Tag Archives: Allergist Germantown

Food Allergies that are More Common than Others

A lot of foods cause allergies, but others are more common. About 90% of serious food allergies are linked to proteins in certain foods, like eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, wheat, fish, tree nuts, sesame, and shellfish.

Most of the time, these foods are ingredients in other foods, which means avoiding them calls for diligence, including precise labeling and other measures. There might be times when exposures unknowingly happen.

You might have to call an allergy doctor if you notice that you have an allergic reaction to some of these. In case you are unaware of what the most common food allergies are, you should do research and start by reading this article until the end. Read more now.

Cow’s Milk

Allergy to cow’s milk is one of the most common hypersensitivities in young children, most likely because it is the first foreign protein that a lot of infants ingest in huge quantities. If there is an allergy to cow’s milk, even infants who are breastfed may have eczema or colic until dairy foods and milk have been eliminated from their mother’s diet.

A lot of children outgrow milk allergy while their immune systems mature.

Eggs

People who have egg allergies are triggered by egg proteins. You might be allergic to egg white, egg yolk, or even both. Experts recommend staying away from eggs when you are allergic.

About 2.5% of children are allergic to eggs, which makes it the second most common food allergy in young children. Diagnosis normally happens before reaching the age of 2. Half of the children are going to outgrow their allergy when they are 5, and most people will outgrow it when they reach adolescence.

Eggs should be listed on food labels in simple language, like “contains eggs.” It is important to always read the label before consumption.

Peanut

Peanut allergy is one of the most common allergy food allergies. Peanuts are different from cashews, tree nuts, almonds, walnuts, and more. peanuts grow underground and they are from a different plant family, which is legumes. Other legume examples include peas, beans, soybeans, and lentils. Having a peanut allergy does not mean you have a bigger chance of being allergic to a different legume.

Wheat and Gluten

Rice and oats are normally the first cereals that are introduced into your diet because they are less likely compared to other grains to cause allergic reactions. If there are no issues with oats, wheat is next. Wheat grain is usually linked with allergies, but it is still uncommon. This is unfortunate because wheat can be found in a lot of prepared foods.

There are 2 kinds of negative immune reactions to consuming wheat. The first classic reaction is hives and the second one is wheezing which happens right away after the child consumes wheat.

Soy

People who have soy allergies react to the proteins in soy. Normally, allergic reactions are mild, but with all food allergies, it might lead to a severe and life-threatening reaction.

Soy is a common allergy in food for children but it is less for teens and adults. Approximately 0.4% of children have an allergy to soy. It is estimated that 50% of the kids outgrow a soy allergy after one year, and most of them will outgrow it when they are 10.

Fish

Finned fish is among the most common food allergy. This is normally lifelong. About 40% of people who are allergic to fish get their first reaction when they are adults. The most common types of fish that people are allergic to are tuna, halibut, and salmon.

You can go to an allergist Germantown MD anytime.

What to do if You Cannot Buy Allergy Medicine

Keeping your allergies under control is the main part of being healthy. You can avoid asthma triggers to prevent symptoms, which is the most important thing. Therefore, carrying a relief inhaler everywhere you go is perfect. Long-term control of medicines that you do every day can help you prevent asthma control and symptoms.

However, allergy medicine can be pricey, regardless if you have insurance or not. If multiple members of the family have asthma, the cost is greater. Your house can be stocked with several kinds of inhalers and pills for everyone.

The allergy doctor might also recommend cheaper generic medicine that you can try. You can read further to know more.

Try Acupuncture

In ancient Chinese therapy, an expert will stick tiny needles and a lot of people say that, painlessly, into your skin at certain points. The acupuncture studies for allergy treatment have shown different results, with most rigorous studies that show modest clinical benefits. Acupuncture might be a good option for interested patients who have mild diseases and want to minimize the use of medication and find therapy costs acceptable.

Compare the Prices of Pharmacy

You can call different pharmacies. The prices could vary, especially between big chain pharmacies and smaller pharmacies. The pharmacies are found in club stores, and they are generally available to non-members as well. You can try comparing prices. Your insurance might have prescription benefits you can use. You can look into the pharmacy options, and this can give you a lower price or provide medicine at the same price.

