How To Calm Down Allergies

Avoid This One Drink To Help Overcome Your Ragweed Allergy Symptoms

By Kissairis Munoz

• Ragweed Pollen & Climate Change

Living with a ragweed allergy can make life absolutely miserable for a good chunk of the year. The worst part? The most intense ragweed allergy symptoms seem to hit right when you should be enjoying the best of what the warmer months have to offer. When youre dealing with ragweed allergies, poolside relaxation, vacationing by the ocean, hiking by a meadow or mountain and;long hours in the garden are often accompanied by seasonal allergy symptoms like a scratchy throat, an itchy feeling on the inside of your ears, itchy, watery, swollen eyes, a runny nose .

Youre not alone in this warm-season malady, though. A ragweed allergy, also commonly referred to as hay fever, affects about 10 to 20 percent of the American population. And get this: 75 percent;of people dealing with seasonal allergies are allergic to ragweed, making it;a most dreaded plant in yards and gardens across the country.

Back to ragweed: With a capability to grow in all sorts of conditions, ragweed inflicts its allergy agenda in all 50 states. Just one plant;is capable of producing about one;billion grains of pollen in single;season. Research shows just 5 to 20 pollen grains per cubic meter can trigger ragweed allergy symptoms. To put that into perspective, ragweed pollen grain concentrations readily hit 200 during prime allergy season in the midwestern U.S.

How To Avoid Hair Dye Allergies

While most hair dye allergy symptoms can be easily treated, avoiding them is the best thing to do. Hair dye allergies can be avoided by you checking if you are allergic to the hair dye before applying it on your hair. You can do this with a patch Test.

What is a Patch Test?

A patch test is a procedure used to determine whether a product causes allergic reactions of a personâs skin.

How To Do A Patch Test

Patch tests involve applying patches with the dye on non-sensitive areas of the skin. To do this, simply dab a small number of dye solutions on your back or inner elbow or behind your ear. Leave it to dry and watch out for any reactions.

If you notice any burning, stinging, swelling, itching or redness in the area, then youâre allergic to PPD.

In some cases, the allergic reaction could be delayed, so you may have to wear the patches for more than 48 hours. If you donât notice any reactions by then, you can go ahead and use the dye on your hair.

Allergy Clinic

You can get your patch test done at an allergy clinic. The only difference between DIY and getting it done at the clinic is that you will be told which chemicals youâre sensitive to at the clinic. This will help guide you to make the right choices when picking hair dyes.

How To Identify An Allergic Reaction

As SELF explained previously, there are actually two types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. If something is causing irritant contact dermatitiscommonly referred to as just “irritation”it’s affecting the stratum corneum, the protective top layer of skin that keeps things like irritants and allergens out.

But if a product leaves you with allergic contact dermatitis, it’s causing an allergic response involving cells in your skin that are part of your immune system, Jennifer Mancuso, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Michigan, tells SELF.

In general, “how look and feel is actually very similar,”Nada Elbuluk, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology and director of the Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Disorders Clinic at USC Keck School of Medicine, tells SELF. Both types of contact dermatitis can cause symptoms such as burning, stinging, itchiness, scaling, flaking, and redness. But there may be some differences between them, the American Academy of Dermatology explains.

But if your contact dermatitis stems from an allergy, your symptoms are likely to be more severe, including intense burning, itching, excessive dryness, and a red rash that often spreads beyond the area where the product was applied, Dr. Ogunleye says. You could also develop hives, a type of raised and itchy rash associated with allergic reactions.

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What Can You Do To Relieve Itching Redness Or A Rash

Wash the area with mild soap and lukewarm water. Apply hydrocortisone cream or lotion.;Calamine lotion and cool compresses may also bring relief.

If you know whats causing the reaction, stop using the product or wearing the item. Take off makeup or earrings if theyre the cause.

If youre allergic to poison ivy, sumac or oak and have been exposed, wash clothing and other items that may have the irritant on them.

If your itchiness is severe, if your rash doesnt go away, or if you see signs of infection, call your doctor.

Alcohol And Apple Cider Vinegar

In order to destroy bacterial infection that may cause clogged ears, you can consider using a combination of apple cider vinegar and alcohol.

How to use:

You mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and alcohol

Then, you lie down on a side and then use a dropper to place several drops of this solution in your affected ear.

To prevent this solution from spilling out, you place a cotton ball in your ear and remember not to raise the head.

Take a rest for 5-10 minutes to let the solution do its work

Then, you remove the earwax by using an ear bud.

In case your other ear is also clogged, you should repeat this process with it.

