Allergic rashes on the skin

Allergic rashes on the skin are one of the first and most common signs of the development of a hypersensitivity reaction of the body to allergens.

The rashes can have different sizes, shapes, colors, and be accompanied by unpleasant sensations on the skin. It is important to pay attention to their appearance in time to stop more serious manifestations of an allergic reaction in a timely manner.

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Causes of allergic skin rashes

The causes of allergic skin rashes worry many patients who have encountered this manifestation at least once.

An allergic reaction is generally an exaggerated reaction of the body's defenses to substances and compounds that are absolutely standard for any other organism (food, pollen, animal hair, chemical agents). Usually, the human immune system inhibits a foreign substance quite normally, but in certain situations, immune cells remember the "uninvited guest" and the next time they come, they produce specific antibodies that provoke an inadequate reaction of the body with a large number of complex processes of influence on the newly received allergen.

Among the many reasons for the body's non-standard reaction, one can name a hereditary factor, a property of the immune system that can be traced from generation to generation, from mother or father to child. It is important that it is not a specific reaction to a substance that is transmitted genetically, but only the body's ability to react inadequately to the introduction of allergens.

The causes of hypersensitivity of the body can be stressful situations, especially long-term, heavy psycho-emotional stress, which can provoke a failure in the body's defense system.

The presence of infectious diseases in the body also undermines the immune system, since sometimes it is difficult for the defense to cope with infectious and foreign agents at the same time.

The environmental factor implies the frequent use by modern housewives of detergents and abrasives, which contain mostly quite aggressive chemicals that stimulate the development of allergies.

Excessive reaction of the body to medical drugs that enter the bloodstream repeatedly is considered quite common. Some therapeutic agents have an increased ability to cause allergies, the attending physician should always warn the patient about this in advance.

Symptoms of allergic skin rashes

The main components that confirm the symptoms of allergic skin rashes are manifestations of urticaria, eczema, edema and atopic dermatitis.

Urticaria is a type of allergic dermatitis, which causes itchy pinkish blisters to appear on the skin surface, reminiscent of a nettle burn. The rash appears suddenly and can affect fairly large areas of the skin. After a few hours, the urticaria usually subsides or disappears completely. However, if exposure to an allergen is repeated with a certain frequency, the urticaria can become chronic, not disappearing from the skin.

Total Quincke's edema is nothing more than a much larger manifestation of urticaria. In this condition, not only the skin swells, but also some organs, which can lead to a disorder of vital functions of the body, difficulty breathing, and a disorder of cardiac activity. Total edema is a critical situation that requires emergency medical care, and the sooner it is provided, the better the prognosis for the patient.

Signs of allergic eczema include the appearance of redness on the skin in the form of dry itchy spots, which may be accompanied by burning and a feeling of tissue tightness. The appearance of peeling in areas of hyperemia indicates the development of atopic dermatitis.

All these signs are skin manifestations of an allergic reaction, although the full picture of an allergy is usually represented by some general symptoms of the pathological process, such as gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and destabilization of blood pressure.

Allergic rashes on the skin of the hands

Allergic rashes on the skin of the hands most often appear as a result of direct contact of allergic irritants with the skin. Therefore, the disease most often affects active housewives, laundresses, chemical industry workers, in general, all those people whose hands periodically or constantly come into contact with aggressive or chemical environments. Weak exposure to an allergen in small concentrations sometimes causes rashes only a few days after contact. A strong irritant, however, reveals a skin reaction almost simultaneously with its contact with the skin.

Initially, the reaction occurs in places where chemical irritants are most abundant - under the surface of the rings, between the fingers, in the skin folds. Gradually, the lesion can spread to the fingers and palmar surfaces.

Often people who, due to their professional activities, are constantly in contact with chemicals, solvents, petroleum products, trying to protect themselves from allergies, put on skin-protecting gloves. This is a good way to protect your hands, but you need to pay attention to the composition of protective equipment: sometimes the chemical components of rubber or latex can also provoke the appearance of rashes.

Allergic rashes on the skin of the hands appear as a result of contact with nickel, rubber, latex surfaces, with some detergents and abrasives, with plants, and externally applied medications.

Allergic rashes on the skin of the face

Allergic rashes on the skin of the face can be a consequence of many provoking factors. This is the result of exposure to food, medicinal, plant or chemical agents.

Facial skin is one of the most sensitive in the body, therefore it has a primary tendency to quickly react to the introduction of irritants.

