Important Things You Need To Learn About Skin Allergy

Also known as contact allergy, skin allergy is a common disease among many people from all walks of life. It develops when the individuals come into contact with certain substances and allergens that induce certain unfriendly reactions in their bodies. Itchy skin allergies and rashes are the most extensive types of skin allergy reactions. However, what should be known is that not all itchy rashes are necessarily allergy caused. Conventionally, allergies are characterized by different symptoms with the most common being itching. The appearance of swollen sections of the body may also indicate a developing allergic condition, not to mention the reddening and development of bumpy skin.

So, how exactly does a skin allergy happen? To start with, it is important to point out that not only food substances are capable of inducing allergic reactions. In fact, some individuals develop allergies when they touch some jewels and even plants.

Whichever allergen is in question, an allergy develops when the allergen is detected in the individual’s immune system. While most of the allergens are harmless, the substances cause overreactions in the body, resulting in itches, swells, reddening, and such. Others of these allergens could be pollen, dust, seafood, milk, and so forth. The following is a review of the most common skin allergies.

Eczema – Atopic Dermatitis

This type of allergic skin rash is most common in young children although there are cases in young adults and it may be found in adults too. These rashes, commonly known as Eczema, start occurring when an allergic individual starts to scratch. In infants, the rashes appear on the cheeks, on the scalp, and the chest while in adults and relatively older kids, they appear on the back of the knees and on the elbows’ folding skin. They may also occur on the back, the feet, the neck, and on the face. The rashes are normally red, with bumps or blisters, and may have regions of broken skin resulting from scratching.

Contact Dermatitis

This allergy occurs when an individual with an allergy comes into contact with a certain substance that induces a rash-resultant reaction. These substances could be anything from cosmetics, dies, dental substances, to certain medications, and so forth. For instance, contact dermatitis may result from poison ivy that induces extreme itching, which results in oozing blisters. The substance stems from plants in the Toxicodendron families. What you should know about this skin allergy is that it causes rashes only on the area that comes into contact with the causative substance.

Angioedema (Swelling) and Urticaria (Hives)

Commonly known as hives, Urticaria is a rash characterized by itchiness and it can affect individuals of all ages. The rashes conventionally appear as red raised bumps of different sizes and shapes. It can last from a few minutes to several hours. With this allergic condition being so itchy, affected individuals will scratch to a point of breaking their skins, leading to bleeding. The accompanying swelling here is known as Angioedema and may occur on the eyes, the feet, and hands.

Itching without rashes

This skin allergy is a common condition in most individuals. Medically referred to as Pruritus, this condition may indicate a skin disease occurring internally. Pruritus involving the whole body may be a sign of a metabolic complication such as deficiency of iron or thyroid disease.