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Do Hair Dye Ingredients Cause Allergies

We use hair color products to make our hair look trendy and lustrous. But these products may contain chemical ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction .

The primary ingredient in these products that causes this reaction is paraphenylenediamine . This is usually used in printer ink and temporary tattoo ink. Packaged hair dye is usually sold with an oxidizer that partially oxidizes PPD. This effect is likely to cause an allergy.

Along with PPD, another chemical compound called para toluenediamine is added to hair dye formulations. Though PTD could be milder than PPD, it can cause allergies.

Here are the signs and symptoms of such allergies.

What Causes Hair Dye Allergies

Hair dyes contain several chemicals that could irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions. Most hair dye allergies are due to paraphenylenediamine , an ingredient present in many hair dyes.

When mixed with hair dyes, PPD becomes partially oxidized making it more likely to cause an allergic reaction to people with PPD-sensitivity.

While PPD is the main cause of allergies, it is not the only allergen to watch out for. Another chemical compound called para toluenediamine .

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Treating Allergies On The Skin

For allergic reactions that cause skin symptoms, including those associated with allergens found in animal saliva, poisonous plants, drugs, chemicals and metals, additional treatment options include:

• Topical corticosteroid creams or tablets. Corticosteroids contain steroids that reduce inflammation and itching. Mild forms of these creams can be found online, and a doctor can prescribe stronger versions.
• Moisturizing creams. Emollient creams with soothing ingredients, such as calamine can treat skin reactions.
• Bite or sting medication. Medication targeted to reduce allergic reactions to insect bites or stings have a similar effect to other allergy medications.
• Ice pack. Applying an ice pack wrapped in cloth to the area for 10- to 15-minute intervals can reduce inflammation.

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Consider Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar;is purported to boost the immune;system, help break up mucus, and support lymphatic drainage. Experts recommend mixing one to two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and lemon juice three times a day to relieve allergy symptoms.;These tips;on how best to use apple cider vinegar will provide additional guidance.;

How To Calm Down Allergy To Hair Dye

To relieve mild reactions,

First, wash off the dye with warm water and mild shampoo. Next, apply moisturizers and steroid creams to the affected area to reduce inflammation.

These creams will help deal with issues like itching, swelling, and irritation. In cases, where the symptoms are severe, it is best to report to your doctor for immediate treatment.

Some people may develop a rare severe reaction which will cause anaphylaxis, a rare medical condition characterized by swelling in the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing and fainting.

In such cases, immediate medical help should be sought as anaphylaxis can be fatal.

Other Ways To Treat Hair Dye Allergies

• Another way to get treat hair allergy symptoms is to use a solution of potassium permanganate. Applying a solution of potassium permanganate to the affected area will fully oxidize PPD. PPD causes allergic reaction due to its partially oxidized state, when it is fully oxidized, it is completely safe to use.
• Washing hair with shampoos containing topical corticosteroids
• Taking an oral antihistamine to help reduce irritation, itching, and inflammation.

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How To Stop Attacking Yourself: 9 Steps To Heal Autoimmune Disease

INFLAMMATION IS A HOT TOPIC IN MEDICINE. It appears connected to almost every known chronic disease from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia, and even depression.

Other inflammatory diseases such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, and autoimmune disease are increasing at dramatic rates. As physicians we are trained to shut off inflammation with aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil or Motrin, steroids, and increasingly more powerful immune suppressing medication with serious side effects.

But we are not trained to find and treat the underlying causes of inflammation in chronic disease. Hidden allergens, infections, environmental toxins, an inflammatory diet, and stress are the real causes of these inflammatory conditions.

Autoimmune diseases, specifically, now affect 24 million people and include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and more.

These are often addressed by powerful immune suppressing medication and not by addressing the cause. Thats like taking a lot of aspirin while you are standing on a tack. The treatment is not more aspirin or a strong immune suppressant, but removing the tack.

It you want to cool off inflammation in the body, you must find the source. Treat the fire, not the smoke. In medicine we are mostly taught to diagnose disease by symptoms, NOT by their underlying cause.

Autoimmunity: What it is and How it Occurs

What about the fatigue? I asked.

Dont Wear Your Contacts

If you are prone to allergy-related eye irritation, stop wearing your contacts for the first month or so of spring weather. While contacts do not cause allergy symptoms, they can aggravate any symptoms that do appear.

To prepare for switching to full-time glasses use, you may want to schedule an eye exam. This exam presents a good opportunity for you to check that your glasses prescription is current and to make any necessary updates to maintain your comfort and vision quality.

