Skin allergies can occur completelysuddenly and in almost any person, even if he has never encountered it before. Moreover, this type of allergic reaction occurs both in adults and in children. Therefore, every woman should know how skin allergies manifest themselves and what to do in such a situation. It may well be that one day this knowledge will be very useful to you. Of course, it is unlikely that you will be able to do without medical help, and there is no point - self-medication has never led to anything good. You should not treat allergies as an annoying fly and simply brush them off. Any allergic reaction indicates problems in the body and, first of all, problems with the immune system.
What is an allergy?
First, we need to understand what is poin essence, an allergy, especially since it is not that difficult. The main defense of any organism is the immune system, which reacts to the penetration of viruses and bacteria properly. But sometimes it also fails - if an allergen enters the body, the immune system raises a false alarm. And do you know what's most interesting? At the very first contact with an allergen, a person will not notice any external manifestations. But a stormy process will begin in the body - the immune system perceives the substance as an aggressor that must be destroyed and mobilizes all its forces. The so-called sensitization begins, which lasts about a month - during this period, a huge amount of immunoglobulin E is produced in the body. But with repeated contact of a person with an allergen, histamine is formed in the body. And it is histamine that causes typical symptoms of allergies - runny nose, cough, watery eyes, skin rashes. They can be all at once, or just some of them. But today we are talking about skin allergies, so it is necessary to talk in more detail about its symptoms:
- Rash
First of all, rashes appear.The rash can be very different - any size and any shape. But in most cases, of course, there is allergic urticaria - a rash that in its appearance is very similar to the most common nettle burn. The rash can be localized in a certain place or spread throughout the body. But most often it is the inner side of the forearms, thighs, stomach and back.
- Color of rashes
The color of the rash can also vary frompale pink to bright red. This depends on several factors - the length of time of contact with the allergen, the type of allergen, and the individual characteristics of each individual. The rashes are most vivid at the very beginning, after they have just appeared.
- Discomfortable sensations
It is quite natural that rashes are annoyinga certain discomfort - they itch quite a lot, and sometimes even hurt. The intensity of these sensations can vary greatly - depending on the severity of the allergic reaction.
What can provoke an allergy?
It is very difficult to predict which substances exactlycan trigger an allergy - each person is unique, as is their immune system. However, doctors identify a whole group of allergens that trigger attacks most often. Therefore, the first thing you should do when faced with an allergy is to analyze - have you had contact with any of the allergens listed below:
- Pollen of plants
The most severe surge in allergic reactionsobserved in spring and summer, when various plants bloom - it is their pollen that becomes the provoking factor. Such plants include: birch, alder, linden, elder, apple, apricot, corn, wheat and plantain. It is generally accepted that pollen causes exclusively hay fever - allergic rhinitis. However, in fact, this is not so - in some cases, allergic rashes appear on the skin.
- Food
Very often allergies arise due toconsumption of certain foods. Citrus fruits, nuts, chicken eggs and meat, cow's milk, red apples, strawberries, pork, crab meat, seafood, all artificial preservatives and dyes - they provoke more than half of all cases of allergic reactions. Allergies to foods are especially common in children, but adults are not immune from this, of course.
- Chemical substances
Cosmetics, perfumes, detergentsdishes, washing powders, window sprays - a modern person is surrounded by a huge number of the most diverse chemical compounds. And it is not surprising that sooner or later the immune system can fail and the body will respond with an allergic reaction. Most often, skin allergies are provoked by hair dyes, deodorants, antiperspirants, dishwashing detergents. Therefore, remember if there were any new types of chemistry - for example, not the dishwashing detergent that you are used to using, not the hand cream or something else.
- A bite of an insect
Summer is not only a time of gentle sunshine andgreen grass, as well as mosquitoes, bees, bumblebees and other creatures. A bite from any insect can lead to the development of a very strong allergic reaction. Moreover, in addition to skin rashes, such a formidable complication as pulmonary edema can develop.
