An In-depth Guide To Common Skin Allergies
Shalini Jaggi was a 17-year-old-girl, who went on a college trip to Chail with her college mates. She enjoyed a bonfire on the first night of her stay in the hotel, but the next morning when she woke up, she had severe skin rashes on her left arm. At first, she thought it was a mosquito bite, but later during breakfast, a doctor staying in the next room of the hotel saw her, he confirmed to her that it is one of the skin allergy types and not a mosquito bite.
Rashes on the skin are usually caused by skin allergies. They may appear in various forms, shapes, and leave behind different symptoms. Skin allergy is one of the most common health issues for which millions of people visit a dermatologist all across the globe.
Let us acquaint you with the different kinds of skin allergies and what are their symptoms?
What is a Skin Allergy?
Any condition in which your skin gets irritated because of some allergen to which your immune system reacts is referred to as a skin allergy. Eczema, contact dermatitis, and hives are some of the common types of skin allergies. Some allergies may go on their own within a few days, and some persist due to the persistence of the allergen that is causing that particular allergy.
What Causes Skin Allergy?
Before throwing light on different kinds of allergies in the skin, let us first help you identify the common causes of skin allergy. Our skin is the largest organ of the body, therefore, there are so many things to which it may react and result in a skin allergy. Some such allergy triggers are:
- Fragrances of perfumes, lotions, and incense sticks
- Nickel found in zippers, belt buckles, and bra hooks
- Preservatives in hair colors, cosmetics, and toiletries
- Latex in balloons, condoms, disposable gloves, and baby bottles
- Clothing like synthetic clothes
- Ultraviolet rays may lead to sunburn
- Certain medications like Neomycin, Benzocaine, and Bacitracin
- Food Allergy like gluten, lactose, and mushroom
Skin Allergy Types
1. Allergic Eczema
One of the most common kinds of skin allergies is allergic eczema. The symptoms of this skin allergy are quite like a burn and it is mostly found on the forearms, and hands of a person. Allergic eczema may also make one’s skin scaly, itchy, and red with small blisters.
2. Cellulitis
This particular skin allergy is caused when a bacteria or fungus enters your skin through a cut or crack. It results in swelling, and painful red skin, which becomes hot and tender to touch. It may also show chills, red streaking, and fever as its other symptoms.
3. Chickenpox
Third common type of skin allergy is chickenpox. In chickenpox, one experiences clusters of red and itchy fluid-filled blisters all over the body. These rashes are also accompanied by fever, sore throat, body aches, and loss of appetite symptoms. It is believed that chickenpox is contagious, so one must stay in quarantine until all the blisters have busted.
4. Diaper Rash
Small children who wear diapers have once in a lifetime suffered from a diaper rash. This allergy takes place due to the contact of skin with a diaper. As a result, the skin becomes uncomfortable and shows redness, patches, and becomes warm to the touch.
5. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
This is one of the most common skin allergy types that affect small children under 5 years of age. The symptoms include pain and red blisters on the tongue, in the mouth, and the gums. Sometimes the blisters and spots also appear on the buttocks, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.
6. Contact Dermatitis
When your skin gets into contact with an allergen, it may show signs of contact dermatitis skin allergy. In this, the skin becomes red, scaly, and shows visible borders of blisters that often become crusty.
7. Measles
If one is experiencing loss of appetite, sore throat, fever, red rashes all over the body, and tiny red spots with white centers, then it is a skin allergy called measles. Quite similar to chickenpox, measles may also show symptoms all over the body for three or five days.
8. Psoriasis
Another common type of skin allergy type experienced by several people these days is psoriasis. In this, a person may suffer from silvery, and scaly defined patches on the skin. One may suffer severe itching on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back due to psoriasis.
9. Rosacea
This is a type of chronic skin disease rather than a mere skin allergy. It often happens due to sunlight, stress, spicy food, and intestinal bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. There are four types of rosacea skin allergies and symptoms of all four vary in some ways.
10. Ringworm
When talking about allergy types on the skin, we can’t ignore mentioning ringworm. In this, you will notice rashes with a raised border in a circular shape. The skin right in the middle of the ring is clear, but the edges are itchy and red.
11. Shingles
This is one of the very painful kinds of skin allergy, where the skin feels a burning and tingling sensation. Sometimes, there is a formation of blisters full of fluid. Moreover, sometimes, shingles accompany headache, low fever, and fatigue-like symptoms too.
12. Tick Bite
As the name suggests, this skin allergy takes place due to a bite of a tick. Its symptoms are redness, rashes, pain, and swelling at the bite area on the skin. It may also make one suffer from breathing difficulty and blisters on the skin.
The Bottom Line
Besides, trying over-the-counter medications as prescribed by your doctor to treat skin allergies, every effort should be made to identify the cause and keep that trigger away. Moreover, one must try some home remedies to get relief from skin allergies like having a cold shower or using a skin moisturizer or aloe vera gel to the affected area on the skin to get instant relief.