Saline Rinse

In order to clear pollen from nasal passages. There are several varieties you can buy, from neti pots to special sprayers, and also electronic devices. You should talk to your healthcare provider regarding the best options available for you.

Change Insurance Plans

If you buy insurance on the insurance marketplace, you should stay updated with enrollment deadlines. In case your family’s income is below a particular level, you might be offered a different type of insurance that can also be for your children. This will depend on the state you live in and if you are insured privately through work, check if you can shop under open enrolment.

Allergy-Proof Your Home

You cannot prevent pollen from blowing. However, you have a bit of control over what will happen inside your home. Keep the windows shut when there is pollen in the air. You can turn on the air conditioner. You can change your clothes prior to going inside your house.

Choose Generic

A lot of common over-the-counter allergy medications can be bought in their original form. Most of the time, there are generic forms of allergy meds, which are a lot cheaper.

Protect Yourself

In case it is allergy season, you should control your triggers. Do not perform outdoor activities when there is a high pollen count. The majority of pollen will peak between 5 to 10 am every day, and it can also be high during midday when it is windy and warm. Anytime you do gardening or cleaning, you should wear a dust mask and sunglasses so you can keep allergens out of your mouth, nose, and eyes.

Take Advantage of Coupons

Most of the time, stores offer coupons if you buy their brand products. You should stock up when you see coupons and then use them every time you buy allergy medicine. This way, you will end up spending a lot less.

You can go to an allergy clinic Germantown MD anytime.

How Allergies Affect Your Mood

Chronic Hives

Many studies revealed that people who have allergic rhinitis suffer from sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, and nasal congestion. They can also suffer from depression and nasal fatigue.

Allergic rhinitis makes it more difficult to concentrate at school and work which affects your energy level and sleeping habits. If your life is disrupted by seasonal allergies, you need effective allergy relief that is important to your well-being. You should be aware that going to an allergist specialist doctor is one of the most considerations you need to make. You are going to be educated regarding the impact of allergies on your mood and daily life in general. Make sure to read this article until the end to learn more.

Fatigue

Studies have discovered that fatigue is common among people who experience seasonal allergies. The truth is, daytime tiredness, while it happens less often than the nasal symptoms, seems to be more common compared to itchy eyes or post-nasal drip.

There is one study that recorded fatigue in 60% of those with allergies, which is very common among people who say they feel tired because of allergy symptoms.

Increases Stress

Sneezing, itchy eyes, breathing difficulty, and congestion are not fun for anyone. This impacts your daily function and the way you sleep. That spills over into any day. All this adds up to increased stress and it gets worst when it becomes chronic.

Physical Symptoms Can Affect You Mentally

When you deal with constant congestion, itchy eyes and runny nose leads to frustration and depression. They are going to prevent you from engaging in fun activities like hiking in a state park.

Allergy symptoms can disrupt your sleep as well. This can make your fatigue worse and it negatively impacts your mental health.

Mood

Aside from fatigue, or maybe because of it, more than 1/3 of people who experience allergies in one study feel depressed. And more than half of the respondents felt miserable or terrible because of their symptoms.

Some studies have discovered that clinical depression is twice as common in those who suffer from allergies.

In other ways, looking at allergies and their connection to your mood can be like a chicken and egg question. Is it the nasal allergy symptoms, maybe it is accompanied by embarrassment over these symptoms, which is the cause of your funky mood, or is it the funky that makes allergies more obvious?

Medications

It can be possible that your allergy medication can worsen your mood. Corticosteroids that are inhaled or injected are linked to manic depressive episodes. The same was not found in topical corticosteroids.

Allergies Can Sap Your Energy

Poor sleep normally causes low energy levels. In addition, allergies can cause fatigue. They make your immune system kick in, similar to if you had a virus or cold. In case your body uses energy to fight anything, it naturally means you have less vigor. In addition, some allergy medications will list drowsiness or fatigue as a side effect, so it is best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you think your medication should be blamed.

Cognitive Effects

A lot of people already noted that their allergies make them “slower.” Regardless if these cognitive symptoms are because of fatigue, the side effects of allergy medications, or because of some mechanism because of the allergies, research can back them up.

