Skin Allergies

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

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