What Is The Reason For Skin Allergy

Symptoms Of Food Allergy Rash

• Sneezing

• Seeds like sunflower, poppy and sesame
• Meat such as beef, pork, chicken and mutton
• Seeds, often sesame, sunflower, and poppy
• Spices like coriander, mustard and garlic

Besides these common allergenic food items, there are other foods that may trigger allergic reactions on your skin, as stated by Food Allergy Research and Education .

Additionally, if the protein present in a specific food item is similar to that of another food of the same category, it may further trigger an allergic reaction. This is known as cross-reactivity. For example, if you are allergic to cows milk, you may also develop allergies from goats milk as both of them have the same proteins. Similarly, people allergic to latex are likely to be allergic to fruits like kiwi, avocado and banana.

Food allergies are usually diagnosed during early childhood stages. However, different blood and skin tests at later life can also be used to identify allergens causing reactions. Usually, most people outgrow food allergies with age but it can even stay for a lifetime.

Causes Of Allergic Reactions On Skin

Our bodys skin acts as a defense mechanism and keeps any threats from entering the body. Human skin contains various special cells that provide immunity and protect the skin and the body from viruses, bacteria, and other dangerous pathogens.

When our skin detects an unknown substance that might cause a threat, they react and inflame the infected area. This inflammation is dermatitis or a rash, which can lead to itching and sore.

The reaction depends on the immune cells, the substance, and how they react to something. Sometimes, your infection or health condition leads to allergies. Rashes can be of various types. You may experience irritation, patches or blisters, redness or pain in the infected area. Itchiness can be of various types. It may occur in a specific region or all over the body and can be a symptom of various conditions. Here are some causes of allergic reactions:

Rashes Produced By Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are fairly common. Yeasts are botanically related to fungi and can cause skin rashes. These tend to affect folds of skin . They look fiery red and have pustules around the edges.

Fungus and yeast infections have little to do with hygiene — clean people get them, as well. Fungal rashes are not commonly acquired from dogs or other animals. They seem to be most easily acquired in gyms, showers, pools, or locker rooms, or from other family members. Many effective antifungal creams can be bought at the drugstore without a prescription, including 1% clotrimazole and 1% terbinafine . With extensive infection, or when toenails are involved, a prescription drug may be useful, such as oral terbinafine.

If a fungus has been repeatedly treated without success, it is worthwhile considering the possibility that it was never really a fungus to start with but rather a form of eczema. Eczema is treated entirely differently. A fungal infection can be independently confirmed by performing a variety of simple tests.

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Testing For Cat Food Allergies

If your cat is still itchy after treating their infection and using a monthly flea preventive, the next step is to test for a food allergy. Unlike people, there is no blood test for food allergies in cats. To figure out if your cat has an allergy to food, your veterinarian will prescribe either a novel protein diet or a hypoallergenic diet.

• A novel protein diet is one with a protein source that your cat has never had before. Venison, rabbit, and duck are common novel protein sources.

• A hypoallergenic diet is a food in which the protein source is broken down into small molecular pieces so that the body can no longer recognize it as a protein. Think of a puzzle that has an image of a pirate ship. When you take the puzzle apart, you can no longer see the pirate ship.

To diagnose a food allergy, your cat will need to be on the prescribed diet for a minimum of two months without eating anything but that diet. If the diet trial is effective, the next step is to add a new protein source to the food for one to two weeks.

If there is no reaction, we can assume that protein is not causing the allergy if there is a reaction, we know that your cat is allergic to that protein and it must be avoided. Occasionally, some cats must stay on the prescription diet for life to manage their food allergy.

What Are The Complications Of Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction, caused by a different immunologic mechanism than hives, angioedema, or anaphylaxis. However, very rarely, patients may have immunologic dysfunction which results in multiple types of concurrent hypersensitivity reactions. Thus, it is possible that people with contact dermatitis can develop hives and swelling after coming into contact with an allergen. Hives are red, raised, itchy skin welts. Angioedema is swelling deep under the skin.

Extremely rare, allergic contact dermatitis can overlap with a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis that can swell airways and close them. If you think you are experiencing anaphylaxis, call 911. Youll need an immediate epinephrine injection to counteract this allergic response. People with known allergies can carry an EpiPen®, a brand of injectable epinephrine.

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Why Do Certain Foods Trigger Allergic Reaction

Allergic reactions to certain foods occur when your immune system reacts to the protein found in that specific food item. Your immune system considers it as a pathogen and tries to attack it. Naturally, your body reacts to the attack, which leads to the development of skin rashes. In some cases, allergic reactions can get severe and even turn into a life threat .

