Allergic Skin Conditions

If you have red, bumpy, scaly, itchy or swollen skin, is it because of a skin allergy?

There are several types of allergic skin conditions. They are often itchy and red and may appear scaly, bumpy or swollen. An allergist/immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, is the most qualified physician to treat allergic diseases. An allergist can determine which condition you have and develop a treatment plan to help you feel better.

While skin allergies are unpleasant and troublesome, there are things you can do to treat them.

Hives and Angioedema

Hives (or urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of the skin that can range in size and appear anywhere on your body. Most common are acute cases, where food or drug allergies are triggers. These hives usually go away within a few days. In cases of chronic hives, people may suffer for months to years.

Angioedema is a swelling of the deeper layers of the skin that sometimes occurs with hives. Angioedema is usually not red or itchy. The areas often involved are the eyelids, lips, tongue, hands and feet.

Food or drug reactions are a common cause of acute hives and/or angioedema. Viral or bacterial infection can also trigger hives in both adults and children. Physical urticaria are hives resulting from a non-allergic source: rubbing of the skin, cold, heat, physical exertion or exercise, pressure and direct exposure to sunlight.

If the cause of your hives can be identified, you should avoid that trigger. With acute hives, some drugs or foods may take days to leave the body, so your allergist may prescribe antihistamines to relieve your symptoms until that happens.

Reference information: www.aaaai.org, http://www.allergy.hk/

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult physician before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.