Allergies And Skin Rashes

Skin rashes are commonly thought of as allergic reactions but this is not always the case. In some cases a skin rash is caused by an allergy to something that comes into contact with your body, but other times the rash is the result of another condition like eczema. There are also certain non-skin allergies like hay fever and food allergies that can produce symptoms including skin rashes, but the rash itself may not be a skin allergy. Here are a couple common skin problems, their common causes, and what you can do if you are diagnosed with them.

Contact dermatitis is a condition brought on by something coming into 'contact' with the skin, causing a rash. Some of the typical things that can cause a reaction are poison ivy, latex, soaps, detergents, and mold. It usually affects just the immediate area of the skin that came into contact with the item, and won't spread to other areas of your body. If you know the specific item that caused the reaction then the first step to treating your contact dermatitis is to avoid touching the item again. You can also apply some topical creams like hydrocortisone or calimine lotion, as recommended by your doctor or allergist. Soon enough the rash will subside and the accompanying pain will be gone. Hopefully then you will know what caused the rash in the first place so you can avoid it in the future.

Atopic dermatitis is a quite common form of the skin condition eczema that can seemingly appear and disappear with no rhyme or reason. Many times these rashes will appear early on in childhood as rosy cheeks and scaly scalp, arms, and legs. Later on in life the rash can show up on just about any part of the body. It is a hereditary skin condition likely coming from parents who have the same type of rashes themselves. The majority of people diagnosed with atopic dermatitis can be treated with a few changes in their lifestyle and some special skin care steps including:

  • Proper bathing habits like applying the recommended creams or ointments right after drying
  • Air drying or patting dry the skin after a bath or shower
  • Keeping the skin moisturized to avoid drying and cracking, which can be painful
  • Avoiding excessively long or hot showers and baths

Coming into contact with some allergens like dust mites, mold, and some food like wheat or peanuts can cause a rash to break out on your skin, but allergies are not always at the root of the problem. As demonstrated above there are many non-allergic things that can wreak havoc on your skin. You may also be experiencing acne, which can at times have the appearance of a rash. Professional diagnosis by a doctor or allergist is really the only way to truly know if your skin rash is caused by an allergy or something else. It's important to always monitor your skin and report any changes to your physician as soon as you can.