Skin allergies are problems most people have experienced at some point in their lives. Herein, we discuss what causes these skin allergies and how they can be treated.

A skin allergy occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to a particular threat that may be harmless, and, as a result, causes certain changes on the skin. The allergen or the substance causing this change or allergy may in reality not be harmful. But the immune system perceives it as being harmful and causes a reaction.

The allergy may be due to something in the air like pollen, perfume, chemicals, or cigarette smoke.

Symptoms
Top symptoms of skin allergy include

• Itching on the skin.
• Redness and development of a rash.
• Swelling on the skin.
• Raised bumps on the skin.
• Skin cracking due to it being dry.
• Flaky skin.
• Bleeding on the skin due to excessive scratching.

Causes
A skin allergy occurs due to the reaction of the immune system when an allergen touches your skin. The body sends antibodies to fight the allergen, leading to a variety of reactions.

Common causes of allergies on the skin include:

• Allergy to nickel, that could be used in jewelry, watches,
• Fragrances – scents, perfumes, deodorants.
• Detergents and other cleaning products.
• Certain plants like poison ivy.
• Pollen released by plants.
• Chemicals, including bug sprays.
• Cigarette smoke.
• Certain medicines can also cause allergies.

Types
The most common type of skin allergies include

• Contact dermatitis
  This is the most common skin allergy where the skin becomes red and inflamed due to contact with an allergen.
• Eczema
  This is a skin condition that can be caused by an allergy. It leads to the skin becoming dry, red, and flaky.
• Heat rash
  This is an allergy caused by heat when sweat ducts get blocked leading to itching and rashes.
• Hives
  This a severe allergic condition leading to itching, redness and raised bumps. In some people, the reaction can be severe and causes severe swelling.

Diagnosis
A skin specialist or a dermatologist would try to find out which allergen is causing the allergic reaction. They apply small patches containing various allergens on to your back and ask you to leave them on for two days.

They then open the patches to find out which allergen has caused the reaction. By finding out the allergen, specific treatment can be given. You can avoid contact with the allergen, once it is identified.

Treatment
Treatment for skin allergies includes medicines and homemade remedies. Some ointments and creams that may contain steroids are prescribed to reduce swelling. Antihistamines are given to reduce allergic reactions. A combination of oral medicines and ointments may be prescribed, which may need to be taken for a period of time.

There are also some effective home remedies that can be prepared easily to treat skin allergies, such as

• Powdered oatmeal can be used to relieve allergic skin conditions.
• A paste of baking soda and coconut oil can be applied to reduce the symptoms.
• Aloe Vera gel or cream has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties which can heal skin allergies.