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Allergic skin rashes

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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Allergic skin rash is one of the first and most frequent signs of the development of the reaction of the hypersensitivity of the organism to allergens.

Rashes can have different sizes, shape, color, accompanied by unpleasant sensations on the skin. It is important to pay attention to their appearance in time to timely stop more serious manifestations of an allergic reaction.

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Causes of allergic skin rashes

The causes of allergic skin rashes worry many patients, at least once faced with this manifestation.

The allergic reaction as a whole is an exaggerated reaction of protective forces to absolutely standard substances and compounds for any other organism (food, pollen, animal hair, chemical agents). Usually, human immunity quite normally inhibits the foreign substance, but in certain situations, immune cells remember the "uninvited guest" and the next time they develop specific antibodies to it that trigger an inadequate reaction of the body with a large number of complex processes affecting the newly arrived allergen.

Among many reasons for the non-standard reaction of the organism can be called 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 genetically transmitted is not a specific reaction to any substance, but only the ability of the body to respond inappropriately to the introduction of allergens.

The causes of hypersensitivity of the body can be stressful situations, especially long-term, heavy psychoemotional stresses, which can provoke a malfunction in the body's defense system.

The presence of infectious diseases in the body also undermines the work of immunity, since at times protection is difficult to cope with infectious and alien agents simultaneously.

Ecological factor implies frequent use by modern housewives of detergents and abrasives, in which mainly aggressive chemicals are hidden, which stimulate the development of allergies.

Excessive reaction of the body to medical preparations that enter the circulatory system repeatedly is considered quite common. Some therapeutic agents have an increased ability to cause allergies, the treating doctor must always warn the patient in advance.

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Symptoms of allergic skin rashes

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

A nettle rash is a dermatitis of an allergic nature, when affected, on the surface of the skin appear itchy pinkish blisters that resemble a nettle burn. The rash appears suddenly and can affect fairly large areas of skin. At the end of several hours after the manifestations, urticaria usually weakens or disappears altogether. However, if the effect of the allergen repeats at a certain frequency, the nettle rash can go on into a chronic form, without disappearing from the skin.

The total angioedema of Quincke is nothing more than a much more extensive manifestation of urticaria. In this state, not only skin integuments swell, but also some organs, which can lead to the disruption of vital functions of the body, difficulty breathing, and disorder of cardiac activity. Total swelling is a critical situation that requires urgent medical attention, and the earlier it is provided, the better the prognosis for the patient.

Signs of allergic eczema can be called the appearance on the skin of redness in the form of dry itchy spots, which can be accompanied by burning and a feeling of tightness of tissues. The appearance of ecdysis in places of hyperemia indicates the development of atopic dermatitis.

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

Allergic skin rashes

Allergic skin rashes occur most often due to direct contact of allergic stimuli with skin. Therefore, most often the disease affects active housewives, laundresses, chemical workers, in general, all those people whose hands are periodically or constantly in contact with aggressive or chemical media. The weak effect of the allergen in low concentrations sometimes causes rashes only a few days after exposure. A strong irritant detects a skin reaction almost simultaneously with its ingress onto the skin.

Initially, the reaction occurs in the places of the most mass accumulation of chemical stimuli - 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, because of their professional activities, constantly contacting with chemicals, solvents, petroleum products, trying to protect themselves from allergies, put on skin protective 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 trigger the appearance of rashes.

Allergic skin rashes occur as a result of contact with nickel, rubber, latex surfaces, with some washing and abrasive agents, with plants that are externally applied drugs.

Allergic skin rashes

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

Skin of the face is one of the most sensitive in the body, therefore it has a primary propensity to respond quickly to the introduction of stimuli.

Face skin allergy is usually manifested by flushing, a burning sensation of the skin, a fine-grained rash or blisters. Conjunctivitis and lachrymation may accompany these symptoms.

Sometimes rashes on the face are few, and they are taken for signs of so-called "problem skin". The fight with such rashes by conventional means does not work, in this situation, antihistamines are needed.

Very often, an allergic reaction to the face appears after using unchecked cosmetics. If your skin is prone to allergies, the first time you bought the cream, you first need to test, applying a small amount of it to a barely visible area of the skin, for example, behind the ear. The absence of a skin reaction within three days after applying the cream indicates the possibility of its use.

Hypersensitivity can develop with the use of lipsticks, mascara, creams, lotions, which do not quite fit your skin. With the appearance of itching, flaking, redness, swelling of the face, you should immediately stop using a suspicious cosmetic.

It is also possible allergy of the skin of the face in response to the effects of cold or sunlight, solarium.

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Diagnosis of allergic skin rashes

Diagnosis of allergic skin rashes is performed by a doctor first of all on the basis of visual examination and allergic anamnesis. General studies (biochemistry and general blood analysis) are mandatory.

Additional methods of examination are aimed mainly at the detection and specification of a potential allergen.

Allergological tests are an effective diagnostic method for detecting signs of hypersensitivity of the body. Cumulative assays are methods of puncture, scratching and intradermal testing, allowing to determine the nature of the allergen and prescribe appropriate immunotherapy.

Analysis of blood for antibodies - determines the concentration of immunoglobulin E in blood plasma. The positive reaction of plasma and a certain allergen means the presence in the blood of specific antibodies, which give impetus to the development of allergies.

Specificity of specific antibodies - the determination of the sensitivity of IgG to specific allergens from the list of suspected irritant agents. It allows to uniquely 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 identification of the allergen and exclusion of contact with the pathogen of allergy. Sometimes this is enough to suppress the symptoms of the reaction. Light forms of allergies, not accompanied by a general deterioration of the patient's condition, are usually treated with topical preparations.

Complex treatment of allergic rashes is carried out with the development of severe reactions, large lesions and the connection of general clinical symptoms.

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 auxiliary therapy, you can use the recipes of alternative medicine:

  • compresses and washing decoctions of herbs (chamomile, hawthorn, chicory, dog rose, motherwort);
  • tea from herbs, which should be drunk during the day (nettle, hops, turn, licorice);
  • lotions of cucumber juice;
  • ointment from 2 parts of olive oil, 1 part of home-made sour cream and 1 part of baby powder, mix and apply for 20 minutes.

Any treatment of allergic rashes should begin with the suppression of the body's contacts 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, washing and cleaning facilities, washing dishes, etc. It is necessary to avoid eating citrus fruits, mushrooms, chocolate products, seafood. It is not recommended to use foods containing chemicals, preservatives: food such as sausage, pickled and smoked food, semi-finished products and instant food.

It is advisable to refrain from stimulating the body of drinks: alcohol, coffee, strong tea.

We welcome the use of fermented milk products, all kinds of cereals, vegetables, fruits, greens, light broths.

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

If you are lost, what kind of cream, soap or shampoo to buy, use the children's series: such products, as a rule, hypoallergenic. Pay attention to the shelf life of cosmetics, do not use expired drugs. Also, look at the price tags - too cheap a tool hardly contains natural ingredients.

Alternative ways of treating allergies can also be used as preventive measures.

Allergy is an unpleasant and rather 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 advice of a doctor, and then allergic skin rashes will become for you only a bad memory.

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