Your Dot Name

Archive for the ‘Allergy’ Category

Over 80 percent of people experience skin rash caused by allergic reaction to some skin care products. Here are few do’s and dont’s that you should be aware of when experiencing skin allergy.

Do:

Avoid using skin care products that contain preservatives, fragrances, formaldehyde or propylene glycol Try diluted olive oil as a moisturizer substitute Use a chemical-free sunblock, preferably one that contains mexoryl xl/sx filter consider getting a patch test if a self-administered use test doesn’t identify the offending products

Don’t:

Rule out the possibility that something other than a skin care product is raising a skin rash Assume hypoallergenic products will not trigger a reaction. They may still contain ingredients you’re allergic to Take the word “fragrance-free” at face value. Check a product’s list of ingredients to see if it contains a masking fragrance Touch your face-especially your eyes-until your nail polish is thoroughly dry. The more coats of polish you apply, the more drying time your nails will require Start using a product you even suspect may rile your skin. Allergic reactions don’t occur the first time you use the product, and you don’t want to break into a rash a week or a month down the road

The best rule especially if you have allergic skin is stay stay in contact with your dermatologist and never “try” new things especially when it comes to skin care products. Always try small amount of product on your hand skin and leave for some time to see if there is no allergic reaction, read product labels and ingredient list.

Eczema is a skin disease that produces itchy skin with red colored rashes. These can occur on your face, hands, wrist, scalp, back of knees, elbow crease etc. Although there is no real cure for eczema, but it is possible to treat eczema symptoms with all natural remedies.

This skin problem is not contagious, however it can become chronic in nature if the skin is scratched frequently. Chronic eczema produces thick and dark colored scaly red patches.

Allergy is considered to be the main cause for eczema. Other factors like too much exposure to sun, topical medicines, drugs, exposure to dust, pollen grains etc can also trigger eczema.

When you are suffering from this problem it is best to consult a skin specialist before you start any kind of natural treatment. This is important to make sure that you are not suffering from any other problem. Your doctor may prescribe a soothing cream or an ointment to begin with. If creams and ointments do not provide relief, you may be prescribed steroids and or antibiotics. To prevent eczema from worsening you will have to stop scratching. This is extremely important.

There are several natural remedies that can be used to treat eczema symptoms. However keep in mind that a given remedy may not work for everyone. You will have to try out a few options before you find a natural remedy that works for you.

1) Grape seed extract has antioxidants that prevent the fare up of itchy skin. These antioxidants help in stopping the allergic response of your skin and thus help prevent eczema flare up.

2) Omega fatty acids have been found to be beneficial in controlling any kind of skin allergy including eczema. Flaxseed oil contains these essential omega fatty acids that help to treat eczema symptoms.

3) Some studies have shown fish oil to be effective in treatment of chronic eczema. This oil works by controlling the skin inflammation and itchy skin. If you don’t eat fish you can take fish oil capsules.

4) Another oil that has been found to be very effective for treating eczema is primrose oil. Regular use of this oil will control the inflammation of skin and help in revitalizing your skin. If you use this oil for your skin, you may not need the topical creams anymore.

5) Proper hydration of skin can really help treat eczema symptoms naturally. Drink plenty of water every day so that your skin has sufficient amount of moisture.

6) Aloe Vera has found to be extremely beneficial for all kinds of skin ailments including eczema. You can apply Aloe Vera gel to your skin or drink Aloe Vera juice for a healthy and glowing skin.

Try some of these natural remedies to treat eczema symptoms. If you require a foolproof method for treatment of this skin problem, you should go for a complete natural solution.

Are you having problems because your dog is suffering from canine skin allergies? Do you know that dog skin allergy is a common condition that is cast upon many pets? This dog skin condition is a nightmare for the pet owners.

This is a serious issue affecting many pets with sensitive skin. They will go through a lot of suffering associated with the side effects from their skin allergies. This will be happening on a daily basis until the condition is eradicated.

Not unlike humans, dogs will develop skin allergies that can be caused by the food they eat or it can be related to their general environment. There are various other reasons for your dogs skin infections including seasonal factors.

The symptoms will include various outward signs and the most obvious sign you will see are dog skin irritations with constant scratching. Another sign will be your pet sneezing all the time.

