Different Skin Problems

5.Skin Allergies:
Causes Of Skin Allergies: When the skin cannot tolerate certain substances, it reacts to their presence: this reaction can be either in the form of eczema or in the form of hives, this results in itching and redness of the skin. It is often difficult to pinpoint the cause of the allergy. It could be something you’ve ingested (food, medicines, drinks) or something you’ve applied (cosmetics, antiseptics) or something you have worn (clothes, jewellery) or sometimes even something you have only touched (detergents, plants, vegetables, chemicals). Deciding exactly what has caused the allergic reaction is difficult for several other reasons too:
– The reaction may take a few hours to a few days to develop; it may not develop immediately.
– Cosmetic companies are extremely secretive about the ingredients of their products; making it difficult for the patient and the doctor to identify the cause of the rash.
– The reaction can develop even to minute amounts of substance and the patient might not even be aware of the contact.
– Moreover, the substance can get onto the skin in all sorts of indirect ways: for example, nail varnish can easily cause reactions on the face because we all touch our face several times a day.

Eczemas: Eczema is a rough red oozy rash that comes in patches. The fluid which has oozed then dries up to form a hard scab. Because the area is itchy, it often gets scratched and may become infected. Eczema can develop in a number of ways:
– Irritation of the skin can lead to eczema; the common causes are overexposure to water, soaps and detergents. Just about anyone can develop irritant eczema, but the problem is much more common in people with dry skin.
– Allergic reactions to substances which come in contact with the skin can also result in eczemas. This could result from contact with metals(jewellery), vegetables, plants and medicines.
– Eczemas can also result from eating certain foods or taking certain medicines. Almost any foodstuff can cause eczemas, but the ones that most commonly cause problems are eggs and dairy products.
– Inherited eczema or what the doctor would call ‘atopic eczema’ is a problem seen most commonly in small children. The eczema tends to improve as the child grows up. It is less frequently seen in children who are breast-fed. Close relatives of children suffering from atopic eczema may have asthma or skin problems. A few of these children may also develop asthma when they grow up.
A few points to remember:
– Eczemas are not contagious – don’t shun a person with eczema; you are unlikely to contract it by touching such a person.
– Some eczemas may recur – but most can be controlled with appropriate treatment with steroid ointments and anti-allergic medicines.
– Keep your skin well hydrated; dry skin aggravates the problem.
– Sweating makes eczema worse – so stay in a cool environment.
– Direct contact with woolens and synthetics should be avoided as this aggravates the problem.

Hives Or Urticarias: Hives are temporary swellings of the skin, caused by a localized collection of fluid in the dermis due to leakage from the blood vessels. Urticaria can result from any of the following:
– Allergy to food, pollen or drugs.
– Change in temperature.
– Infections, including the presence of worms and
– emotional upsets.
Sometimes the cause cannot be accurately guessed. A few individuals get hives repeatedly, but in most cases urticaria gets better over a period of times. If the cause can be made out, it is easy to cure urticaria. If the cause is not obvious, then a very effective way to get relief is to use anti-allergic drugs (antihistamines) for some weeks till the problem subsides.