Common Types of Skin Allergies

The skin can react in different ways depending on the allergens to which the body is exposed, the way in which the exposure occurs and the age of the allergy sufferer. Considering such conditions, the most common skin allergies are the following


Atopic dermatitis: it is an inflammatory skin disease that occurs in people who are more likely to suffer allergies due to genetic predisposition. It is a long-term condition characterized by the appearance of itching and eczema and times of exacerbation and asymptomatic periods. This skin allergy usually occurs especially in children, but also in adults once puberty is over. In infants, the lesions are preferably located on the face, while after two years they are concentrated on the elbow and knee folds, as well as on the wrists and eyelids. In adults, the usual location of eczema is in the neck, wrists and feet.



In any case, hygienic measures and the choice of the most appropriate clothing can help prevent or reduce exacerbation moments: regularly moisturize the skin with oily creams, use acidic or neutral non-detergent soaps and without perfume, wear clothes Loosed preferably of cotton and, of course, avoid contact with the skin of irritants, such as paints, solvents, etc.

Contact dermatitis: arises in a timely manner before direct contact with allergen and manifests with intense itching, redness of the skin, peeling and appearance of small vesicles or scabs. Some of these skin allergies are so frequent that many cosmetic or hygiene products avoid the composition of the same components that can cause this type of reaction and are sold with the allergen label. Likewise, current legislation expressly prohibits the use of nickel in the manufacture of jewelry and costume jewelery because it is a highly allergenic metal. The best treatment is to avoid direct contact with the allergens, after having undergone epicutaneous tests or patch tests, which allow them to be identified.

Hives: It is a skin rash with the presence of hives or hives that produce an intense itching that causes great discomfort. This skin allergy may be due to an allergic reaction to certain foods, medications, parasites such as fish anisakis or bee stings and wasps. It is necessary to have the allergen identification tests, since in the event that episodes of this type increase the intensity of the symptoms, it may be the case that the patient may suffer an anaphylactic shock.

Angioedema: It is similar to hives and it is even common for both to occur simultaneously. It is also an inflammatory process, although deeper and usually appears on the eyelids and lips.

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How to live with a pet despite the allergy.

Is it possible to live with a pet if you have an allergy? The harsh reality is that many doctors directly recommend to people who suffer from it not to have a pet at home, but if you decide to live with your furry friend you should know that there are certain guidelines that can help you both prevent and reduce symptoms.

Pet allergy is an immunological reaction of our body against animal dander, hair, saliva, urine or feces of our pets. Contact with these allergens can produce reactions of different intensity when they come into contact with them, such as atopic dermatitis or consequences in the eyes and respiratory tract in the form of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, resulting in asthmatic symptoms.

If after this explanation you decide that your love for your pet is stronger than allergy symptoms, you should begin to minimize contamination by these allergens in the home. Take note of this list of tips and keep your allergy at bay 

Maintain maximum cleanliness in your home :
 
The epithelia (those responsible for the allergy), are fixed very easily and quickly to the fabrics, so any tissue that has had contact with the animal becomes a focus of allergy. Frequently use the vacuum and try not to leave blankets, rags or fabrics within your reach. It is also recommended to wash the animal's bed or the places where it is habitually every week.

Get an ally (not allergic)

When it's time to wash your pet, comb it, clean its bed or litter box, ask someone who doesn't have an allergy to animals for help. You will reduce exposure to allergens. In the case of doing it yourself, always use a mask.

Prevent your pet from entering your room:

This area of ​​the house should always be allergen free. If you have 24 hours a day, you can spend at least 8/9 hours free of allergy, it will be a great improvement and help for your symptoms.

Get an air purifier

Use a domestic air purifier. It catches the allergens present in the air and reduces the amount of allergens that can cause allergy.


Uses an anti-allergy nasal spray

There are medications on the market in this format, and without a prescription, they act directly at the focus of the problem and provide 24 hours of relief from nasal symptoms, such as congestion or runny nose, but also eyepieces, such as tearing These are corticosteroids that have a very localized action, so they have no side effects on the rest of the body, and they manage to block the 6 main inflammatory substances, and not just histamine, as with allergy pills. In addition, they do not produce drowsiness, one of the contraindications that most concern allergy sufferers.

