Knowing Skin Allergies: Type, Test, Cause and Treatment
Skin allergies are one of the most common skin disorders, both in adults and children. Itching and skin rashes characterize this type of allergy to appear on certain parts of the body.
If a person has allergies, including skin allergies, it means that their immune system is sensitive to certain substances known as allergens. Allergens can be food, latex, animal dander, insects, or drugs. Other things such as cold, heat, and sunlight can also trigger skin allergies.
Occurrence of Skin Allergies
Allergic reactions do not appear immediately when the body is first exposed to the allergen. At the first exposure, the immune system will only remember it as something dangerous, then make antibodies in response.
If exposure to the allergen occurs again, the new body will respond with various symptoms. Forming an immune reaction to an allergen takes at least 10 days.
If you already have allergies, in a matter of minutes, sufferers can immediately experience skin allergy symptoms every time it exposed them to allergens. However, symptoms can also appear 1-2 days later. Sometimes, allergies can cause a fatal or anaphylactic reaction.
Causes of Skin Allergies
If you suffer from skin allergies, it is advisable to go to the doctor. Your doctor can perform a skin allergy test to identify the triggers for your allergies.
There are several things that can cause and trigger an allergic skin reaction, including:
- Cosmetic products, such as make-up, lotion, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and hair dye
- Cleaning products, such as floor cleaners, laundry soap, disinfectants, and detergents
- Medications that apply to the skin, such as anti-itch creams or antibiotics
- Accessories made of metal, for example nickel
- Plants, including leaves, stems, or pollen
- Latex, which is the material used for rubber gloves, condoms, and balloons
- Insect spray
- Perfume
The risk of skin allergies is also greater if you suffer from eczema (eczema), impaired blood circulation, or itching in the intimate area.
Types of Common Skin Allergies
The following are the skin allergies that are commonly found in allergy sufferers:
1. Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Eczema is a type of skin allergy that usually occurs in children. However, this condition can also occur among adults. Common symptoms of eczema are dry, red, itchy and irritated skin. If the skin is infected, usually a small lump will appear filled with clear or yellowish fluid.
Genetic factors or a family history of eczema cause most cases of eczema. In addition, eczema is also often associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies.
2. Allergic contact dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an allergen. As mentioned above, the trigger for this skin disease can be anything, including latex, metals, perfumes, and plants.
For example, if you have an allergy to nickel (an ingredient in jewelry) and your skin comes into direct contact with jewelry or other objects made of nickel, you could experience symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis, such as itchy, red, swollen, and scaly skin.
3. Dyshidrotic dermatitis
The disease, which is also known as pompholyx, is a type of dermatitis that occurs on the hands and feet. Symptoms are dry and itchy skin, sometimes like blisters. The blistered skin will feel very itchy and painful.
The cause of dyshidrotic dermatitis is not known with certainty. However, this condition is more at risk for people who have other types of skin allergies, have damp hands, or sweat easily.
4. Urticaria or hives
Urticaria is inflammation and swelling of the skin’s surface. This condition occurs when the body exposes to certain substances or objects that cause the immune system to release histamine. Histamine then causes the symptoms of urticaria.
The appearance of red bumps on the skin that feel itchy can recognize urticaria or hives. These lumps can appear in one or more parts of the body. The size and shape of the lump can also vary, from small to large and wide. Not only as a skin allergic reaction, a viral infection can also cause hives.
There are two types of urticaria, namely acute and chronic urticaria. The most common urticaria is acute urticaria. Usually, this type of urticaria occurs after you eat food or touch objects that act as allergens. However, acute urticaria can also cause by heat, medications, or insect bites.
Chronic urticaria is quite rare. Most chronic urticaria has no known cause. Chronic urticaria can last for months or years, whereas acute urticaria usually lasts only 6 weeks.
5. Angioedema
Angioedema is an allergic reaction that occurs on the skin. In this condition, there is a buildup of fluid on the skin, causing swelling. The difference with hives is that the swelling of angioedema occurs under the skin.
Angioedema often occurs in soft tissues, such as the eyelids, lips, throat, or even the genitals. Angioedema usually occurs with urticaria.
Angioedema is called “acute” if the condition lasts for a short time, such as within minutes or hours. An allergic reaction usually causes acute angioedema to a drug or food, whereas chronic angioedema is recurrent and usually has no definite cause.
Various Types of Skin Allergy Tests
You can undergo allergy testing at a clinic or hospital to determine the cause of the appearance of allergy symptoms or triggers for skin allergies you are experiencing.
While undergoing a skin allergy test, your doctor will perform a physical examination and advise you to stop taking certain medications, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, if you are taking them.
Some allergy tests take a short time, about 20–40 minutes, but some take longer, up to a few days. The following are some types of skin allergy tests that can be done:
1. Skin prick test
This skin allergy test by a doctor by placing a substance or object suspected of being an allergy trigger on a small needle, then the needle into your skin. After that, the doctor will wait for about 15-20 minutes to see if there is an allergic reaction or not.
The skin prick test is usually painless. In adults, they perform the skin prick test on the forearm, while in children it is on the upper back.
The skin prick test is negative if you do not feel any symptoms after it has exposed the skin to the allergen. However, if you experience itching and a skin rash and hives appear at the puncture site, you most likely have an allergy to the substance being tested.
2. Patch test
Patch test is a skin allergy test that is done to detect an allergic reaction and assess its development. This skin allergy test by placing a patch that has an allergen on the arm or back and left for about 48 hours.
During the use of the patch, I advise you not to sweat too much or to be careful when bathing so that the area of the skin where the patch applied does not get wet. After 48 hours, the patch will removed and the doctor will evaluate the area of skin where the patch applied the next day.
If you experience itching or a rash and bumps appear on your back or arms, you most likely have an allergic reaction to the substance that was attached.
3. Skin injection test
This allergy test is like a skin prick test at first glance, but the difference is in the way they administered it. I do the skin injection test by injecting a liquid containing a substance suspected of triggering an allergy to the skin on the arm.
Next, the doctor will wait about 20 minutes to see if an allergic reaction occurs. They often do a skin injection test to assess if you have an allergic reaction to medications, such as antibiotics.
When the allergic reaction subsides, you also need to remember what allergy triggers you feel and as much as possible avoid contact with those allergy triggers.
How to deal with skin allergies
To prevent and treat skin allergies, there are several ways you can do, including:
- Avoid allergy triggers
This is the most important step in preventing an allergic reaction and relieving its symptoms. Find out what triggers your skin allergy and avoid direct contact as much as possible. Your doctor can help you identify your allergy triggers. - Using calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream
Both types of drugs work to reduce itching. However, the use of calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream should do as directed and under the supervision of a doctor. - Undergoing immunotherapy
For allergies that are severe or don’t go away with other treatments, your doctor may recommend allergen immunotherapy. This treatment by injecting purified allergen extract or taking immunotherapy tablets. - Using emergency epinephrine
If you have a history of severe allergies, your doctor will give you an injection of epinephrine. This type of drug works to relieve severe allergy symptoms that occur suddenly, so it is important to always carry it with you anytime and anywhere. - Wear loose and soft clothes
Tight clothing can make skin rashes worse. When the body is experiencing itching due to skin allergies, wear comfortable and loose clothing. - Take a cold shower
This method aims to reduce rashes on the skin. After bathing, dry your skin with a clean towel, then use a moisturizer. Avoid bathing or bathing in hot water as this can exacerbate skin allergy symptoms.
If your skin allergy causes severe symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and swelling in certain body parts, immediately consult a doctor or visit the nearest hospital for treatment.
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