INHALED ALLERGYAn inhaled allergy is a reaction to an allergen in the environment which enters the body when you breathe. Some common allergens people react to are: perfumes, pollen, smoke, the house dust mite and animals (e.g. dogs, cats, horses).
The best way to deal with any allergen is to identify it and avoid it. It can be difficult to identify an inhaled allergen and often it is impossible to totally avoid it. For example, you can totally avoid cigarette smoke in your home, but you not the house dust mite. Once an inhaled allergen has been identified, reduce exposure if it can’t be completely avoided. Medication is a possibility in some instances. Discuss this with your doctor. The dust mite is one of the most common allergens. Reducing the dust mite can be time consuming and expensive. Look at all the options carefully before deciding your line of attack. MedicineNet.com lists eight ways to control the house dust mite. Hayfever (allergic rhinitis) is also a very common allergic condition. There are simple things you can do to reduce your exposure. MedicineNet.com lists ten ways to manage hayfever without medication. |
CONTACT ALLERGYContact dermatitis is a reaction to a substance that touches the skin. Those who have sensitive skin are more likely to react. Reactions vary from a rash which is mildly irritating to redness resembling a burn. The reaction is often delayed appearing 24 to 48 hours after exposure so often it’s a case of sitting down and thinking about what your skin has touched in that period of time. The body doesn’t always react when first exposed but can react if there is frequent exposure. Therefore it is possible to react to a cosmetic you’ve been using for months without any problem. Substances that can cause an allergic reaction can be hard to determine. Often it's a case of sitting down and making a list of all the substances that touch your skin. Eliminate all of them if you can. You should notice an improvement within two weeks. Once the skin is clear, try a small patch of each one, waiting several days to see if there is a reaction before trying another one. In time you should be able to track down the culprit. Here are just a few of the possibilities: hair products, cosmetics, metals such as nickel, chemicals, detergents, latex Treatment: Your doctor will give you a prescription for an ointment or cream. Follow your doctor's advice to prevent an infection. Medication used for dermatitis: Over time the body can react to a cream or lotion your doctor has prescribed. Talk to your doctor about this possibility. It's important to identify the cause of the reaction. If your doctor or dermatologist can't identify the cause, see an allergy specialist. |