You will see that the itching becomes so relentless that many infected dogs start to lose their coat.

You are very fortunate that there are actions that you can take to quickly give your pet some welcome relief. There are home remedies for dog allergies available which will allow you to treat your pets symptoms to give them relief and which will make life more bearable for all concerned.

Among the most effective home remedies for itchy skin dog allergies is a colloidal oatmeal bath to give some fast relief.

When your dog starts to show signs of excessive itchy skin and keeps continually scratching, one of the first things that you should do is give dog a colloidal oatmeal bath. This will be a very effective way to help ease those symptoms. You must mix and apply the colloidal oatmeal in cool water.

If your dog is licking and scratching at his paws, then it is most likely that this is the part where it is getting the brunt of the allergic irritation.

In these circumstances, you should consider giving him a bath with Epsom salts as I find that this is an ideal way for nursing dogs with these symptoms.

You must take every precaution to prevent him from drinking the bathing water.

Until you find out what exactly is causing his allergies it would be worth considering altering your dogs diet and to change his bedding with an alternative bedding format.

If the bedding material is cotton then this could be causing the reaction. You will need to provide him with bedding consisting of an alternative material.

A simple change to their quarters and their general environment will benefit many skin allergies dogs in their recovery efforts by helping alleviate their allergy symptoms.

During different times of the year, many people are stricken by seasonal allergies, depending of course, on what they are allergic to. A common time of the year when the general population experiences this is in the spring or summer time when plants and flowers are bursting into bloom. In fact, more people each year are becoming regular suffers of unpleasant allergic reactions to seasonal irritants, as many as one in every three people.

Over-the-counter or prescription medications may help to alleviate the symptoms somewhat, but there are always side effects to consider, such as dry mouth, sleepiness or insomnia, and general irritation.

There are other more natural methods to try including a few lifestyle alterations along with the use of an allergy vitamin or other natural substances. These more natural methods may help to counter a person’s problematic reaction without having to resort to medication.

An allergic reaction occurs in a person’s body by encountering a certain allergen via inhaling it, eating it or touching it and their body rebelling against it. The person may sneeze, cough, wheeze, experience runny eyes, itchy noses, exhibit a skin rash, or have intestinal distress. The culprits that cause this may be many substances, but some of the more common ones found in nature include tree pollen, grass pollen and weed pollen.

One thing that you can do to help the sufferers in your family be more comfortable is to keep them away from cigarette smoke which tends to make their susceptible breathing system even more aggravated as they deal with dust and pollen.

Another lifestyle change is to keep your windows closed and to change your “outdoor” clothing when you re-enter your home. This will help to keep the pollen outside. Did you know that the prime-time high pollen hours are from between 5 and 10 am? It is a good idea to curtail outdoor activities during that time.

Some natural and allergy vitamin remedies to try include Stinging Nettle, Quercetin, Vitamin C and Fish Oil. Stinging Nettle is a leaf found at your local health food store.

It has been shown to aid in relieving symptoms common in hay fever. Quercetin is also a plant based remedy and helps in reducing histamine moving through the body, aiding in not only allergies, but asthma.

Vitamin C is an allergy vitamin that is well known to encourage the body’s immune system and also has been quite helpful in managing allergic reactions. Fish Oil has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties which help to soothe the lungs.

If you’re the owner of a pooch who suffers one of the many types of dog skin allergy out there, chances are, you’d do just about anything to make sure that he or she still has a great quality of life. The great news is that just as “human” medicine has advanced, new developments in veterinary science also mean your dog has a better chance than ever at a long, happy, healthy life.

If you love your dog, allergies symptoms will probably make you incredibly worried – itching, scratching, biting, hair loss, stomach trouble and more are all common signs of dog skin allergy, whether they be to food, fleas, or items in their environment. Here are a few of the treatments available for dog skin allergy today:

Avoidance
If your pet is allergic to a specific allergen, for instance house dust, or pollen, or maybe a particular type of food, the simple choice is to keep them away from their allergy triggers – keep them out of the room when you vacuum, keep grass short, or avoid treats or foods that contain the ingredients they are allergic to.