People who have allergies experience slow verbal reasoning, slower decision-making, and reduced psychomotor speed. So, they react slower than usual during the times when they are most affected by allergy symptoms.

You can visit an asthma doctor Germantown MD anytime.

How to Manage Allergies While Travelling

Millions of people are suffering from allergic rhinitis, which is a sensitive reaction to environmental things, like dust mites, pollen, or even pet dander. If you have experienced a runny or stuffy nose or itchy eyes, you most likely have allergic rhinitis.

Seasonal allergies might be a nuisance to a lot of people, especially while you travel. This year could pose even more challenges, while allergy sufferers should prepare for high pollen count in the air. Trees started to release pollen later that year because of colder weather. If you are traveling, you can ask your allergy specialist about anything you might have to worry about while being abroad. If you want to have more knowledge on how to prevent allergies while traveling, read on.

Things to Consider Before You Go

Prevention and preparation give you a way to travel successfully even if you have allergies. Here are the tips you can consider before going:

Consider a destination that is allergy-free – Mountains and beaches are great destinations to visit all year round for those who suffer from allergies. Ocean breezes are normally allergen-free, dust mites are fewer at elevations that are above 2,500 feet, and mold spores cannot survive in the snow.
You have to check pollen and weather forecasts so you can plan. For instance, if you are allergic to ragweed, you should visit New York in early August compared to other months.

Pack Wisely

Pack everything you require in order to fight off allergies in your carry-on or bag if you are going to fly. Planes have a lot of allergens and germs. Other flight crew or passengers that travel from high-pollen areas might have them on their personal belongings or clothes. Dust mites and mold spores also travel through the air inside an airport or airplane. Allergens stick their seats, tray tables, and seats, which makes it more likely that you will have contact with them.

Food Allergies

It can be hard to travel with food allergies, especially if you experience severe allergic reactions. You should do some research when it comes to food labeling in the countries, you will visit. It is also crucial to consider which airline will be able to accommodate your dietary restrictions.

Find out what the contact details are in the country you are traveling to. Take note of the switchboard number in your hotel because this might vary. Consider getting a foreign language travel card in regards to your allergy to show which restaurants can cater to your needs in your destination.

It Might be Wise to Bring Your Own Pillow

Dust mites are common when you are in a motel. You can, partially, fight them by taking your own pillow with you and putting a hypoallergenic cover on it.

Ask Your Allergist

Check-in with your allergist before your departure because it is important if you will be traveling abroad and might require immunizations or vaccinations. Discuss with them where you are going to go and what activities you are allowed to do. For instance, locations that are elevated above 5,000 feet might make breathing hard for you and cold weather can trigger asthma patients. People who have asthma should consult with their allergist before doing activities like scuba diving.

Be Picky About Hotel Rooms

Regardless if you are staying in a 3-star or 5-star hotel, you need to be picky. Before traveling, ask the hotel if their rooms are allergy-free. In case they do not, ask for a room that was pet-free or one that is facing the sunlight.

Visit an allergy clinic Germantown MD before traveling.

The Most Common Food Allergies

Food allergies are very common and it affects children and adults around the world. The percentage is rising regardless of which country you reside in. There have been more people consulting with an allergy doctor throughout the years.

Even if it is possible for allergies to be caused by any type of food, most of them are caused by some specific foods. Based on studies, these specific foods cause the majority of food reactions.

If you are curious to know what these foods are, this article is going to give you the information you need. Keep in mind that allergies can still develop even if you are already an adult so it is better to stay informed.

Milk

Having a milk allergy means that your body is reacting to milk proteins. This is something that you should not confuse with lactose intolerance. Milk allergies are one of the most common among young children. Even if it is highly nutritious, milk can cause rashes, stomach cramps, and swelling.

Milk is so difficult to avoid because it is an ingredient in butter, ice cream, yogurt, and more delicious food that contain milk.

That is bad news, but the good thing is that majority of children grow out of it.

Egg Allergy

The second most common food allergy in children is egg allergy. The good thing is that 68% of children with an allergy will outgrow it when they hit 16 years old.

Children can be allergic to egg whites, but not the yolks, and it can be vice versa. That is because egg proteins and egg yolks slightly differ.

