Skin Allergy Treatment

Skin allergies, or allergic contact dermatitis, are allergies of skin that occur when a substance that a person is allergic to touches the skin. The symptoms caused by this will appear suddenly and may disappear within half an hour after the attack. Inflammation can occur after being on contact with an item or substance that present no harm at all to people who do not suffer from this allergy.

Symptoms of Skin Allergies
People suffering from skin allergies may experience the following symptoms during an allergy attack:

* Skin rashes
* Blisters on the skin
* A sudden immobility (only in rare cases of extreme allergies of the skin)
* Scaling of the skin
* Hives (a rash looking like raised welts on the skin that itch and occur in batches

The symptoms are mostly experienced on the hands as they get in contact with items and substances all day long, during work or at home.

Types of Skin Allergies
The term eczema is sometimes interchanged with another skin allergy condition; dermatitis. Eczema is actually an advanced type of dermatitis with more serious results.

Allergic contact dermatitis
This skin allergy rash occurs when the skin touches an object or substance that it is allergic to. The symptom (a rash or itch) usually occurs within 30 minutes after touching the object. Inflammation of the skin can occur and the skin must not be scratched or covered with anything when this happens.

Eczema
This is a skin condition causing a red rash and itching on the skin. Eczema skin symptoms can cause a lot of discomfort and the disease is most likely to affect children. Eczema affects approximately seven in a thousand people and most of these patients are children aged between two months and five years old.

Eczema is a form of dermatitis in an advanced stage and can cause blisters and scabs and oozing liquid from the skin. A cure for eczema must be determined by a doctor and experimenting with over the counter treatments that offer relief is not advised when the condition has been diagnosed, especially not with children. Conventional allergy therapies seem to have no to little effect on eczema.

Hives
Skin hives are a type of skin rash that is usually harmless. Caused most of the time by an allergy this rash looks like circular raised welts on the skin that can go red and itchy. The hives will show up in batches and can appear all over the body. Hives can be different in size, ranging from very small to a few centimetres in diameter.

Diagnosis of Skin Allergies
Skin allergies are usually diagnosed by checking for skin rashes, the appearance of skin infection and itchy skin on the usual areas of the skin being mainly the face and chest but possibly also other areas. The doctor will probably check your family history with you to find out if any other relatives have the same problems. He will also review the following with you:

* Your diet, to make sure that there are no food allergies involved.
* Allergic tendencies (do you have more sensitive or allergic reactions).
* Prescribed drug intake that may affect the skin.

The doctor might decide to perform a blood test for skin condition called a radioallergosorbent test (RAST. A small amount of your blood is taken after which the blood is mixed with the suspected allergen. Antibodies developing in the blood are a sign of a skin allergy.

To further determine your diagnosis a skin lesion biopsy might also be performed during which a small piece of skin is removed and examined in a laboratory, where it is tested for symptoms of skin allergies.

Dealing With Stress

If you find yourself in a stressful situation, it is important to have coping strategies that don’t involve drinking. Symptoms of stress include feeling tired, having back pain, headaches, stomach aches, and having difficulty sleeping.

To reduce or control the stress you are experiencing, the National Mental Health Association recommends the following strategies:

* Learn to say no. If you are overwhelmed with responsibilities, make a point not to take on more than you can handle.
* Meditate. Take 10-20 minutes each day to quietly reflect. Listen to music, relax, and clear your mind of stress.
* Take one thing at a time. If your workload seems unbearable, pick one urgent task at a time to work on. When you finish that task, choose another.
* Exercise and eat healthfully. Get 20-30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week and focus on eating a healthful diet. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol, both of which can interfere with your sleep.
* Share your feelings. Talk to a friend, family member, or healthcare professional about what is causing your stress. A friend or family member’s love, support, and guidance can help you through a stressful situation, and a professional is trained to assess levels of stress and recommend coping strategies.
* Learn to breathe. When stressed, we frequently forget how to breathe properly. Our breaths become rapid and shallow. Learning a few breathing techniques might become a useful tool in combating stress.

