Skin allergies can be brought about by all types of materials ranging from shampoos to food. Telltale signs you have the allergies are rashes, itching, swelling, raised bumps, cracked skin, and redness.

Regardless of the causative factor, you should visit a skin allergy doctor to diagnose the condition and recommend the best course of action.

Did you know you could be suffering from different types of skin allergies? Here are some of the most common types and their treatment options:

Eczema

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema comes about when the skin doesn’t retain enough moisture and gets dry, itchy, and inflamed. It’s also common for the skin to get scaly and cracked. In severe cases, you might develop tiny “bumps” under the skin containing clear or yellow liquid.

Most of the people are born with the condition, but others develop it in early childhood, often due to exposure to allergens or harmful chemicals.

When acquired in childhood, most children outgrow it, but a few retain it throughout adulthood.

To treat the condition, you need to supply the skin with sufficient moisture. You also should keep the skin clean and avoid scratching the affected areas. Applying steroid creams, topical creams, emollients, and cortisone creams on the affected areas go a long way.

Heat rash

Also known as prickly heat, heat rash comes about when you are exposed to warm temperature, but the sweat ducts are blocked and unable to release heat.  As a result, the skin gets inflamed, leading to red, itchy bumps.

Research studies report that the blocking of the sweat ducts is due to a biofilm produced by the staphylococcus bacteria found on the skin. Although, the condition is common in summer, it’s not uncommon for it to also occur in winter.

Most of the affected are adults, but it also comes about in babies due to overdressing or underdeveloped pores. If you come into contact with someone suffering from the condition, don’t be worried as isn’t contagious.

In most cases, the condition goes away by itself, but it’s wise you work at reducing it. You can do this by avoiding wearing tight-fitting clothing. Staying away from the sun will reduce the inflammation.

It’s also recommended you avoid scented body lotions and scrubs as they have been shown to irritate the skin.

Dermatographia

This is a rare skin condition that you will find in about 5% of the people. Dermatographia, also known as skin writing, comes about when the mast cells in the skin produce too much histamine. The histamine is released when you stimulate or apply pressure to the skin.

As a result of the high histamine production, the skin gets inflamed, and itchiness comes about. The skin inflammation is categorized as white or red inflammation.

The condition lasts one or two years, but in rare cases, it lasts forever. You can treat the condition using antihistamine or by applying a cold compress to the affected areas hence reducing the swelling.

Hives

Just like dermatographia, hives produces raised wheals in the skin. The wheals are of different sizes and are often accompanied by itchiness occurring on the arms and legs.

The body produces the hives when the mast cells of the skin produce excessive amounts of histamine. Sometimes fluids leak into the bloodstream, causing anaphylaxis.

The treatment for the condition is similar to that of dermatographia. You can treat hives using antihistamines as well as steroids. You can also get some relief from scratching the affected surfaces. A cold compress can also be of significant help.

To reduce breakouts, reduce the intake of alcohol and junk foods.

Contact dermatitis

You develop contact dermatitis when your skin comes into contact with an allergen or irritant. Due to the contact, you suffer from blisters, rashes, burning, and itching. The most common irritants are: fabric softeners, shampoos, soaps, and laundry detergents.

It’s easier to prevent the condition instead of treating it. So you should avoid the triggers that you know of. In most cases, the condition goes away by itself, but if the symptoms don’t go away after some time, consult an allergy specialist doctor Manassas VA who will diagnose it and give some medication—usually oral medications or steroid creams.