Overview
Skin allergies develop when your immune system overreacts to a harmless substance (allergen). As your body fights back, pesky and often painful symptoms, such as a rash, can develop. Allergens vary from person to person but often include pollen and food.
Common Triggers
- Pollen.
- Food, especially peanuts, eggs and shellfish.
- Latex.
- Pet dander.
- Plants.
- Sunlight.
- Bug or other insect bites.
- Chemicals and certain medicines.
Symptoms
- Rash.
- Itchy skin.
- Inflamed, red, swollen, bumpy or scaly skin.
- Cracks or fissures in the skin.
- Oozing from openings in the skin, especially after scratching
Diagnosis and Treatment
A doctor can perform an allergy skin test, a painless way to check for allergic reactions to as many as 80 substances. Once the triggers are known, often the treatment includes the following:
- Avoiding triggers.
- Oral medications, including an antihistamine, corticosteroids, mast cell stabilizers, topical cream and ointments.
- Light therapy.
If skin allergies are causing problems for you, seek treatment from a board-certified dermatologist at Pensacola Dermatology.
Rashes | American Academy of Dermatology. (2018). Aad.org. Retrieved 21 December 2018, from https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rashes