occurs more with hay fever. You may even have severe sneeze attacks.

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Trees Grasses And Weeds Are Often To Blame

Ragweed, which grows throughout most of the U.S., produces pollen in the fall.

Ah, spring. It’s the time of year when the cold starts to wane, and trees and flowers blossom.

But if you’re one of the many people who suffer from seasonal allergies, those pretty trees and plants may make you feel worse, not better.

That’s because of pollen, a powdery substance made by trees, weeds, and grasses.

Pollen is harmless, but if you have seasonal allergies, your body mistakes the pollen for something dangerous and tries to attack it. This reaction causes symptoms like coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. You might feel like you have a cold.

What Is Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for hay fever or allergies. You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that dont cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. Your bodys overreaction to the allergens is what causes symptoms.

There are 2 forms of allergic rhinitis:

• Seasonal : Caused by an allergy to pollen and/or mold spores in the air. Pollen is the fine powder that comes from flowering plants. It can be carried through the air and is easily inhaled. Symptoms are seasonal and usually occur in spring, late summer, and fall.
• Perennial: Caused by other allergens such as dust mites, pet hair or dander, or mold. Symptoms occur year-round.

Hay fever is the most common form of allergy. Symptoms of hay fever are seasonal. You will feel worse when the pollens that affect you are at their highest levels.

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What Causes Allergic Rhinitis

You have an allergy when your body overreacts to things that dont cause problems for most people. These things are called allergens. If you have allergies, your body releases chemicals when you are exposed to an allergen. One such chemical is called histamine. Histamine is your bodys defense against the allergen. The release of histamine causes your symptoms.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen comes from flowering trees, grass, and weeds. If you are allergic to pollen, you will notice your symptoms are worse on hot, dry days when wind carries the pollen. On rainy days, pollen often is washed to the ground, which means you are less likely to breathe it.

• Allergies that occur in the spring are often due to tree pollen.
• Allergies that occur in the summer are often due to grass and weed pollen.
• Allergies that occur in the fall are often due to ragweed.

Allergens that can cause perennial allergic rhinitis include:

Foods That May Cause Itching As An Allergic Reaction

Although a wide range of conditions can cause your skin to itch, itchy skin is often a common food allergy symptom.

Food allergies are typically caused by exposure to specific proteins in foods, which the immune system identifies as invaders and produces antibodies to fight against .

Identifying potential allergens in your diet is the best way to avoid adverse symptoms of a food allergy, including itching.

Here are 8 foods that can cause itching as an allergic reaction.

3 ).

This allergy is caused by a reaction to soy protein, which is found in many soy-based products like soybeans, edamame, miso, tofu, and tempeh .

Soy allergies can cause several side effects, including atopic dermatitis, which is characterized by itching and inflammation of the skin .

It may also cause other adverse health effects, including swelling, tingling of the mouth, stomach pain, and wheezing.

Although people with a soy allergy should avoid all soy-based products, some processed ingredients like refined soy oil and soy lecithin a food additive can often be safely consumed .

summary

Soy allergies are caused by an allergic reaction to soy protein and can cause itching and inflammation of the skin, stomach pain, and wheezing.

8 ).

Among those with a peanut allergy, specific proteins found in peanuts can trigger an immune response in the body .

10 ).

Shellfish allergies are usually caused by a type of protein found in shellfish known as tropomyosin .

15 ).

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