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Many people are aware that allergies affect digestive or respiratory systems, however, they are also a major irritant of the largest organ – the skin. If you suffer from this condition, it is important to know the effective approach to manage skin allergies. There are three important things you should know when skin allergies are triggered, so that you can avoid them from happening and prevent your skin from becoming ruined.

Firstly, understand how these allergic reactions are triggered.

Just like the digestive or respiratory systems react from the allergens inhaled or ingested, your skin overreacts when certain substances or chemicals make contact with it. In some cases, the allergic reaction sets in very quickly, while in other instances it takes quite some time. Either way, it can be very itchy and this can be very serious for your skin. Knowing which type of chemicals cause the condition, is one way of better managing skin allergies.

Secondly, identify and eliminate skin irritants and allergens that cause the itching or scratching cycle.

This can be difficult considering that there are thousands of different irritants and allergens which trigger skin allergies. However, knowing or identifying which irritants your skin usually comes into contact with, will give you a decent start. There are two general types of skin irritants or allergens to look at: natural and man-made.

• Latex

Latex is derived from the Brazilian rubber tree. These are natural proteins, however, when undergone manufacturing processes, they become full of allergens, which trigger the reactions when an individual suffering the condition comes in contact with it. Gloves are one of the products which are made of latex and are normally used by people.

However, there are other products which are made of latex, as well, such as the balloons, elastic bands (including those found in undergarments), pencil erasers and even baby pacifiers. If you are known to have allergic reactions, it is best to avoid products that contain latex. Instead, opt for plastic or vinyl.

• Nickel

You can find nickel in many everyday things, such as coins, jewellery, scissors, zippers, and some kitchen and bathroom handles. You can also find it in certain eye shadows, mascara, eye pencils, and others. Nickel allergy patients have risen by 40% over the past few years, because of the growing popularity of using jewellery, body piercings, and cosmetics.

Aside from this, there are certain foods that contain natural nickel and if you are suffering severe symptoms, you need to undergo a supervised medical diet. Avoiding nickel seems to be the best way to stop the allergies, as there are currently no means of desensitising nickel allergy reactions.

Thirdly, take care of your skin.

One thing that you can do is always keep your fingernails short. This reduces serious damage from scratching.

Dry skin tends to irritate easily, so it will help if it is kept moisturized and softened. For patients with reactions to certain chemicals, doctors may suggest using preparations with topical corticosteroid, to control or prevent the inflammation.

When taking a shower, make sure it‘s not too hot. The heat increases the dryness and itchiness of your skin, triggering more irritant reactions. Use lukewarm water when taking a bath and don’t overdo it, 20-30 minutes of soaking is plemty. Adding baking soda or oatmeal can help sooth your skin.

Bubble baths are not a good idea since they stop the bathwater from moisturizing and softening your skin. As much as possible, use mild or non-soap cleanser. You will also have to remember to rinse the chlorine from your skin as soon as possible after swimming in a pool.

It is also important to avoid excessive sweating. Heavy clothing and heavy physical contact can trigger skin irritants or allergies relatively easily.

The symptoms of the allergy differ according to the type of allergen, the severity of the immune response and the entry point of the allergen. While all these appear differently, the basic characteristic of the allergies remain constant, it is an exaggerated response of the immune system to foreign bodies called antigens.

In allergies, the antigen is specifically bracketed into one category of antigens called allergens. These allergens are controlled by the body by way of releasing an immunoglobulin, the IgE. To understand better the interaction between the allergens and antibodies, let us see it from the viewpoint of the allergies themselves. Below are short overviews of the most common allergies.

Asthma

Asthma is a characterized by the inflammation of air passages, which results in difficulty of breathing, due to the narrowing of the bronchial tubes that limit the passage of air into the lungs. While asthma is not always treated as an allergy, it is often identified as a symptom of allergic reaction to inhaled allergens. The most common symptoms of asthma are shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and tightness of the chest.

Allergic Rhinitis

This type of allergy is also characterized by the inflammation of the nasal passages (from the word rhinitis, meaning nose). This affects 1 in every 5 individuals in America and is known as one of the most common illnesses around the globe. This triggers a rather complex cascade of symptoms which include, nasal congestion and nasal itching, sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy nose, post natal drip and rhinorrhea or runny nose.

Allergic rhinitis can be roughly divided into two groups- perennial and seasonal. Perennial allergic rhinitis is caused by year-round exposure to allergens such as dust and dust mites, moulds and animal dander. The more common type, the seasonal allergic rhinitis which is also known as hay fever, is caused by the seasonal release of pollens. The incidence of allergic rhinitis therefore rises in time with the high-pollen seasons.

Allergic Eyes or Allergic Conjunctivitis

This is characterized by the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the eyeballs and the underlying structures of the eyelids. There are five common symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis namely, increased production of tears, redness of the white of the eye as well as the inner eyelid, itchiness, blurry vision and swelling of the eyelid or around the eyelid.

Allergic Eczema

Allergic eczema or atopic dermatitis is an allergic response to a bacterium that thrives on the skin. The common characteristic of this skin allergy is the inflammation or irritation of the skin which may or may not be itchy. Symptoms vary depending on the person.

Hives

Otherwise known as urticaria, hives are characterized by pale red swollen bumps that are localized on certain parts of the skin, which appear suddenly due to contact with an allergen. Hives are itchy and may sometimes cause burning or stinging sensations. These can appear on any superficial area of the body, including the surface of the skin, ears, throat and tongue. They are usually small bumps, but some serious cases of urticaria can produce bumps that are the size of dinner plates.

Food Allergies

This is an umbrella of allergies that are basically termed to as food intolerance. There are various types of food allergies that commonly appear, including milk allergy, nut allergy, egg allergy, fish allergy, shellfish allergy and soy allergy.