Skin allergy - advice on treatment

Allergy is a disease whose main characteristic is the hypersensitivity of the body to the action of some, often harmless, environmental substances, also called allergens.

As a matter of fact, allergy is the main symptom of rejection by the immune system of any substances that can harm the body. In this case, the stronger the human immune system, the greater will be its reaction to different substances. Skin allergy is a separate type of this disease, in which the main reaction occurs between the allergen and the skin of the patient's body.

Allergic reaction mechanism

When an allergen is applied to the body, specific immunoglobulins or antibodies start to be produced, and if these substances are hyperstabilized, they become so-called allergens. In principle, allergies are a fairly common disease, and many people are also predisposed to it on a genetic level.

It should be noted that if the parents are allergic to any allergen, it is not necessary that their children will suffer the same type of allergic reaction.

Skin allergy can manifest itself in different ways, however, in most cases, signs of hives appear on the skin of the patient. The exact symptom of allergy can be called the appearance of rashes in a symmetrical order - for example, on both hands. Another symptom often characterized by an allergy is skin itch, which is the main cause of the patient's discomfort. In some places, there may even be swelling of the skin, indicating a too strong reaction.

However, although modern doctors are partly aware of the mechanism of the appearance of an allergic reaction to a substance, how to treat skin allergy in some cases, doctors simply do not know. After all, often people suffering from such a disease as a skin rash - an allergy to certain substances, are sensitive to other chemicals, which makes treatment much more difficult.

Types of skin allergy

Among the many symptoms of allergic reactions in a separate category are those types of allergies, in which the main sign of the disease can be called skin rashes.

As a rule, skin rashes with allergies occur on such substances as common food allergens( nuts, fruits, fish, eggs), various medicines( hormonal substances, antibiotics, sulfonamides), air allergens( wool, dust, etc.)insect bites and various infections.

Atopic dermatitis is a generalizing concept that includes many forms of allergic manifestations on the skin that can occur in anyone who has a genetic predisposition to the disease. Most often, the onset of this disease falls on the period from the age of three months.

For the most part, atopic dermatitis persists in a child for several years, and often its manifestations disappear completely when the child reaches the age of six. In very rare cases, the disease persists throughout the life of the patient, as a result of which he constantly has to take drugs to treat allergies and avoid contact with certain substances.

Photodermatitis is a skin reaction caused by exposure to direct sunlight on the skin. An allergic reaction of this type is manifested through reddening of the facial skin, sometimes the legs, hands or abdomen, peeling, severe itching, puffiness, the appearance of blisters. Most often this kind of allergy manifests itself in the case when a person changes the climate too sharply.

Photodermatitis is more susceptible to people with fair skin, as well as children whose immunity has not yet recovered due to age. Typically, the sun allergy treatment which, basically, consists in avoiding the allergen, passes after a while by itself.

Allergy in pregnant women is quite common. A pregnant woman with an allergic reaction should show special attention to her body, after all, sometimes even substances that are harmless at first glance may well become allergens, exposing the life of both the future mother and the baby to danger.

In fact, an allergy in pregnancy whose treatment is hampered by the physiological condition of a woman is a fairly serious disease. Therefore, women with allergies to a particular substance, during the planning of pregnancy, consult with a specialist to protect themselves and the future child from this disease.

Recently, very often there is a so-called allergy on the eyes - a reaction in which contact with an allergen causes severe itching, swelling and reddening of the eyelids, itching, photophobia, excessive lacrimation, and in some cases - visual impairment.

It should be noted that regardless of the cause, the main thing that provides for any skin allergy is treatment, which consists in avoiding contacts with the substance that caused such a reaction. In any case, the first step in the treatment of an allergic reaction should be a doctor's consultation.