In addition, you may consider taking a good quality supplement. A supplement with vitamin B complex and magnesium may help to offset the effects of chronic stress on your health.

If you’re feeling stressed, it may help to talk with your doctor, who can refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or other qualified counselor for professional help. But don’t wait until things feel “out of control.” By that time, you may no longer know that you need help.

Allergy medications: Know your options

Because you can't always avoid allergy triggers, you may need medication to help alleviate allergy symptoms.

Allergy medications are available in pill, liquid, nasal spray, eyedrop and skin cream (topical) forms. Some are available over-the-counter while others are available by prescription only.

The best medication or combination of medications for you depends on your symptoms, what other health conditions you have and what other medications you take. Certain allergy medications work better for some people than others. You may need to try a few different medications to determine which ones are most effective and have the least bothersome side effects.

To choose the best allergy medications for you, learn what's available to treat your symptoms — and work with your doctor to figure out what medications is best for you.
Options for allergy medications

There are several types of medications used to treat and prevent allergy symptoms. Medications are available in pill and liquid forms, nasal sprays, eyedrops and skin creams.

* Corticosteroids help prevent and treat the inflammation associated with allergic conditions.
* Antihistamines block histamine, an inflammatory chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction.
* Decongestants relieve nasal and sinus congestion.
* Leukotriene modifiers block the effects of leukotrienes, inflammatory chemicals released by your immune system during an allergic reaction.
* Cromolyn sodium prevents the release of histamine, an inflammatory chemical released by your immune system during an allergic reaction.

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Keep Your Upper Respiratory Allergies in Check! They Are Likely to Lead You Towards Asthma!

The presence of both allergy and asthma relates to the form that the allergic reaction assumes, essentially, respiratory distress. Fortunately allergic asthma treatment will reverse the symptoms, but allergic asthma is far and away the most common form of asthma and affects some 20 million individuals annually.

What is Immunoglobulin E?
The antibody Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays a major role in allergic conditions including allergic asthma. It binds to allergens and triggers the release of histamine and other substances that cause a series of chemical reactions resulting in airway constriction and inflammation. Some new methods of treatment seek to target asthma attacks at the source, IgE, and involve injections administered by a doctor. These treatments are extremely expensive and are currently used only in severe cases.

What are the Symptoms of Allergic Asthma?
In allergic asthma the symptoms are triggered by an allergic reaction to some inhaled substance, for instance dust mites, pet dander, pollen, or mold. The affected individual will experience coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, and chest tightness. The condition causes airway obstruction and inflammation.

What are the Causes of Allergic Asthma?
While there may be a genetic predisposition for allergies and asthma, the usual culprits are agents in the environment. This can be anything from air pollution, to dust mites, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, and even the presence of cockroaches in the home or workplace. Even the holidays, when foods not normally present are served or specific plant materials are used in decorations can trigger attacks.

How will I know if I have Allergic Asthma?
Although you may suspect that you have a combination of allergy and asthma, only a doctor can confirm the presence of these conditions. Normally diagnosis involves a skin or blood test to determine if your attacks are being triggered by allergens present in the air year roun

Don't Take Work Stress Home With You

Most people these days feel like they're under stress at work. If we're not worried about losing our jobs, we're taking on extra work because other people have left. It seems that work stress has become a fact of life.

So how do we deal with this kind of perpetual stress? If we listen to the wisdom of the wild impala, we might consider two strategies. The first is to keep moving. Walking, jogging and running are ancient ways to keep us free from stress. Stress will inevitably build up. The only way to keep it from eating away at us is to build movement into our lives. The other lesson from the world of impalas is to hang out with your friends. There is safety in numbers, and keeping good social relationships going is another sure fire way to reduce stress.

Instead of bringing your stress home with you, go out and walk. Even better, walk with a friend.