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Skin Allergy

Bothered by recurrent bumpy, itchy,scaly or red skin? You may be suffering from a skin allergy!

A skin allergy occurs when our body encounters something it thinks is dangerous, called an allergen. Our immune system overreacts, and releases many substances to defend against these ‘invaders’. These substances, like histamines, causes symptoms like rash or swelling.  There are many sub-types of skin allergies, common ones includes contact dermatitis, hives and eczema or atopic dermatitis. Common causes of skin allergies are nickel, fragrances, latex and household products like cleaners and cosmetics. However, potential allergens run in the thousands and can be very tricky to nail down the culprit.

Diagnosis & Treatments for skin allergy

The proverb that ‘prevention is better than cure’ is absolutely true in skin allergies. The best way to prevent a skin allergy is to avoid the allergen totally.

It is possible to test for skin allergies with a skin patch test or skin prick test, depending on the sub-type of your skin allergy. A doctor would be able to advice you on the type of test suitable for you. However, testing may not reveal the culprit allergen. In such cases, recognizing the trend between exposure and appearance of rash is helpful in identifying the allergen.

In the event of a skin allergy occurring, home measures such as cool compress , loose clothing and moisturizers may relieve the symptoms while awaiting for the allergy to fade. Most skin allergies self resolve after the offending agent is removed. However, your doctor would be able to prescribe you anti-histamines and steroids to help you recover faster.

In rare cases, skin allergies can lead to a life threatening condition known as anaphylaxis, which manifests as wheezing, shortness of breath and giddiness. If such events occur, seek medical help immediately!

Unsure if you are having a skin allergy? Speak to your doctor and we would be able to clarify that for you.