Beauty

The Power to Heal: Unveiling Skin Allergies and Their Remedies

Do you suffer from itchy, uncomfortable, and irritating skin allergies? If so, you're not alone. We'll take a look at the most common types of skin allergies and some ways to manage them.

Administrator

6 September, 2023

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Allergies occur when bacteria and fungi invade the body and are unable to live in harmony within us, causing the body to react by breaking out in rashes, hives, etc., causing itching, discomfort, or worse, damaging the skin, leading to unforeseen complications. Join us to learn about the most basic information about skin allergies and how to deal with them!

1 Common skin allergies

Atopic dermatitis

Concept

Atopic dermatitis is a type of chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes itching and is prone to recurrence and can last for months.

Cause

The cause of this condition remains unclear. Some theories suggest that it is due to dry skin, dehydration, or immune dysfunction from birth.

Signs and Symptoms

Atopic dermatitis can appear anywhere on the body, but it is most commonly found on the hands and in skin folds (elbows or knees…). When affected by atopic dermatitis, one will notice redness and itching of the skin. The intensity of itching can be severe, especially at night, disrupting sleep. The itching may subside for a while and then recur.

Complications

Since it is prone to recurrence, atopic dermatitis can cause discomfort, fatigue, and difficulties in daily activities. If left untreated, the affected area may spread, and the skin may be permanently damaged.

Atopic dermatitis is prone to recurrence

Contact Dermatitis

Concept

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction of the skin caused by environmental factors that the skin comes into contact with. This condition usually does not affect one’s health but can be annoying.

Cause

Contact dermatitis occurs when you come into contact with irritating or allergenic substances such as medications, cosmetics, perfumes, nail polish, jewelry containing nickel, products containing rubber, etc., which contain chemical components that the body does not agree with, leading to an immune response.

Signs and Symptoms

The affected skin will become extremely dry, leading to cracking, flaking, or scaling, and there may be redness and fluid leakage. In some cases, the skin may darken and become rough. The patient will experience intense itching, and the condition may worsen, leading to blisters and a burning sensation.

Complications

Similar to atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis causes itching, burning, and discomfort, affecting your work and daily life. Additionally, contact dermatitis makes one prone to infections as intense scratching can create open wounds, providing an entry point for bacteria. Moreover, this condition can lead to increased skin pigmentation, darkening of the skin, or changes in skin color after the inflammation subsides.

Contact Dermatitis can cause skin darkening

Eczema

Concept

Eczema, or atopy, is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of blisters due to the body’s reaction to internal and external factors, which can occur in episodes or recur.

Cause

There are two possible causes: individual predisposition or external factors.

If it is due to individual predisposition, eczema is mainly caused by genetic factors. If someone in your family has it, you are at a higher risk.

External factors include medications, cosmetics, clothing, utensils, shoes, or occupational factors such as cement, dyes, oils, petroleum products, chemical fertilizers, or pesticides.

Signs and Symptoms

Eczema can be divided into stages: redness, blisters, fluid leakage, smooth skin, and finally, skin peeling. Generally, the skin will become itchy and painful. After the active phase, the skin will return to normal without scarring.

Complications

Like other skin inflammations, eczema can lead to self-inflicted skin damage through scratching, creating open wounds that are vulnerable to bacterial infections. Additionally, those with eczema are at a higher risk of contracting the Herpes Simplex virus, which causes skin blistering, scaling, and fever. Without timely treatment, the infection can spread and worsen.

Infection caused by eczema

Urticaria

Concept

Urticaria, or hives, is a common skin allergy that often occurs during seasonal changes or in the summer and has various triggers. It causes itching and discomfort.

Cause

There are numerous triggers for this condition. Firstly, it can be genetic; if someone in your family has it, you are at a higher risk. Secondly, a weak immune system can make you prone to urticaria. Other triggers include weather and climate changes, extreme heat or cold. Additionally, urticaria can be caused by allergies to seafood, beef, eggs, chocolate, cheese, nuts, or medications, both oral and topical. Furthermore, internal factors such as hepatitis B or C, or infections of the ears, nose, throat, mouth, or digestive system can also trigger urticaria.

Signs and Symptoms

In acute urticaria, one will experience redness and itching at the affected area, which may spread within a few hours or up to a week.