Most of the proteins that trigger an allergy are in egg whites, so an egg white allergy is common.

The best way to treat an egg allergy is to be on an egg-free diet. You might not have to avoid all kinds of food-related to eggs because heating eggs shifts the allergy-causing proteins. This will stop your body from seeing them as harmful.

Peanuts

Regardless of where you look, you will discover that peanut allergies are found everywhere. Peanut allergies are one of the most common and fatal food allergies in children, causing anaphylaxis more than the other foods. For some people, even very minimal contact with peanuts can cause a reaction.

Since traces of peanuts are found in a lot of foods, you should always read labels and be aware of everything you eat.

Shellfish

A shellfish allergy happens when your body attacks the proteins from the mollusk fish families and crustaceans known as shellfish. Some examples of shellfish are prawns, shrimp, lobster, crayfish, scallops, and squid.

The most common seafood allergy trigger is tropomyosin protein. Other proteins can play a role in triggering an immune response such as parvalbumin and kinase.

Some shellfish allergy symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, digestive issues, and stomach pain.

Wheat

Wheat originated from the baker’s counter grain, and it is found everywhere. However, for those who have wheat allergies, this can be an issue.

You should not confuse this with celiac disease, and it is a non-life-threatening autoimmune disorder. Wheat allergies happen when the body reacts to any of the proteins found in wheat.

White blood cells consider wheat an enemy and they attack it. While doing that, the body shows symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, itching, shortness of breath, swelling lips and tongue, or anaphylaxis.

While a lot of people outgrow a wheat allergy when they become adults, some have it for life. The only to treat it is a wheat-free diet.

You can visit an allergy clinic Germantown MD anytime to have yourself checked for allergies.

What You Need to Know About Peanut Allergy

It is not common these days to find that schools are declared nut-free. That means the staple in kids’ lunchboxes – peanut butter and jelly sandwich – is no longer recommended. The reason for this is that peanuts cause a life-threatening reaction in other people. Peanuts are among the food allergens that are commonly related to anaphylaxis, which is a sudden and potentially deadly condition that needs attention and treatment right away.

When you go to an allergist, they will tell you that peanut allergy might sound simple, but it is indeed life-threatening.

If you want to know more about the treatments for a peanut allergy, you should read this article until the end. Find out more now.

What is a Peanut Allergy?

When a person is allergic to peanuts, their bodies produce IgE antibodies that are specific to peanuts. In case the individual accidentally consumes peanuts, they get a reaction when they encounter antibodies. Then, the body releases inflammatory agents like cytokines, histamines, and chemokines, which lead to allergic reactions.

Some individuals that have a peanut allergy can experience severe symptoms if they consume even just a small amount of peanuts. In addition, some people who consume peanuts can die. Therefore, someone with a peanut allergy should know how they can manage their condition and treat the symptoms.

Tree Nut and Peanut Allergy

Peanuts are legumes that belong to the same family as the lentils and peas, which grow underground. Therefore, they are falling under another category compared to other tree nuts, like walnuts and almonds that grow on trees.

Anyone who has a tree nut or peanut allergy must consult an allergy doctor to see if they are allergic to peanuts as well.

Peanut Allergy Symptoms:

Wheezing
Hives
Tongue or lips swelling
Vomiting
Breathing difficulties or shortness of breath
Blue coloring of the skin or it becomes pale
Diarrhea
Indigestion
Repetitive cough
Stomach cramps
Hoarse voice or tightness in your throat
Dizziness
Weak pulse
Confusion

Treatment and Management

In order to manage a peanut allergy, an individual has to strictly avoid peanuts and any food that has them. In addition, people who have peanut allergies must avoid products that are contaminated through the process of production.

It is advised that a lot of individuals with a peanut allergy can safely consume foods containing highly refined oil, which has removed and purified the peanut protein in them. However, a lot of people should avoid cold-pressed and unrefined peanut oil because it causes an allergic reaction.

Those who are aged 4 to 17 can take a medication called Palforzia which was approved by the FDA in 2020. If the individual is 18 or older, they can continue taking the medication.

Palforzia is taken orally and it aims to reduce an allergic reaction, which includes anaphylaxis – if the person accidentally gets exposed to peanuts. A person should empty the powder into semisolid food, which they can eat like applesauce.