You may develop a rash shortly after eating a food that you are allergic to. You may get it on your mouth, face and neck. But in some cases, you may develop allergic rashes just from touching the food item. The symptoms of food allergy rashes are mostly the same for both adults and children. Only in a few rare cases, symptoms might be different.

What Is A Sun Allergy Learn About Photosensitivity

People often feel better and happier when the sun is shining. But, for people with photosensitivity, sunlight causes health problems. Photosensitivity, also called sun allergy or photodermatoses, is an extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation from light sources like sun exposure or tanning beds. There are several types of sun allergies. However, all types increase the risk of damage to your skin and your chance of developing skin cancer. The causes of photosensitivity include medical conditions, medications, and genetics.

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What Is A Sun Allergy

An allergy occurs when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, such as pet dander or pollen, causing inflammation and other symptoms. When you have a sun allergy, skin damage from UVA and UVB rays is recognized as a foreign substance. It triggers your immune system, resulting in itchy rashes, redness, and inflammation on sun-exposed skin. You are most likely to see a photosensitivity reaction on your neck, back of hands, outside of arms, and lower legs, according to Harvard Health. In severe cases, symptoms can spread to areas of the body not exposed to UV light. They might appear within minutes of being in the sun or several days later.

What Is The Treatment For A Rash

Most rashes are not dangerous. Many rashes last a while and get better on their own. It is therefore not unreasonable to treat symptoms like itchy and/or dry skin for a few days to see whether the condition gets milder and goes away.

Nonprescription remedies include the following:

• Anti-itch creams containing 1% hydrocortisone cream can be effective
• Oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine can be helpful in controlling the itching.
• Moisturizing lotions
• Fungal infections are best treated with topical antifungal medications that contain clotrimazole , miconazole , or terbinafine .

If these measures do not help, or if the rash persists or becomes more widespread, a consultation with a general physician or dermatologist is advisable.

There are many, many other types of rashes that we have not covered in this article. So, it is especially important, if you have any questions about the cause or medical treatment of a rash, to contact your doctor. This article, as the title indicates, is just an introduction to common skin rashes.

A word on smallpox vaccination in patients with rashes

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Latex In Rubber Gloves Condoms And Other Products

If your skin becomes red and itchy when you wear rubber gloves, youre probably allergic to latex, a milky fluid that comes from rubber trees and is processed to make balloons, waistbands on clothing, rubber bands, condoms, and other products. The allergy is a reaction to certain proteins in latex that your body mistakes for harmful substances. Symptoms can range from mild to severe . If you have a latex allergy, you can reduce your risk of a reaction by avoiding contact with latex and using substitutes, such as nonlatex gloves. Always tell medical personnel about your allergy.

When To Seek Medical Help

See your doctor if the rash doesn’t improve by itself, seems to be getting worse or if you have signs of skin infection such as:

• pain, swelling, redness or warmth around the affected area
• pus draining from the lesions
• swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck or groin
• a fever or chills

Rarely, some rashes are an early stage of serious infections affecting the whole body, the brain or spinal cord. You should see your doctor or call triple zero if your rash is associated with:

• severe headache, neck stiffness, and fever

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Diseases That Cause Sun Sensitivity

Some medical conditions that cause photosensitivity, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, include:

• Actinic folliculitis
• Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
• Xeroderma pigmentosum

Also, a deficiency in niacin known as pellagra, can contribute to photosensitivity, according to Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Heat Stroke And Heat Exhaustion

Heat rash may also be an early warning of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Call triple zero immediately if you get symptoms of heat stroke such as a sudden rise in body temperature, red, hot dry skin , dry swollen tongue, rapid pulse, rapid shallow breathing, intense thirst, headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, confusion, poor coordination or slurred speech, aggressive or bizarre behaviour, loss of consciousness, seizures or coma.

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How Can Pet Owners Help With Dog Skin Allergies

Dog skin allergies are definitely no fun for your dog or for you. Luckily, with the help of your veterinarian, you should be able to keep your dog’s allergy issues under control and help them to live a happy, healthy, normal life.

When you see potential symptoms of atopic dermatitis like excessive itching and scratching, red and irritated skin, hair loss, or an unusually foul odor coming from your dog, it’s time to see the vet. They may recommend allergy testing so they can decide how to move forward.

Treatment might involve avoiding certain allergy triggers, giving your dog oral antihistamines, administering allergy shots, or the use of corticosteroids in the most severe cases. Natural remedies like dietary supplementation can also be effective.

Working closely with your vet, you can help your dog to feel comfortable again and stop being so itchy. Then, your pet can get back to doing what they do best: being a happy, loyal companion to you and your family.