Chronic urticaria is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than eight weeks. At this point, the condition becomes more complex, with the appearance of round bumps or long, winding wheals, which may bleed, blister, and easily rupture, leading to infections.

Complications

Urticaria can cause itching, joint pain, digestive disorders, headaches, infections, respiratory edema, and difficulty breathing.

Urticaria poses multiple risks to the body

Fungal Skin Infections

Concept

Fungal skin infections are common and occur when the skin is attacked by fungi. These infections can affect any part of the body.

Cause

Dermatophyte fungi that thrive in moist skin areas or skin folds are the main culprits. Other factors include prolonged hot and humid weather, hormonal imbalances, and long-term use of antibiotics.

Signs and Symptoms

Skin scaling, dryness, flaking, and itching are characteristic symptoms.

Complications

Fungal skin infections can lead to abscesses, ulcers, infections, eczema, and psychological issues, negatively impacting one’s personal life and well-being.

Fungal Skin Infections affect health and mental well-being

Dyshidrotic Eczema

Concept

Dyshidrotic eczema, or pompholyx, is a common skin allergy and a special form of eczema, characterized as a chronic inflammatory skin condition.

Cause

The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema remains unknown. It is believed to be related to individual predisposition, genetics, neurological factors, or internal organ dysfunction.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptom is the appearance of blisters under the skin, especially on the hands and feet, accompanied by intense itching and discomfort. Additionally, scratching can lead to bacterial infections, resulting in pustules with a red halo. There is also a special form of dyshidrotic eczema characterized by dry, red, scaly, and hot skin.

Complications

Dyshidrotic eczema can lead to infections, nail deformities, and negative impacts on appearance and psychology.

Dyshidrotic Eczema negatively affects appearance

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Frequently asked questions

Common skin allergies include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, fungal skin infections, and dyshidrotic eczema. Each has unique characteristics, triggers, and complications, but all cause itching and discomfort.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes itching and can recur. Its cause is unclear but may be due to dry skin, dehydration, or immune dysfunction. It can appear anywhere but is commonly found on the hands and skin folds. Complications include fatigue and difficulty in daily activities due to its recurring nature.

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction caused by contact with irritating substances or allergens in the environment. It is typically not a health risk but can be annoying. It occurs when the body has an immune response to chemical components in substances like medications, cosmetics, perfumes, etc. Complications include intense itching, blisters, and a burning sensation.

The affected skin becomes extremely dry, leading to cracking, flaking, or scaling. There may also be redness, fluid leakage, and skin darkening. The patient will experience intense itching, and if left untreated, the condition may worsen, causing blisters and a burning sensation.

Eczema, or atopy, is a skin condition that causes blisters due to the body’s reaction to internal and external factors. It can be caused by individual predisposition, mainly genetic factors, or external factors like medications, cosmetics, clothing, and occupational hazards. Eczema progresses in stages, from redness and blisters to fluid leakage, smooth skin, and finally, skin peeling. Complications include self-inflicted skin damage and an increased risk of contracting the Herpes Simplex virus.

Urticaria, or hives, is a common skin allergy often triggered by seasonal changes or summer weather. It can be caused by genetic factors, a weak immune system, weather changes, or allergies to certain foods and medications. Acute urticaria causes redness and itching, which may spread, while chronic urticaria persists for more than eight weeks and leads to complex symptoms like round bumps and long, winding wheals.

Urticaria can cause itching, joint pain, digestive disorders, headaches, infections, respiratory edema, and difficulty breathing.

Fungal skin infections are common and occur when fungi invade the skin. They are caused by dermatophyte fungi that thrive in moist skin areas. Prolonged hot and humid weather, hormonal imbalances, and long-term antibiotic use are also contributing factors. Symptoms include skin scaling, dryness, flaking, and itching. Complications can include abscesses, ulcers, infections, eczema, and psychological issues.

Dyshidrotic eczema, or pompholyx, is a common skin allergy and a form of chronic inflammatory skin condition. Its exact cause is unknown but is believed to be related to individual predisposition and genetic or neurological factors. It is characterized by blisters under the skin, especially on the hands and feet, causing intense itching. Complications include infections, nail deformities, and negative psychological impacts.