Skin Allergy Specialist

What causes a skin allergy?

Many substances can irritate your skin and cause a rash. However, you only have an allergy if the substance triggers your immune system and the immune reaction causes the skin problem.

The two most common skin allergy types are:

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when something touches your skin and triggers your immune system. The top causes of allergic contact dermatitis include:

• Poison ivy, oak, and sumac
• Rubber or latex
• Nickel
• Fabric dyes
• Cosmetics
• Formaldehyde

Some medications and sunscreen ingredients can also cause a skin allergy.

Hives

Hives are raised, red, and usually very itchy patches that suddenly appear on your skin. They can also disappear and reappear over a few hours, days, or weeks. 

You could have hives as part of a skin allergy, but they also appear for other reasons. For example, an infection, thyroid disease, and stress can cause hives.

Is eczema related to skin allergies?

Eczema refers to several inflammatory skin conditions. One type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is closely associated with food allergies, seasonal allergies, and other environmental allergens. 

For example, more than half of children with eczema have seasonal allergies and 30% develop food allergies. 

What symptoms develop due to a skin allergy?

Skin allergies cause a range of symptoms. You experience one or more of the following:

• Red, itchy rash
• Swelling
• Hives
• Painful sores
• Dry, cracked skin
• Dry, scaly patches
• Thickened, discolored skin
• Tender skin
• Burning or stinging
• Fluid-filled blisters
• Blisters that ooze and crust

Your symptoms could appear shortly after you touch the allergen. It could also take hours or days for a skin reaction to develop.

How is a skin allergy diagnosed?

Skin allergies have many causes and the delay in symptoms makes it hard to connect allergens to the skin reaction, so diagnosing skin allergies can be challenging. Allergy and Asthma Treatment Center performs extensive allergy testing to identify the cause of your skin condition.

How is a skin allergy treated?

Treatment for a skin allergy addresses your symptoms and the underlying immune response. Your treatment plan may include:

• Avoiding triggers
• Skin care
• Topical and/or oral medications
• Biologic medication
• Immunotherapy

Most medications reduce your symptoms. However, biologics calm your immune system and immunotherapy, whether allergy shots or sublingual tablets, desensitizes your immune system so it gradually stops causing the allergic reaction.

Don’t wait to seek help for a skin allergy. Call Allergy and Asthma Treatment Center or book an appointment online today.