Diagnosis of allergies
If you notice a rash on your skin, immediatelyseek help from an allergist. This is necessary at least because the doctor must confirm that you really have an allergic reaction. After all, skin rashes can indicate a variety of diseases, and not just allergies. Imagine what self-medication will result in in such a case? But diagnosing an allergy is only half the battle. It is equally important to identify the allergen - otherwise, skin rashes will occur again and again. And what is most unpleasant - each time the allergy will be more severe. First - skin rashes, then - runny nose and cough, and from there it is not far to bronchial asthma. A very gloomy prospect, don't you think? And only a doctor will be able to understand what allergens your body is reacting to. And then only after a series of examinations - blood tests, special tests. By the way, they are very reliable - they allow you to determine the "hero of the occasion" with a probability of about 95%. And at home, you can only guess what you are allergic to. Well, isn't that a reason to see a doctor? Most often, doctors perform the following test. Shallow scratches are made on the inside of the forearm using a special medical needle - of course, the sensations are not very pleasant, but you can tolerate it. Then drops of plain water with various allergens dissolved in them are applied to these scratches. After about 15 minutes, the doctor will assess the condition of the skin around the scratches. If it is swollen or reddened - the person is allergic to this substance. About 15 different allergens are tested at a time, so in some cases more than one such test may be needed.
Treatment of allergies
As already mentioned, the course of treatment for allergiesshould be selected by a doctor, taking into account the characteristics of each specific case. But it is not always possible to see a doctor immediately, so it is so important to know how to provide first aid. But remember - even if you feel much better and the allergy symptoms disappear, you still need to see a doctor. Of course, if you do not want allergies to become a common occurrence for you.
- Elimination of the allergen
The very first thing you should do isstop contact with the allergen. Of course, this will only be possible if you know what exactly triggered the allergy. In all other cases, the sick person should be placed in a hypoallergenic environment - for example, in a bedroom, where the impact of external factors is minimal. Unless you are very "lucky" and have not encountered an allergy to house dust.
- Medications
You can see a huge amount on TVadvertisements for anti-allergy drugs that promise instant relief. You shouldn't experiment - the most you can take without consulting a doctor is regular suprastin or claritin. If the skin itching is very strong, you can buy fenistil gel. By the way, it wouldn't hurt to drink regular activated charcoal - one tablet for every 5 kilograms of weight.
- Aids
If there are no medications nearbyIt turns out you can try improvised means. Place five tablespoons of regular oatmeal in a cup, pour boiling water over it and leave for an hour. Then eat the improvised oatmeal - it will replace activated charcoal. To eliminate the severe itching of the rash, make soda compresses. Dissolve three tablespoons of soda in one glass of cold water, soak small gauze napkins in the resulting solution and apply to the rash for 15 minutes. If the napkin dries out earlier, soak it again.
Prevention of allergies
Relieve an allergy attack in most casesit's not difficult at all - in just a couple of days, or even sooner, the rash on the skin will disappear. But you should not relax under any circumstances - if an allergy has already declared itself once, it will not miss the opportunity to do so again. Therefore, your main task is prevention. This is often very difficult, because allergens lie in wait for a person at every step. However, following certain rules will reduce the likelihood of a repeated allergic reaction.
- Limit contacts
The doctor will give you a list of allergens,which you should be wary of - they need to be completely eliminated from your life. In addition, you should not get too carried away with household chemicals - for example, a stove cleaner can be easily replaced with soda. Minimal contact with chemicals - minimal risk of a repeated case of skin allergy. And do not forget about household gloves - they can really help you out.
- Medications
If you are allergic to the substance, contact withwhich it is simply unrealistic to completely eliminate, you will have to constantly take medications. It goes without saying that the course of treatment in this case should only be prescribed by a doctor - on your own you will only break firewood.
- Strengthening immunity
Measures aimed atstrengthening the immune system. And it is not difficult to do this - a balanced diet, at least 8 hours of sleep per day, multivitamins and physical activity. But all this is effective only if you do not have serious health problems. Otherwise, you will need to consult an immunologist. In any case, do not despair if you have allergic rashes - with proper and timely treatment, allergies can be brought under control. And the quality of your life will not suffer at all.