Facial skin allergy usually manifests itself as hyperemia, a burning sensation of the skin, a fine-grained rash or blisters. These symptoms may be accompanied by conjunctivitis and lacrimation.

Sometimes the rashes on the face are few in number and are taken for signs of so-called "problem skin". Fighting such rashes with conventional means does not bring any effect; in this situation, antihistamines are needed.

Very often, an allergic reaction on the face appears after using untested cosmetics. If your skin is prone to allergies, you should first test the cream you bought for the first time by applying a small amount to an inconspicuous area of skin, for example, behind the ear. The absence of a skin reaction within three days after applying the cream indicates that it can be used.

Hypersensitivity can develop when using lipsticks, mascara, creams, lotions that are not quite suitable for your skin. If itching, peeling, redness, swelling of the face appear, you should immediately stop using the suspicious cosmetic product.

Allergies of the skin of the face in response to exposure to cold or sunlight, or a solarium are also possible.

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Diagnosis of allergic skin rashes

Diagnosis of allergic skin rashes is carried out by a doctor primarily on the basis of a visual examination and an allergic anamnesis. General studies (biochemistry and general blood analysis) are mandatory.

Additional examination methods are aimed primarily at detecting and specifying the potential allergen.

Allergy tests are an effective diagnostic method for detecting signs of hypersensitivity. Skin tests are methods of puncture, scratch and intradermal testing that allow us to determine the nature of the allergen and prescribe appropriate immunotherapy.

Blood test for antibodies – determines the concentration of immunoglobulin E in the blood plasma. A positive reaction of plasma and a certain allergen means the presence of specific antibodies in the blood that trigger the development of allergies.

Specification of specific antibodies – determination of IgG sensitivity to specific allergens from the list of suspected irritants. Allows to unambiguously identify the causative agent of allergic manifestations and give its exact name.

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Treatment of allergic skin rashes

Treatment of allergic skin rashes is impossible without identifying the allergen and eliminating contact with the allergen. Sometimes this is enough to subside the symptoms of the reaction. Mild forms of allergy, not accompanied by a general deterioration in the patient's condition, are usually treated with topical medications.

Complex treatment of allergic rashes is carried out when a severe reaction develops, the damage is large-scale and general clinical symptoms are present.

Complex treatment includes:

• antiallergic drugs (first generation drugs - suprastin, diazolin, tavegil; second generation drugs - loratadine, fenistil; third generation drugs - claritin, telfast, kestin);
• hormonal therapy (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone);
• glucocorticoid ointments;
• antibacterial and bactericidal ointments;
• tranquilizing creams.

As an adjuvant therapy, you can use traditional medicine recipes:

• compresses and washing with herbal decoctions (chamomile, hawthorn, chicory, rose hips, motherwort);
• herbal tea that should be drunk throughout the day (nettle, hops, succession, licorice);
• cucumber juice poultices;
• ointment from 2 parts olive oil, 1 part homemade sour cream and 1 part baby powder, mix and apply for 20 minutes.

Any treatment for allergic rashes should begin with preventing the body from coming into contact with the allergen in any form.

Prevention of allergic skin rashes

If your body is prone to developing allergies, you need to be very careful when choosing food, cosmetics, laundry and cleaning products, dishwashing products, etc. You should avoid eating citrus fruits, mushrooms, chocolate products, seafood. It is not recommended to eat foods that contain chemicals, preservatives: sausage, pickled and smoked food, semi-finished products and instant food.

It is advisable to avoid stimulating drinks: alcohol, coffee, strong tea.

The consumption of fermented milk products, all kinds of cereals, vegetables, fruits, greens, and weak broths is encouraged.

Review the cosmetics you use - at the slightest suspicion, it is better to immediately throw away the cream or gel that you doubt or give it to a friend who does not suffer from allergies.

If you are at a loss as to which cream, soap or shampoo to buy, use the children's series: such products are usually hypoallergenic. Pay attention to the expiration date of cosmetics, do not use expired products. Also look at the price tags - a product that is too cheap is unlikely to contain natural ingredients.

Traditional methods of treating allergies can also be used as preventive measures.

Allergy is an unpleasant and quite dangerous condition of the body. To protect yourself from this pathology, lead a healthy lifestyle and be attentive to yourself and your health, do not neglect the doctor's advice, and then allergic rashes on the skin will become just a bad memory for you.