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Ragweed Pollen & Climate Change

Its important to understand that;ragweed allergy season isnt the same as it was several decades ago, though. In fact, they are becoming more ubiquitous just check out this image from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:

27 days

Science shows us that climate change;is one of the reasons were seeing extended allergy seasons and higher pollen counts. With changing;climates and temperatures shifts, allergens are able to creep into areas they didnt previously occupy. As a result, people living in areas where ragweed pollen wasnt much of a problem before;are now finding themselves fighting allergies.

Additionally, because more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere actually nourishes plants, ragweed plants are now growing bigger and producing more pollen than ever before .

And if you think allergies are mainly in rural areas, think again. Ragweed actually thrives in urban and suburban environments. Temperatures tend to be higher in these places because buildings and pavement heat and then re-radiate it more slowly back than open spaces.

Final Thoughts;

Living with a ragweed allergy, also commonly known as hay fever, can be miserable. Often beginning in mid-July and lasting into November in the U.S., ragweed allergy season is actually becoming more intense and longer due to climate change. Symptoms include running nose, itchy, watery, swollen eyes, sneezing, and even allergy-induced asthma.

How Do You Get Rid Of An Allergic Reaction Rash

A skin rash that is caused by an allergic reaction can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Allergic rashes can be caused by a number of different allergens, and they can vary in severity.

Although most will go away on their own without treatment within a week or two, there are things you can do to help make an allergic reaction rash more comfortable and to help speed up your recovery. Lets talk about some of the common types of allergic rashes and what you can do to get your skin clear again.

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Avoid Exposure To Allergens

Whether you have severe or milder allergic reactions, knowing what triggers your allergies is important so you can avoid them. Avoidance is the most effective way to prevent any allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. Develop an avoidance plan with your doctor thats customized to your age, lifestyle and home environment.

Carefully read food labels and labels of other products that could contain allergens. And be aware that fragrances and dyes can irritate your skin.

Treatments For Allergic Reactions

Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants may relieve minor symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Antihistamines prevent symptoms such as hives by blocking histamine receptors so your body doesnt react to the allergens. help clear your nose and are especially effective for seasonal allergies. But dont take them for more than three days.

These medications are available in tablets, eye drops, and nasal sprays. Many OTC drugs also cause drowsiness, so avoid taking them before driving or doing work that requires a lot of concentration.

Swelling, redness, and itching may be reduced with ice and topical creams that contain corticosteroids.

Make an appointment with your doctor if OTC drugs dont work. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to the medication.

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Precautions To Bear In Mind

• Always do a patch test of the product before using it. This will help minimize the chances of a possible allergic reaction.
• If you observe even the mildest allergic response to a chemical hair dye, stop using it immediately.
• If you want to get tattooed, make sure to check if you are allergic to the ink.
• People allergic to PPD or PTD could also be allergic to other substances, such as benzocaine, anesthetics, etc. Hence, keep your doctor, dentist, and hairstylist informed to avoid any mishaps.

Treating hair dye allergies doesnt have to be a daunting task. You can follow these home remedies to obtain relief from the symptoms. You can also apply natural dyeing agents, like henna, on the scalp, which do not cause allergies. Ensure you wear gloves while handling the hair dye. If your allergy turns severe, seek immediate medical help.

What Are The Symptoms And Effects Of Face Allergies

The patient will get itchy red rash on the face, typically around the mouth. He may also get a runny nose, dry eyes and his ears will be ringing constantly.

Hay fever can lead to facial symptoms, such as watery, red, swollen and itchy eyes.

Sometimes a severe attack results in allergic conjunctivitis, which is an infection of the eyes, specifically the conjunctiva membrane.

In the event of an individual being allergic to cats, dogs or other furry animals, the patient is likely to become congested and keep sneezing.

This allergic attack at times results in hives or bumps on skin which can appear on a patients face and their neck.

Insect stings and bites also lead to welts and hives. A patient may get hives or a red rash on their face in case they have inadvertently touched anything which might be an allergen.

This condition is called contact dermatitis. Allergens can range from laundry detergent to a food which was eaten to poison ivy.

Since people touch their face innumerable times during a day, contact dermatitis usually occurs near a patients mouth or eyes.

Allergies to certain food also affect an allergic individuals face. Some people may develop a swelling near their lips or a rash on another part of their face.

What is Anaphylaxis?

An extremely serious reaction to a food allergies is anaphylaxis, which is a reaction wherein a patients windpipe and tongue swells up leading to serious trouble breathing.

Some symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

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