Reaction Treatment

If someone experiences a severe reaction like anaphylaxis, epinephrine is fine as the first line of treatment. Therefore, someone who has a peanut allergy should carry an injectable with them all the time.

In case they experience anaphylaxis, doctors can also use antihistamines, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids to manage an allergy reaction. However, they are no treatment for anaphylaxis.

The goal is to prevent a reaction in case someone accidentally eats peanuts or to induce tolerance so they can safely eat them. However, you should not try this on your own if you have a peanut allergy.

You should go to an allergy center Germantown MD right away if you experience peanut allergy symptoms.

Facts About Seasonal Allergies

In case you have seasonal allergies, and have been living with them for many years, you most likely experienced sneezing through the season. It is important for you to call an allergy doctor and have them prescribe you medicine regularly. Your activity should be monitored so that your allergen exposure is limited. However, are you aware that thunderstorms can cause allergy symptoms to appear?

If you are unaware of the other surprising facts about seasonal allergies, you need to read this article to know more about them. You might even be surprised what some of them are.

Read on.

Seasonal Allergies Do Not Normally Last the Whole Year

Seasonal allergies arise when they emerge from plants that produce pollen, like in springtime and they wane during the time when those plants die off during the growing season. However, is not just the time when those that produce pollens emerge. There are trees that do not produce pollen until it is summer, and some weeds might not have flowers until fall. In some states with temperate climates, like southern California, some plants might produce pollen all year.

Moving Will Not Really Cure Allergies

A lot of people think that they can rid of allergies when they move to another location. The unfortunate thing is that once you develop allergies, they will most likely return over time wherever you go. You might think that the first 1 to 2 years will be allergy-free, but you are still not clear. You can eat farmer’s honey because it can decrease allergies that are environmentally free in some situations.

There is No Such Thing as “Hay” or “Fever”

For many decades, people have called allergies “hay fever”, but pollen is not produced by “hay”, and fever does not come from seasonal allergies. The truth is that seasonal allergies are because of the body’s overreaction to common pollens lingering in the air. When these pollens are inhaled, the immune system sees them as a danger and it attacks them aggressively, which causes a runny nose or itchy eyes. With the “hay fever”, the term arose during the early 1800s and it might have referred to a lung infection because of inhaling dust while they stack hay.

Allergy Changes While We Age

New allergies can develop at any point in your life. If you already have an allergic reaction to a certain plant or other allergens, there is a tendency that it will happen again and again even after you received shots.

Despite suffering from allergies in the past, there is a chance that you will be allergic to another one.

Controlling Your Environment May Control Your Allergy Symptoms

A lot of people think of allergy treatments are given in pills, shots, or nasal irrigation. You should not overlook how valuable it is to keep your living environment pollen-free. In order to do this, some allergy doctors talk about taking steps in the allergy season, like removing shoes and outwear before they enter houses. When you wash and shower once you are home, it can rinse off pollen from your body. Outdoor pets attract pollen, and around the house, you should use blinds or shades instead of drapery or fabric. Your doors must be kept shut during the allergy season.

If you are suffering from seasonal allergies, you should consult with an allergist Manassas VA to help you manage the symptoms.

What You Need to Know About Seafood Allergy

Even if the worst food allergies begin during your childhood, seafood allergy stands out. If you consult an allergist, they will tell you that seafood allergy can develop anytime in your life. However, it is more present during adulthood. It could be caused by the foods that you ate before without issues.

Seafood allergy is the most common onset food allergy among adults. Therefore, you might be surprised that one day you will just develop a seafood allergy even if you never had it before.

You will discover more about this allergy as you read further.

Which ones are Considered Seafood?

Seafood pertains to any fresh and saltwater fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Common examples are:

Fish: Bluefish, anchovy, bass, catfish, carp, cod, char, haddock, flounder, herring, halibut, sardines, mahi-mahi, salmon, and tuna
Shellfish: Clams, abalone, mussels, conch, oysters, octopus, sea snails, scallops, and squid
Crustaceans: Crayfish, crab, prawns, shrimp, and lobster
Others: Kamaboko and surimi, caviar and roe, and tarama

It is not Rare

While figures range per country, about 1% of the population suffers from this type of allergy. Teenagers and adults experience it more compared to early childhood. Approximately 20% grows out of their allergy over time.

