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.
To Truly Get Rid Of Post
Post-nasal drip is one of those health issues that can be filed under livable, but completely annoying. After all, regularly swallowing, clearing your throat, and even gagging on mucus in the back of your throat isnt exactly the stuff dreams are made of.
Youve probably dealt with post-nasal drip in varying degrees your whole life. But even though you can probably ID the symptoms as soon as it ramps up, you may have some questions about what, exactly, is going on in your throat. Below, doctors dish on everything you should know, including how to stop post-nasal drip ASAP.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies
Airborne agents , such as pollen, grass, mold, cedar, ragweed, or even some chemicals, are breathed in. Once they enter our bodies, these allergens start to wreak havoc. The immune system mistakenly sees the pollen as a danger and releases antibodies that attack the allergens and release a chemical called histamine into the nose, eyes, and lungs. Histamine is intended to attack harmful agents and remove them from the body. One of the main things that histamine does is cause inflammation.
The good news is there are many natural remedies you can try to control your allergy symptoms:
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Adding A Nasal Steroid Spray
Often people with allergies pop an oral antihistamine and later complain that the medication stopped working because it wore off. However, thats not really the case. Its probably just a high pollen day, says New York City allergist and immunologist Clifford Bassett, MD, author of The New Allergy Solution, who adds that often doctors will recommend combining an oral antihistamine with a nasal steroid spray, which reduces swelling in the nose for easier breathing. Thats a recipe for relief, he says. Be sure to check out the 7 best allergy nasal sprays that doctors recommend.
Complications Of Allergic Rhinitis
If you have allergic rhinitis, there’s a risk you could develop further problems.
A blocked or runny nose can result in difficulty sleeping, drowsiness during the daytime, irritability and problems concentrating. Allergic rhinitis can also make symptoms of asthma worse.
The inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis can also sometimes lead to other conditions, such as nasal polyps, sinusitis and middle ear infections. These are described below.
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Do’s And Don’ts For Treating Nasal Allergies
- 22 Feb, 2019
If you suffer from nasal allergies, you are probably looking for relief fromthe sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery or itchy eyes. While your symptomsmay periodically return, even with treatment, you can make living with nasalallergies more bearable. As you search for answers, keep the following do’s anddont’s in mind.
Dont Just Tough It Out If You Cant Find Relief From Your Allergy Symptoms
No one wants to be miserable. Bad allergies can ruin your quality of life and affect your overall health if symptoms turn into a sinus or upper respiratory infection. The good thing is you have options.
If youve never talked with a doctor about your allergies before, start by making a primary care appointment. Whether you choose a video visit or in-person appointment, your primary care doctor will listen to your symptoms, answer any questions you have and work with you to create a tailored treatment plan including connecting you with specialists like an allergist or an otolaryngologist if needed.
Your doctor can also help make sure if symptoms are related to allergies or COVID-19, a cold or something else.
Have you already been diagnosed with seasonal allergies? Make an appointment with an allergist. If youre struggling to get relief this season or your allergy symptoms feel like theyre getting worse, you can see an allergist without a referral. Allergists specialize in treating severe allergies.
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Herbal Remedies For Allergic Rhinitis
We get a lot of questions from patients inquiring about ideas of natural solutions for treating their allergy symptoms. We are devoting this blog to explaining two common types of allergies we most often see at our office in Arizona and share some natural herbal which may help.
Please keep in mind, that we are not giving medical advice in this blog. We cannot properly treat your unique condition or allergy without seeing you or conducting one of our comprehensive allergy tests. We suggest you talk to your doctor.
Cleaning Your Nasal Passages
Regularly cleaning your nasal passages with a salt water solution, known as nasal douching or irrigation, can also help by keeping your nose free of irritants.
You can do this by using a solution made with sachets bought from a pharmacy.
Small syringes or pots that often look like small horns or teapots are also available to help flush the solution around the inside of your nose.
To rinse your nose:
- stand over a sink, cup the palm of 1 hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it
- sniff the water into 1 nostril at a time
- repeat this until your nose feels comfortable
While you do this, some solution may pass into your throat through the back of your nose.
The solution is harmless if swallowed, but try to spit out as much of it as possible.
Nasal irrigation can be carried out as often as necessary, but a fresh solution should be made each time.
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What Are The Types Of Allergic Rhinitis
The two types of allergic rhinitis are seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergies usually occur during the spring and fall season and are typically in response to outdoor allergens like pollen. Perennial allergies can occur year round, or at any time during the year in response to indoor substances, like dust mites and pet dander.