Would you like more insight into your dog’s health and wellness needs? Check out the Native Pet blog.

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Beauty Products And Cosmetics

Allergic reactions to cosmetics can be induced by fragrance allergies, but they may also be caused by preservatives used in cosmetics. Skin irritation is a common problem at the site of contact with cosmetics and may be experienced by anyone, but allergic reactions such as redness, swelling, and hives tend to occur in people who are allergic to specific ingredients, like formaldehyde, parabens, and thimerosal. A surprising allergen is wet nail polish the most common cause of eyelid dermatitis. Once the nail polish is dry, you can touch your face and eyes, but you should avoid contact until it is completely dry, says Day. If you experience a cosmetic allergy, stop using all cosmetics, and then gradually reintroduce products into your routine to isolate the culprit.

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Diagnosing Anal Skin Tags

When a skin tag is easily visible, a doctor can diagnose it with a physical exam and, if necessary, discuss removal options. In other cases, a doctor may need to examine the inside of the rectum to check for growths.

A doctor can perform this procedure using an anoscopy, where they place a small scope just inside the anus and use a lighted tube to see inside the rectum. Most people feel little or no discomfort.

When a doctor needs to see further into the lower digestive tract, they may perform a sigmoidoscopy. This involves using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera to view the rectum and lower portion of the colon. A sigmoidoscopy is not always required after diagnosing an anal skin tag. A doctor will perform this only when they suspect that a person has growths or polyps in the bowel.

any underlying causes of the anal skin tags, such as hemorrhoids. Then, similar to with skin tags elsewhere on the body, a doctor may consider surgically removing the anal skin tag.

Techniques a doctor typically uses to remove skin tags include scissor excision, electrocautery, or cryosurgery.

How Are Food Allergy Rashes Diagnosed

1. In order to detect whether your rashes are caused by allergic reactions to specific foods, your doctor may ask you to get a radioallergosorbent blood test done . This blood test will spot the number of antibodies being produced by your immune system. Your doctor will identify the food allergen by seeing the raised level of certain antibodies in your body.

2. Another method to diagnose your food allergy rash is through an allergy skin test which is also known as scratch test or skin prick test. It helps your doctor identify the substance causing the allergic reaction in your body. The skin on the forearm is usually scratched with a needle to allow a drop of allergen to get inside your skin. If your skin develops redness or itches, it is likely that you are allergic to the particular substance.

3. Your doctor may also ask you to maintain a food diary. It is the most simple way to determine which food is causing you allergic reaction. Once the diagnosis is done, you need to avoid foods triggering allergies to prevent any symptom. This process is called elimination and change of diet.

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What Causes Skin Allergies

It takes at least 10 days to become sensitive to something after your first contact with it. You might even be able to touch something for years before you have an allergic reaction to it.

But once you develop an allergy, you could have a reaction within a few minutes of coming into contact with it. Or it might take a day or two.

• Latex, which is used in stretchy things like plastic gloves, elastic in clothing, condoms, and balloons
• Chemicals

You’re more likely to have certain skin allergies if you a have skin condition like eczema , inflammation in your lower legs because of poor circulation, itching in your private parts, or you often get swimmer’s ear.

View a slideshow on the top eczema triggers to avoid.

How Long Does A Food Allergy Rash Last

A food allergy rash may need time to appear, depending on the food item and the quantity eaten. In some cases, it takes hours for the skin rashes to appear as your immune system takes time to react to the food. But sometimes, you may notice immediate reactions.

Usually, once your immune system settles down, the symptoms slowly disappear. If you are taking medicine for skin rashes, it will subside the irritation and discomfort within a short period. But it may take a day or two for your skin to return to its normal form. Also, scratching makes your skin rashes worse. It may make the skin rashes stay for a longer period and also lead to severe skin infections.

Studies suggest, in some cases, there are chances that the second wave of food allergy rashes occur. Even though it is a very rare phenomenon, its better to take precautions.

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Common Causes Of Skin Allergy In Children

The cases of allergic diseases in kids have increased significantly over the years. According to a study published in the journal Pediatric Child Health, allergies affect around 35% of children. Moreover, if allergies run in the families, then there is a high chance that your kid might also suffer from the condition. However, the sensitivity to the allergens can vary from environmental allergens or irritants to food ingredients.

Who Is Not Eligible For The Allergy Treatment

If a series of allergy tests have been administered and the results show that you are not allergic to anything, then your symptoms may be caused due to another medical condition. In this case, you are not eligible to seek out treatment for allergies as the problem you have is something else. Your course of treatment will be to treat that specific problem.

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