3 Common  Allergy   Rashes

Sometimes, an allergic reaction can appear as a rash, which is when your immune system overreacts to a harmless substance.1 An allergy rash can be painful and cause infections, scarring, and other complications.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema), allergic contact dermatitis, and hives are the most common allergy rashes. Symptoms are often characterized by redness, itching, and swelling of the skin and blistering that leaks fluid and crusts over. Continue reading to find out about allergy rashes including what causes them, symptoms, and treatment optional

1. Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis results in flares of itchy, red, and swollen skin. This type of eczema is much more common in children than adults. Atopic dermatitis affects up to 20% of children but only 1% to 3% of adults. About 50% of those with eczema also have food allergies and hay fever (seasonal allergies).

American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. Skin allergy.

  • Atopic dermatitis symptoms can include:
  • Blisters that ooze and crust
  • Bumpy skin on the back of your arms and front of your thighs
  • Changes in skin tone
  • Discharge and bleeding from the ear
  • Dry skin
  • Raw skin from scratching
  • Redness and inflammation
  • Thick, leathery skin

Where an atopic dermatitis breakout occurs can depend on the age. Amongst young children, this rash usually tends to form around the face, feet, hands, and scalp. Adolescents and adults generally tend to form a rash at the eyelids, elbows, genitals, hands, and knees.

2. Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergy-related rash that often occurs due to the exposure to an allergen. People suffering from skin disorders, such as sensitive skin, might be more prone to allergic contact dermatitis.

Symptoms of contact dermatitis are:

  • Blisters that ooze, drain, and crust
  • Raw, scaly, and thick skin
  • Red bumps
  • Red, streaky, or patchy skin where the allergen made contact
  • Severe itching, burning, and pain
  • Warm and tender skin

You will most likely not react on the skin immediately. Within one to two days of being exposed, your rash would set in

3. Hives (Urticaria)

Hives are also slightly raised, itchy red bumps (wheals) that appear after exposure to an allergen. Wheals can grow, spread, and unite to form large rashes. These bumps are temporary and usually disappear as soon as you no longer expose yourself to the allergen.

Triggers

People suffering with atopic dermatitis very often have other allergic conditions. Seasonal allergies, for instance, do not cause atopic dermatitis but might exacerbate the symptoms. Other triggers include cold and dry air, dry skin, emotional stress, fragrances and dyes, sudden changes in temperature, and viral infections.

A number of triggers may cause allergic contact dermatitis, including:

  • Adhesives
  • Fabrics and clothing
  • Fragrances
  • Hair dye and nail polish
  • Nickel and other metals
  • Preservatives
  • Rubber and latex

Topical antibiotics

There’s a rare form of contact dermatitis that does not require direct contact with the skin to cause a flare. Airborne contact dermatitis is caused by coming into contact with aerosolized plant resins from sunflowers, ragweed, and goldenrod

Acute hives are usually due to certain foods, insect bites, medicine, pet dander, and pollen. Chronic or long-term hives are more commonly caused by emotional stress and excessive sweating.

Diagnosis

A doctor can check your skin and perform an allergy skin test to determine the cause of your allergic rash. Types of allergy skin tests are:

MedlinePlus. Allergy testing – skin.Intradermal skin test: This test is mainly used to confirm allergies to bee venom and penicillin. A doctor will inject a small amount of an allergen into your skin.

Patch testing: A healthcare provider applies your skin with adhesive patches holding allergens for 48 hours and checks the results after 72–96 hours. Such testing is very effective in helping assess the causative factors of allergic contact dermatitis.

Skin prick test: The healthcare provider pricks your skin to let in a small quantity of the allergen. He observes the reaction of your skin which may occur between 15 to 20 minutes.

Treatment

Triggers are best avoided when preventing an allergy rash.Several treatments are available for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and hives.

Common treatments

  • Topical Moisturizers: A healthcare provider may prescribe topical moisturizers to treat eczema. These moisturizers help to reduce itching, redness, and swelling.
  • Steroids: A healthcare provider may prescribe topical or oral steroids to reduce inflammation in patients with atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis
  • Cool compress: A cool compress is a good relief measure for itching resulting from allergic contact dermatitis.
  • Lotion: If you have eczema, it is essential to moisturize your skin. Reapply lotion two to three times per day. Avoid any products containing alcohol, dyes, scents, and other chemicals.
  • Calamine lotion and colloidal oatmeal baths can be calming on the skin in patients with allergic contact dermatitis.
  • Antihistamines: These drugs inhibit the effects of histamine, a chemical your body puts out in reaction to an allergen. An antihistamine can even alleviate itching due to an allergic rash.
  • Hives usually clear up on their own. A person should avoid hot baths or showers and tight clothing because irritation to the skin could be induced. A healthcare provider may prescribe systemic medications, including oral dapsone or an injection called Xolair (omalizumab).

When To See a Doctor

You can generally take care of an allergy rash yourself. The rash usually clears up once you get the allergen out of your environment. But you should see a doctor if your rash doesn’t improve with treatments that typically work, such as antihistamines or topical steroids.

You should also see a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms with your rash:

  • Affects your eyes, genitals, lips, or mouth
  • Blisters
  • Causes open sores and raw skin
  • Painful
  • With a fever
  • Spreads rapidly and affects much of your body

If you develop signs of an infection, such as pus-like discharge and red, swollen, warm skin, see a healthcare provider. If you have a severe allergic reaction, including trouble breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

Other Causes of Skin Rashes:Allergens are the most common cause of skin rashes, but sometimes an underlying illness or infection is the cause. Some people develop a skin rash in response to certain medicines or insect bites and stings.

Other causes of skin rashes include

  • Childhood illnesses: There is chickenpox, hand-food-mouth disease, measles, and scarlet fever.
  • Impetigo: These red sores develop blisters that ooze then crust. Impetigo usually develops in children.
  • Kawasaki disease: These are rare inflammatory blood vessel illnesses affecting mostly children.
  • Lupus: This disease affects the body as an auto immune disease because of which its immune system sometimes mistakes the skin, kidneys, and even joints among others as unwanted intruders to fight against.
  • Psoriasis is a skin disorder characterized by inflamed, raised patches of red skin and silvery scales, often accompanied by dandruff.
  • RA: This condition refers to inflammation and swelling of joints and tissues due to arthritis
  • Shingles- A painful rash. Shingles arises due to infection caused by a virus called VZV; it causes chickenpox that usually remains inactive in your nerve cells after it first infects you.
  • Systemic infections: A bacterial, fungal, or viral infection that develops in the general body.

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