A skin rash or eczema flare-up could seem to appear out of nowhere but is often attributable to an allergic reaction. Besides the discomfort caused by a skin allergy, developing rashes and other skin issues on prominent body regions could be embarrassing. In such instances, prompt care is essential. During New York skin allergy testing, your physician can assess your condition and determine if an allergy causes it and what specific allergy could be causing it. Meanwhile, continue reading to learn what a skin allergy is and the different skin allergies.
What Exactly Is a Skin Allergy?
Skin Allergy is the immune system’s response to an external stimulus to the skin that is seen as a risk. Antibodies are typically dispatched to the affected area to tackle the allergen or threat. The result is typically an itchy rash, generally known as contact dermatitis.
Different allergens can cause a skin allergy, including pollen, wool, plants, soap, and more. Furthermore, some allergies are seasonal, whereas others are not. As such, it is important to have an allergy test to learn about the specific allergen causing your condition.
What Are the Different Kinds of Skin Allergies?
There are several distinct forms of allergic skin diseases, and each manifests differently. Here are the common forms of skin allergies.
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is among the most prevalent forms of skin allergies in kids and is characterized by skin swelling, dryness, and irritation. This condition is commonly ascribed to the permeability of the epidermal barrier and is caused by food sensitivity or an inheritable gene known as “filaggrin.” Other allergic conditions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy, frequently accompany this skin problem.
- Allergic Contact Dermatitis
As the name suggests, this skin issue results from the skin’s interaction with an allergen. A classic sign of this ailment is the development of rashes after donning specific jewelry, especially if it is nickel-coated, which is an allergen. Additional allergens that commonly provoke this disease include poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. These plants are covered in an oil that creates red and irritating rashes.
- Hives (Urticaria)
In this disorder, the production of histamine by the immune system causes skin swelling. Histamine is a substance that causes allergic reactions and is created by the body in response to detecting an external threat. There are two distinct forms of urticaria, chronic and acute.
Typical causes of acute urticaria include meals, insect bites, drugs, and so on. Chronic urticaria, in contrast, generally has no identifiable trigger, making diagnosis challenging. Luckily, neither of these illnesses is contagious.
- Angioedema
Angioedema is characterized by the inflammation of the skin’s deep layers, and it typically affects the soft tissue of the mouth, eyelids, and genitalia. Acute angioedema often lasts for several minutes or hours and is typically induced by medicine or food. In contrast, chronic recurrent angioedema occurs repeatedly over a long period and has no readily identifiable cause.
Skin allergies could be extremely uncomfortable and irritating. Sadly, it could take some time to determine what variables influence your skin allergies and what you must do to manage your issue. Therefore, schedule an allergy testing consultation with your doctor if you identify any warning signs of skin allergies, including rashes, burning, itching, and more.