Allergies can affect anyone, but youre more likely to develop allergic rhinitis if there is a history of allergies in your family. Having asthma or atopic eczema can also increase your risk of allergic rhinitis.
Some external factors can trigger or worsen this condition, including:
Other Tips To Stop Sneezing Attacks
To bring further relief while preventing future sneezing attacks, its important to avoid potential triggers that cause sneezing. If your sneezing is caused by dryness, try using a humidifier indoors to combat the dry air. When the air quality is poor or there are higher levels of dust and pollen in the air outside , avoid keeping your windows open and wear a mask when going outdoors to help stop the constant sneezing.
For additional drug-free tips for beating allergies, check out Tips to Treat Allergies Without Medicine or learn more about pet-related allergies in the Curist Animal Lovers Allergy Guide.
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What Makes You Sneeze
Almost anything that irritates your nose can make you sneeze. Sneezing, also called sternutation, is usually triggered by particles of dust, pollen, animal dander, and the like.
Its also a way for your body to expel unwanted germs, which can irritate your nasal passages and make you want to sneeze.
Like blinking or breathing, sneezing is a semiautonomous reflex. This means that you have some conscious control over it.
You may be able to delay your sneeze long enough to grab a tissue, but stopping it altogether is tricky. Here, well teach you all the tricks:
Identify the cause of your sneezing so that you can treat it accordingly. What makes you sneeze?
Common triggers include:
- black pepper
- common cold viruses
If you think your sneezing is caused by an allergy to something and youre having trouble determining what your allergy triggers are, your doctor can order an allergy test.
Allergy Sore Throat Treatment
So, you have a sore throat, cough, runny nose and congestion. Have you caught a common cold or do you have allergy symptoms? Sometimes, it is even difficult for doctors to distinguish between the two, because their symptoms can be so similar. If you have persistent throat discomfort accompanied by other allergy symptoms, consider that you may have a sore throat due to allergies.
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What Are Your Allergy Triggers
It’s easy to come in contact with allergens because they’re potentially everywhere, immersed in the air we breathe both indoors and outdoors. Chasing after dust bunnies, playing with your pet, or just walking out the door during certain seasons of the year can set off your symptoms. An allergic reaction is set in motion by either
- touching,
an allergen. Below we discuss two of the most common triggers.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are among the most common allergy triggers. These microscopic creatures live on dead human skin flakes found in household dust. They love warm, humid places, and even immaculate homes have them in the carpet, curtains, upholstered furniture, and stuffed animals.
Pollen
Pollen is the reason for seasonal allergies. It is carried in the air and helps grasses, weeds, and trees fertilize and spread. Pollen prevalence can be predicted by the season, but pollen counts vary from year to year, and from region to region. By checking local weather forecasts, you can easily discover the current pollen count.
Exposure to triggers may cause postnasal drip, allergies, and symptoms involving the lungs, ears, sinuses, stomach lining, or skin.
Nasal Allergy Treatment Options
Over-the-counter nasal allergy treatment options are available early everywhere! Yes, there are also prescriptions available however, most patients simply treat themselves.
Pediatrician Dr. Kristen Stuppy has written an excellent post about a wide range of allergy treatments, including medications and non-medications. Check out her post for a great summary of nasal allergy treatment options.
I will discuss the different categories for nasal allergy treatment in greater detail, but I wanted to take a minute to remind you that salt water nasal washes are incredibly helpful!
I explain to my patients that we brush our teeth daily to reduce the number of bacteria in our mouths that are ready to damage our teeth. Brushing our teeth is preventative.
This exact same preventative concept applies to saline nose rinses. Cleansing the nose to reduce the number of allergens, bacteria, and viruses is a great way to prevent inflammation which leads to complications.
Nasal mucus has many protective properties, and one of them is to trap foreign substances. Blowing your nose is helpful at removing these particles, but keep salt water sprays available to get a better clean!
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Causes Of Occupational Rhinitis
When the symptoms of allergic rhinitis only occur in a particular work environment, then this is known as occupational rhinitis. Allergens that cause perennial rhinitis are often involved, such as animal allergies for laboratory and farm workers. Some other examples include:
- Grain dust affecting farmers and agricultural workers
- Flour affecting bakers
- Latex affecting medical workers wearing gloves
- Fish and seafood proteins affecting factory and kitchen workers
How Do You Monitor Asthma Symptoms
Monitoring your asthma symptoms is an essential piece of managing the disease. Your healthcare provider may have you use a peak flow meter. This device measures how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It can help your provider make adjustments to your medication. It also tells you if your symptoms are getting worse.