Symptoms of Seafood Allergy

You need to see an allergy doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms after consuming seafood:

Flushed face, rash or hives, red and itchy skin
Swelling of the eyes, lips, face, tongue, and throat
You have trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing
Itchy skin
Vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps
You experience distress, anxiety, paleness, fainting, weakness, and a sense of doom
Your blood pressure drops, have a rapid heartbeat, and loss of consciousness

How is it Diagnosed?

Seafood allergies are more seen in adults and less common among children. An allergist will be able to confirm if you suspect that you are allergic to seafood.

Cooking Sometimes Affect Your Tolerance

Normally, seafood allergens are heat stable and cooking cannot easily destroy them, but sometimes individuals can tolerate tinned fish. However, they are unable to tolerate the same type of fish if it is freshly cooked. You should not try tinned fish unless your doctor advises you to.

How You Can Avoid Seafood

It is easy to avoid buying or cooking seafood, but there are many ingredients added to food that is made from seafood. You must always check the labels on processed or packaged foods. Watch out for these:

Oyster sauce and fish sauce
Marinara sauce
Fish stock
Fish paste
Prawn crisps and prawn crackers
Sushi
Caesar salad
Cooking oil
Pizza
Krill or fish oil supplements
Cooking oil that was used for cooking fish

If you order a meat curry, they might have used the fish sauce to cook it. You should tell the waiters that you are allergic to seafood and your meal should not have any seafood in it, even if it is just oyster sauce or fish sauce.

Fish oil supplements are highly unlikely to cause any adverse reaction, but you should still avoid them.

Some people are extremely sensitive to any type of fish that they can react even to the steam produced from cooking fish. This is more common in children with asthma.

You should look for an allergy specialist Manassas VA who will tell you everything you should know because you should stay away from seafood no matter what.

Why You Need to See an Allergy Doctor

Maybe you experience seasonal allergies and you go for over-the-counter medicine to soothe your symptoms like itchy and red eyes. You might want to have an allergy doctor whom you talk to about your symptoms because sometimes these symptoms can get worst. They can affect your ability to function in your daily life.

When should you visit an allergist who diagnoses and treats allergies caused by dysfunctions in the immune system? You will see from this article the reasons why you need an allergist. They are helpful in providing care for a lot of conditions involving the immune system.

Find out more here:

Your Cold is Not Going Away

A cold or virus cough must clear up in a few weeks. If you have persistent coughs or it consistently shows up in a pattern, like only in the spring or when you are in bed, then it might be an allergy.

This is the same for headaches because they can be linked to sinusitis caused by allergies. The dull headaches and repeated fatigue symptoms help you determine if the allergies are involved in helping you get relief.

Your Sinus Infection is Chronic

Sinuses are the hollow openings behind the nose and around the eyes. They have mucus that helps warm and filter breathing. This mucus needs to be drained out. If the mucus gets blocked and the sinuses are congested, you might have a sinus infection. In case you have asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system, you are more prone to getting sinus infections.

An allergist and immunologist can give you prescription medications that help ease pain and congestion of sinus infections. You will learn the ways of preventing a sinus infection that happens in the first place. For instance, most of the time, washing hands and using a humidifier or nasal spray to add moisture to your nasal passage is helpful.

You Get Diarrhea After a Meal

An allergy doctor can test if you have food allergies and help you separate what is intolerance or food allergy when you eat something. If it is a food allergy, your body will cause an immune response to what you are and it is normally within 2 hours. Swelling, rash, trouble breathing, and hives are all symptoms of food allergy.

Intolerance is harder to detect because the symptoms only start after 3 hours of eating and range from mild nausea, bloating, and diarrhea. If you know which foods to avoid that cause your allergy, you will no longer suffer from the symptoms. Your immune system also improves when you eat certain kinds of foods.

If you are Asthmatic

Asthma can cause the muscles in your airways to spasm or tighten, and it can inflame the lining of the lungs. This is going to block airflow, which makes it hard to breathe. Asthma ranges from mild to severe, which can be life-threatening. You might feel chest tightness and you will struggle to breathe.

