Allergic reaction on the skin: diagnosis and treatment

An allergic reaction on the skin is a fairly common phenomenon, and it manifests itself on the skin in various forms: dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, etc.

It most often occurs after contact with an allergen, both direct with the skin and indirectly, for example, when inhaling pollen, a reaction may occur, including on the skin.

Allergies can be triggered by many factors, here are the most common ones, says Nailya Shigapova .

1. Food allergy. Most often occurs to nuts, citrus fruits, milk, seafood, eggs.

2. Plant pollen. Almost all weeds may come under suspicion here.

3. Medicines. Occurs when taking a medicine with a component to which the patient has an allergic reaction, orally, or when in contact with the skin and mucous membranes. Most quickly occurs when it directly enters the bloodstream.

4. Contact allergens. Household chemicals, cosmetics, metals, latex.

5. Insect bites

Most often, stings from wasps and bees.

Symptoms of allergies include itching, burning, swelling, redness, flaking, dryness, rashes (vesicles, crusts, dots, papules), and inflammation.

Diagnostics

1. Anamnesis - the doctor collects complete information about who the patient has been in contact with, what he ate, where he went, what medications he took, what cosmetics he used, and whether new products, products or plants were added to his daily routine.

2. Examination - the doctor examines the skin, sometimes using a dermatoscope.

3. Skin tests – a small amount of the allergen is applied to the skin and the reaction is observed.

4. Blood test – determination of IgE antibodies in the blood

Treatment

The first and most important thing is to stop contact with the allergen!

Drug therapy includes taking antihistamines and corticosteroids as prescribed by a doctor. A diet may be prescribed.

In case of an allergic reaction on the skin, it is recommended to consult both an allergist and a dermatologist for the best treatment results and remission.

If you suspect an allergy, do not self-medicate. Consult a doctor! Early diagnosis and timely treatment will help avoid health problems in the future!