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What Nerve Makes You Sneeze
trigeminal nerveA sneeze is usually triggered by an irritation in the nose, which is sensed by the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve responsible for facial sensation and motor control. This nerve is in close proximity to the optic nerve, which senses, for example, a sudden flood of light entering the retina.
Allergy Problems: 13 Must
Are you trying to figure out how to stop an allergy attack in its tracks? Read this article to learn more about dealing with allergies.
More than fifty million Americans are affected by allergies every year. Allergies vary greatly in their severity and their causes. And even though many people are filled with fear each time spring comes around, there are actually things you can do to stop an allergy attack.
Are you ready to say goodbye to the sneezes, sniffles, and red eyes? If so, then continue reading and well walk you through everything you need to know when it comes to learning how to stop an allergy attack.
1. Police Pollen
If youre someone whos allergic to pollen, then you should check out the National Allergy Bureaus website for a daily ranking of allergens. These allergens include grasses, outdoor molds, seasonal tree pollens, and weeds. When the pollen levels that youre sensitive to are high, its best to stay indoors.
2. Wear a Mask
These days, masks are more fashionable than ever. And if you need to be outdoors on a day with high pollen levels, you should consider getting yourself an N95 mask. This handy little mask can help to keep the pollen out of your nose and mouth.
3. Wash Your Hair Each Night
Believe it or not, pollen can stick to your hair throughout the day. Especially if you wear a lot of hair gel or hairspray since these products can actually trap the pollen. Wash your hair to make sure that you dont go to sleep with a head full of pollen.
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Allergic Signs And Symptoms
Not everyone will respond to the same allergen in the same way. Some allergic reactions are relatively mild and localized, while others are severe and affect many different body systems. The following are example of how different body systems can be affected:
- Skin redness, itching, swelling, scaling, blistering, weeping, crusting, hives, welts
- Respiratory system sensation of chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, feeling short of breath
- Circulatory system rapid heart rate, low blood pressure , vasodilation
- Ears, eyes, nose and throat itching, watering and redness of the eyes, nasal congestion, swelling/soreness of the throat, hoarseness, sneezing, swelling of the area around the eyes
- Gastrointestinal system stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Other anxiety or a sense of impending doom , fatigue
How You Can Treat Your Allergy Symptoms
When you feel ravaged by allergies, dont lose all hope. There are a lot of things you can do to minimize the detrimental effects of mild to severe allergies. Whether that involves being armed with an Epinephrine pen, heading to your nearest Urgency Room, or treating your allergies at home with over-the-counter medications, knowing what to do when allergies strike could save you from discomfort or even life-threatening scenarios.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Allergic Rhinitis
In most cases, when you have allergic rhinitis:
- You sneeze again and again, especially after you wake up in the morning.
- You have a runny nose and post-nasal drip. The drainage from a runny nose caused by allergies is usually clear and thin. But it may become thicker and cloudy or yellowish if you get a nasal or sinus infection.
- Your eyes are watery and itchy.
- Your ears, nose, and throat are itchy.
Treatment For Drug Allergies
In most drug allergy cases, your doctor should be able to prescribe an alternative medication. Antihistamines, corticosteroids, or epinephrine may be needed for more serious reactions.
Otherwise, your doctor may recommend a desensitization procedure. This means taking small doses of the medication until your body can handle your dosage.
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Why Do Allergies Cause Sneezing Fits
Sneezing is our bodys way of forcibly removing irritants and particles from our nasal passages. Harmful viruses and bacteria that travel through the air and into our nose will irritate nasal tissue on contact, triggering a sneeze and expelling them back out. For many of us, other harmless particles, like dust, pollen, and animal dander, can also trigger allergies in our nasal cavities and cause sneezing fits as a result of allergy-induced histamine release in the nasal membranes.
How To Handle Anaphylactic Shock
More severe allergy attacks will not abate with home remedies, and its essential that you quickly recognize more serious symptoms, like abdominal cramps and breathing problems. What should you do in the case of anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock?
If you are alone, immediately call 911. Anaphylactic shock happens quickly, and your throat could swell and cut off your supply of oxygen within minutes, causing permanent and serious damage. If you know you are at risk for severe allergic reactions, always carry an Epinephrine pen, or two, with you at all times. Epinephrine quickly reduces and reverses anaphylactic symptoms as its comprised of adrenaline. You can never predict when a bee will sting you or a food youre allergic to wind up on your plate, so take the appropriate steps to protect yourself. You should also make your close friends and family aware of your allergy, so that they can also be on the lookout for severe symptoms and be ready to take the appropriate steps if youre unable to.
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