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Clues to live with dust allergy

Sneezing, itchy nose, tearing ... If you have any of these symptoms when you are in areas where there is dust or while cleaning, you may be allergic to dust mites . That is, your body overreacts when you are exposed to these small arthropods that live in the dust of the home and are too tiny to be seen without a microscope.

“Dust mites feed on skin cells that people lose, growing in hot and humid environments. It is their waste that causes symptoms to allergic people, ”explains Nancy Ortega, member of the board of directors of the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (Seaic) . Unlike other types of allergy, such as pollen allergy, dust allergy is not seasonal and can occur at any time of the year.

Where are these intruders? Some of the areas of the home for which they feel preference to settle are objects with cloth, such as mattresses, pillows, quilts, upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains or stuffed toys, among others.

What symptoms do people with dust allergy have?

 Rhinitis

"Some of the symptoms of dust mite allergy are those that appear due to inflammation of the nasal passages, that is, rhinitis, " explains the allergist. “ Rhinitis is preferably morning and can manifest as nasal itching and obstruction , but sometimes it can also show itching on the palate or throat . These symptoms are usually accompanied by sneezing in salva (sequence of sneezing followed) and watery rhinorrhea (nasal discharge). ”
Allergic conjunctivitis
 
Other symptoms that may appear is allergic conjunctivitis . "In this case the patient also manifests eye symptoms such as red eyes, tearing and conjunctival itching," says Ortega.

Asthma:

Finally, the situation can evolve and affect the bronchial asthma . "The patient will have episodes with difficulty breathing, tightness or pain in the chest, noise or wheezing ... Sometimes sleep problems can also occur due to difficulty breathing or coughing," says the specialist.



How can we survive dust mites at home? 

These symptoms can become very annoying for people who are allergic to dust and even have a strong impact on their quality of life. The spokeswoman for Seaic gives the keys to learn to live with them and control the allergy:

• To start, you have to try to keep the humidity level low . “Ideally, a relative humidity below 50 percent in the home would be achieved. A dehumidifier can help keep it low, ”he recommends

• How to clean? One trick to prevent dust from spreading in the air and settling again is to use a damp cloth to clean the dust. Use allergen-proof bedspreads. Protecting the mattress and pillows with dustproof or allergen covers. These covers, made with a tightly woven fabric, that prevent dust mites from colonizing the mattress or pillow.    

•  Wash the bedding weekly . When choosing bedding, bedspreads that accumulate dust with ease and that are difficult to clean frequently should be avoided. “ Sheets, blankets and pillowcases must be washed with hot water at a temperature of at least 60 ° C to kill dust mites and eliminate allergens. If the bedding cannot be washed with hot water, it may be useful to use the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 60 °, ”says Ortega.

 The specialist also notes that you can also enter in the freezer for 24 hours, those objects that do not support high temperatures. "With this method, dust mites can be removed, but allergens are not eliminated," he adds.

• Vacuum regularly . Vacuuming carpets and upholstered furniture removes dust from surfaces, but is not effective in removing most dust mites and their allergens. "Ideally, you should use a vacuum cleaner with a double-layer bag with a microfilter or a high efficiency air particle filter (HEPA) to help reduce household dust emissions from the vacuum cleaner." 

• Avoid excess ornaments . To control the allergy it is important to remove the table decorations, books, magazines and newspapers from the patient's bedroom.
   

• Remove the carpets. Carpets are one of the prohibited objects for those allergic to dust mites. “They provide a comfortable habitat for dust mites, so it is preferable to opt for ceramic, wood, linoleum or vinyl floors. It is convenient to replace other furniture that accumulates dust in the rooms, such as upholstered furniture, non-washable curtains and horizontal blinds, ”he advises.

•  Stuffed animals yes, but they are washable. If there are stuffed animals at home, they should be washed frequently with hot water and dried completely. In addition, it is better to store them outside the patient's bedroom.

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