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In Conditions and Diseases
Are skin rashes caused by allergies?
Allergies can show themselves through various skin reactions. Themain reactions are rashes (small bumps or larger red patches),hives (also called urticaria; itchy, red raised …patches on theskin), or eczema (also called atopic dermatitis; an itchy, weepingrash). These symptoms can have various causes. Most often it isallergies, but some people get hives from heat, cold or sunexposure. Contact allergies/dermatitis is defined as a skin rashcaused by direct contact with a substance to which the skin issensitive. Symptoms include a red rash, swelling, and itching. Inmore severe cases, blisters can form. Many substances can causeallergic contact dermatitis: poison ivy and other plants (such astomato plants), wool, perfumes and dyes (in soaps, detergents,lotions, etc.), metals (in jewelry, hair clips, etc.), locallyapplied medicinal ointments such as antibiotic creams, and latex(often used in latex gloves). These can occur at any age and canappear at any time. It can take years for a sensitivity to aparticular substance to develop, so "I've used this for years"isn't a reason to exclude anything from the possible allergen list.Symptoms may appear as soon as 7 to 10 days from first contact.Once a sensitivity develops, however, the reaction can occur in24-48 hours. Treatment of contact dermatitis generally consists ofavoiding the allergen. To determine whether or not something is thecause, patch tests (a small amount of the substance applied to theskin, then covered and left for 24 hours) can often show whether ornot that substance causes the reaction. Other allergies can causerashes, too. Some find that citrus fruits cause small raised bumpswhen ingested. Eczema is often caused by a food allergy, thoughthere may be other causes. Cow's milk is a particularly commonallergen for those with eczema. Avoiding allergens provideslong-term relief, while short-term relief can be had by usingmoisturizers on the skin and taking antihistamines. Some find thatusing all cotton clothing and bedding makes a difference. Hives canbe caused by a number of factors, not just allergies. Hives occursuddenly and may end suddenly, though there are chronic cases wherehives are present for a month or more. Other causes of hives aresun exposure, heat and cold. Again, avoidance is the primarytreatment. (MORE)