Red, bumpy, itchy skin is not only painful, but also irritating. When you develop any of the above signs, you are said to be suffering from skin allergies and you need to see a skin allergy doctor.

What causes skin allergy?

The condition can be brought about by up to 3,700 allergens, but if we can narrow them down to the most common ones, they are:

Fragrances: These include lotions, perfumes, and other products that smell good.

Nickel: This is the metal you find in zippers, belt buckles, jewelry, and bra hooks. According to experts, this metal is one of the leading causes of contact dermatitis.

Latex: Latex is natural rubber, and you will find it in many products such as baby bottles, balloons, condoms, and disposable gloves.

Ingredients in household products: Did you know your skin can react to common metals and preservatives? The skin will react to antiperspirants, cosmetics, sunscreens, cleaners, and even hair dye.

Antibiotic creams: Most over the counter antibiotic creams have been shown to bring about skin allergies. Two of the most common culprits are: bacitracin and neomycin.

Skin allergy types

Did you know there are many types of allergic skin conditions? If you aren’t sure of the one you suffer from, visit an allergist who will observe the condition or even undertake a battery of tests and let you know what you are suffering from.

The most common skin allergy conditions are:

Eczema: Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema affects between 1%-3% of adults and 10%-20% of children. When suffering from the condition, you have dry, red, itchy skin. In some situations, the affected skin develops fluid-filled bumps that ooze a clear liquid.

Although, experts don’t know what leads to it, studies show that people with eczema often have a family history of allergies.

The condition is triggered by plenty of allergens, with the most common ones being animal dander, dust, and cleaning products.

Contact dermatitis

This is a reaction that comes about when the skin comes into contact with an allergen or irritant. When suffering from contact dermatitis, you tend to have blisters, rash, itching, and sometimes burning.

The condition is brought about by many factors such as soaps, shampoos, fabric softeners, laundry detergents, and even excessive exposure to water.

Exposure to certain metals, nail polish, adhesives, latex gloves, and certain plants has been shown to bring about the condition.

Sometimes the allergen won’t trigger an allergic reaction until your skin is exposed to sunlight. When having this condition, the condition is known as photoallergic contact dermatitis.

It’s common in certain products such as sunscreen, shaving lotion, and certain perfumes.

Hives

Also known as urticaria, hives feature red bumps on the body. When the condition lasts for less than six weeks, the condition is known as acute urticaria, but when it persists beyond six weeks, it’s known as chronic urticaria.

Acute urticaria often comes about due to an infection or exposure to an allergen. Experts are yet to know the cause of chronic hives.

Heat rash

Heat rush comes about when your skin is exposed to warm temperatures while the sweat ducts are blocked so they can’t release sweat. Due to the blocking of the sweat ducts, there is inflammation of the skin and formation of red, itchy bumps.

Heat rash can happen both in the summer and winter. You will also find it in babies where they come about due to overdressing or underdeveloped pores.

In most cases, heat rash goes away by itself.

When suffering from it, keep your body cool and avoid tight-fitting clothing and friction. You also should stay away from the sun to reduce inflammation.

It’s also recommended that you avoid scented body lotions and scrubs as they are known to cause skin irritation.

How can you prevent skin allergy?

The best way of preventing the allergy from coming about is to steer clear of the allergens. When you visit an allergy clinic Manassas VA, the doctor will let you know the allergens you are allergic to. You should stay away from them.

Most skin allergies fade on their own, but you can speed up the healing by using calamine lotion and hydrocortisone creams. You can also soak your skin in oatmeal or milk bath.