Fatty Acids and Biotin
Interestingly enough, recent research has shown that feeding more Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid rich foods can help reduce the symptoms of dog skin infection, by reducing the histamine response to allergens. On the other hand, Biotin, a B vitamin, helps reduce the itchy skin associated with this allergy, so adding a supplement containing this, like brewer’s yeast, to your dogs’ diet, should make for an improved coat and skin.

Anti Histamines
Better known in the treatment of human than dog skin allergy, anti histamines none the less have had some good effects on affected dogs. Make sure you find out from your vet which work best, and note that a mild sedative effect is a common side effect of this kind of medication.

Immunotherapy
Basically, in dog skin allergy, as in human allergies, a milder form of the specific allergen is used to build up the tolerance of the dog to that particular allergen. It may take some time for this to be effective, and it can be expensive, so it’s usually only resorted to when all else fails in dog skin allergy treatment!

Steroids
When you think steroids, dog skin allergy treatment is probably the furthest thing from your mind, however, they can be some of the best, fastest acting and most effective treatments for your dog’s skin allergy problems. Of course, prolonged use is not advisable, unless under the strict supervision of a vet, but they will provide almost immediate relief from dog skin allergy symptoms like extreme itching!

These are by no means the only options as far as treating your pet’s skin allergy. There are herbal, homeopathic and many other options you could explore, and topical treatments, shampoos, creams and ointments can all offer welcome respite to your four legged friend from his irritating and painful dog skin allergy symptoms. So if your pooch is looking under the weather, find out if it’s an allergy – and if so, try one of these solutions!

Allergies can be defined as a hypersensitivity to some substance. This sensitivity can present itself in three basic ways:

1. Breathing system presentations, such as rhinitis and asthma.

2. Intestinal allergies such as diarrhea.

3. Skin allergies, such as dermatitis.

Skin allergies are very common, but can also be confused with other common skin irritations, such as insect bites. It’s even harder to determine where the allergic reaction came from. When you suddenly find a red patch of skin or a rash, ask yourself:

1. Does the irritated skin cover a large part of your body or only a small patch, such as the palm of your hand? If the latter, it may be due to a contact allergy. Stay away from the suspected allergen. If the marking is broader, over a larger section or even the entire body, suspect a food allergy – something carried with the blood flow through your body.

2. Have you eaten any unusual foods; something you’ve never eaten before? Have you started taking a new prescription medicine? Street drugs? How about vitamins or other food supplements?

3. Are you using a new detergent for washing your clothes?

It’s important to do this analysis as soon as you can, because it’s easy to forget what you ate or came in contact with as time moves on. You’re much more likely to hit on the source or your allergy if you think about it as soon as you notice the adverse reaction.

If you’re having a mild allergic reaction you can relieve skin redness and itching with a corticosteroid combined with antihistamine cream or ointment. Here are some topical corticosteroids used in treating allergies:

Betamethasone Dexmethasone Clobetasol Fluocinolene Clobetasone Desonide Flumethasone Difluocortolone Dexsoxymethasone

Some natural herbs are also used for allergy relief. For skin allergies, aloe is helpful. If you’ve got an aloe vera plant, a common houseplant, just break off a leaf and rub the juice liberally over the reddened skin. It will stop the itching and relieve the redness quickly.

Other prepared and packaged herbal remedies are helpful. As always, check the label to make sure they do not contain any drugs you’re trying to avoid. (And if they do, they must be classified as a drug, not an herbal remedy by law.)

Most of the time skin allergies are easily relieved and not too serious to your overall health. However, you should consult your doctor in any of these situations:

1. You’ve tried a topical treatment and it did not work. You see no reduction of the redness, swelling or rash.

2. You have another more severe allergic reaction in addition to your skin allergy such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, fast heartbeat or headache. These symptoms could be precursors for the often-deadly anaphylactic shock and need to be treated by a medical professional immediately.

It’s a good idea to get an allergy test today. It’s fairly simple. An allergy specialist will give you a “scratch” test where he or she will introduce very small amounts of common allergens into your skin. After about a half hour, he’ll be able to tell if you have adverse skin reactions to any of the allergens he used. These tests are not painful or harmful, but they can go a long way to keeping you healthy, since you’ll know what substances you need to avoid.