When you work with an allergist, your asthma can be controlled and you will have fewer asthma flares. The allergist can give you a prescription for medication so your specific symptoms can be treated. You will learn about different asthma triggers so that you can avoid them.

You will be able to avoid allergy triggers if you see an allergy specialist doctor Germantown MD because you will no longer suffer from the symptoms.

Eczema: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Eczema is a skin condition that affects millions of Americans in the US, both children and adults. It is a condition wherein there is a presence of itchy and rough patches on your skin. Blisters may also occur, making it more uncomfortable for those affected by the condition. If you have eczema, it is best to consult an allergist near you.

Brief facts about eczema

Eczema is an uncomfortable medical condition that can affect your quality of life. It can leave unpleasant scars and marks on your skin. As a result, it can cause low self-esteem and some may end up wearing anything that won’t expose their skin. People with eczema should consult an allergy doctor to help them manage their condition.

This skin condition can be due to an allergic reaction to certain triggers such as pollen, nuts, dairy, eggs, or shellfish among a few. The severity of the reaction varies from person to person. Some may experience mild itching that goes away with prescribed medicines. Meanwhile, some may experience severe symptoms that can even be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Unfortunately, eczema is an incurable condition. On a positive note, it is not contagious and should not be a reason to discriminate the person who has it. There is no definite cure for eczema, but symptoms can be managed. An allergist doctor will prescribe the right medications to heal damaged skin and provide relief from the symptoms.

Types of eczema

There are different types of eczema, of which the most popular is atopic dermatitis. It is said that almost 20 million US adults suffer from atopic dermatitis. One major signs of atopic dermatitis are the presence of an itchy, red rash that appears on the arms, legs, or cheeks. Other types of eczema include:

Seborrheic dermatitis – occurrence of yellowish white flaky patches and commonly affects the skin and scalp
Contact dermatitis – a skin reaction that is due to accidentally touching an allergen (ex. Certain plants like poison ivy)
Stasis dermatitis – refers to leg swelling and skin irritation due to poor circulation
Dyshidrotic eczema – affects both hands and feet and cause itchy, red blisters and also caused by allergen exposure

Symptoms and treatment

Eczema symptoms may vary from person to person. Likewise, it may also be different depending on the person’s age. Eczema can occur to anyone – from infants to the elderly. Most people have this condition since childhood and then carried into adulthood.

If you have the below symptoms, you should go to an allergy clinic so you can get the right treatment for your condition. Common symptoms of eczema include:

Presence of rashes on cheeks, scalp, or creases on knees or elbows
Rashes may also appear on the neck, ankles, legs, buttocks or wrists
Rashes that leak fluid and cause intense itchiness
Cause sleep disturbance and may worsen when rubbed or scratched
Presence of scaly rashes in adults

As mentioned, there is no definite cure for eczema. However, there are several medications that help manage and alleviate the symptoms. These medications that will be prescribed by an allergy physician should also help heal eczema marks. He or she will also suggest a treatment plan depending on the person’s age, the severity of symptoms, and overall health condition.

Other ways to manage eczema symptoms include the following:

Use skin moisturizers. However, make sure to check the ingredients to ensure it won’t do harm on your skin. Preferably use ones that are paraben-free or similar to that.
Wear light clothing (ex. Cotton) to let your skin breathe.
Use scent-free soap or cleanser on your skin. This also applies to lotions and moisturizers.
Avoid rubbing dry your skin after taking a bath. Instead, gently pat your skin dry to avoid irritation.
Change into dry clothes after getting all sweaty. Better yet, take a shower after an intense workout or any physical activity.
Be aware of your triggers and avoid them as much as possible.
Use doctor-prescribed medications including ointments, creams, and antihistamine tablets.

Take care of your skin and your health

Eczema can affect anyone. Symptoms may appear from infancy and carry them over into adulthood. Millions of people all over the world are affected by this condition. It can also affect their daily lives and even their self-esteem.

While it has no definite cure, it can be managed. You should consult the best allergist to help you manage the symptoms. If you have the condition, don’t delay – visit an allergy clinic in Manassas MD today.