Causes and treatments for common skin allergies

Causes and treatments for common skin allergies

Skin allergies can range from being a minor rash due to an insect bite to painful allergies that might need immediate medical attention. Millions of people are affected by skin allergies. Although most of the skin allergies are not fatal or painful they surely have an impact on the patient’s quality of life. It is when the body’s immune system responds to an allergen that skin allergies occur. Some of the times, the immune system might incorrectly recognize a part of the body or any substance as a threat and therefore causes an allergic reaction. It is essential to know the exact cause of a skin allergy to treat it well or to prevent it altogether.

Eczema
When the skin is unable to retain the required amount of moisture, it tends to become dry and itchy leading to inflammation and scaly. This skin condition is commonly known as eczema, which is usually found in the creases of legs and arms. Some of the cases of eczema are the result of a genetic condition in which either the person is born with the skin condition or it develops in the early childhood. In some of the cases, children outgrow this condition while others retain it even in their adulthood.

Treatment
One of the best ways to treat eczema is by providing enough moisture to the skin. It is essential to ensure that the skin is clean, and one should not scratch the infected area. There are a number of topical creams, emollients, steroid creams, and cortisone creams that can be applied to the affected skin area to heal the skin allergy.

Heat rash
When the skin gets exposed to heat such as in the case of warm temperatures, the sweat ducts are unable to release sweat as these get blocked. This causes skin inflammation, which is also called prickly heat and leads to the formation of itchy and red bumps. Heat rashes may occur in both summers and winters. Babies may also get heat rashes due to underdeveloped pores or because of being overdressed, which does not let the skin breathe and leads to skin inflammation.

Treatments
In most of the cases, the heat rash goes away by its own. Sometimes, wearing breathable material clothing or avoiding skin friction can treat the condition. Moreover, skin inflammation can be reduced by staying away from direct sunlight and avoiding scented scrubs or lotions, which may cause skin irritation.

Hives
Hives forms raised wheels in the skin. These cause the skin to irritate, itch and most commonly occur on the legs and arms. The production of excessive histamine leads to hives skin allergies.

Treatments
Treatments such as steroid medications as well as antihistamine medications help in providing relief from hives. One must avoid scratching the affected skin area. A cold compress can help as well to reduce the inflammation and itching. It is advisable to avoid drinking alcohol, which can help in the reduction of breakouts. Patients who have hives are also advised to avoid eating junk food.