Skin allergies

Skin allergy is a reflection of problems that occur inside the body. It is believed that the skin reacts to all pathological changes in internal organs and systems.

An allergy that manifests itself in the form of skin symptoms is a way of the skin reacting to an allergen.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Pathogenesis

The skin, which is the largest organ in area, performs a protective and barrier function, therefore it reacts to any irritant. The primary recognition of an allergen, i.e. the sensitization period, can be short - about a week, or can last up to two months. During the entire sensitization period, specific immunoglobulins of the IgE class are produced in the body. Antibodies, binding to allergens, begin to secrete histamine and prostaglandin, which in turn provoke an allergic reaction. If histamine secretion prevails, a person's skin turns red and swelling begins. When prostaglandins prevail, blood vessels in the body dilate. Thus, an allergy manifests itself on the skin in the form of a rash, itching, hyperemia, sometimes in the form of blisters and dermatitis.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Forms

Skin allergies are conventionally divided into types corresponding to allergic reactions.

Contact dermatitis of inflammatory etiology. Dermatitis can be allergic, when the skin reacts in a delayed manner, sometimes within three days. Also, contact dermatitis can be simple and it develops very quickly. Simple dermatitis (dermatitis allergica) is provoked by irritants, these can be phenols, caustic soda, lime, acids, cosmetics and other chemicals. Also, simple dermatitis can be provoked by external ointments and gels. A simple form of contact dermatitis can "debut" on the skin of a completely healthy person when in contact with an allergen, also such dermatitis often occurs as an addition to an existing pathology of the skin, for example, neurodermatitis. The sensitization process depends on the type of allergen: an active irritant is sensitized for no more than a week, a weaker one can be recognized by the body for months and even years. Skin allergy in the form of contact dermatitis can manifest itself mainly in those areas that were directly affected by the allergen. Therefore, the cause of contact dermatitis in most cases is an external irritant.

Allergic urticaria is another type of skin allergy. As a rule, urticaria is acute and can be provoked by both external and internal factors. Urticaria is provoked by food components and some types of medications. Allergens are associated with such products as nuts, some types of fruits, fish, eggs, and honey. Medicines that can cause urticaria are the entire group of penicillins and sulfonamides. Urticaria is provoked by household allergens (dust) and wasp and bee stings. Also, skin allergy in the form of urticaria can be a consequence of internal infectious processes - hepatitis, mononucleosis. In addition to allergic urticaria, there are types of cold urticaria, photourticaria (solar). The symptoms of urticaria can be very diverse, but they are united by one thing - a characteristic rash in the form of small, sometimes large blisters. A person experiences a strong sensation of itching, if the blisters are scratched, the itching only intensifies. Urticaria is not as banal as it seems at first glance, as it can intensify to the point of Quincke's edema. Angioedema looks like this: the eyelids, lips, tongue, face, then the neck and occipital part swell, all this develops rapidly and can become life-threatening, as it leads to suffocation.

Skin allergy in the form of eczema, atopic dermatitis. This is a general term that unites various subtypes of skin symptoms. Their etiology is not fully understood, but eczema is often explained by a hereditary factor. As a rule, the initial stage is erythema, sometimes accompanied by a rash. The rash consists of small blisters that periodically open and reappear. Peeling, keratinization of the skin is also possible, exudate accumulates under the crusts. Localization is also variable - cheeks, forehead, scalp, hands. The extremities are usually covered with eczema in the areas of extensor surfaces (the area under the knees, under the chin).

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Treatment skin allergy

• Identify the irritant as quickly as possible and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis;
• Just as with other types of allergies, it is important to neutralize the irritant itself as quickly as possible and minimize contact with it;
• Strictly follow the allergist’s instructions and do not self-medicate;
• Follow a dietary regimen, exclude all foods that provoke allergies;
• Replace all cosmetic and hygiene products with hypoallergenic ones;
• If possible, replace synthetic clothing with clothing made from natural materials, cotton;
• Ventilate the room more often and do wet cleaning.

Depending on the type, skin allergies can be treated quite well, but atopic dermatitis and eczema often take a long time to treat and tend to recur. That is why it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of a skin allergic reaction. The sooner treatment is started, the more opportunities there are to stop the allergy at the very beginning and prevent it from developing into pathological forms.