Dr Molly Allergy & Asthma Centre

Allergic conjunctivitis is the result of a foreign particle (allergen) coming in contact with the eye. Once this happens, the immune system overreacts resulting into an inflammation of the eye. The eyes sore with pain. The over secretion of the histamine dilates the blood vessels causing the nerve to irritate and blood vessels of the eyes to expand. Some common reasons of allergic conjunctivitis include eye drops, pollen, dust mites, makeup and animal fur. The good news is that allergic conjunctivitis is easily treatable. Here are top five ways to deal with this condition:

1. Taking care of the eye: It is advised not to wear contact lenses until the symptoms go away fully. If any medication is used, a person must wait for at least 24 hours before putting on the contact lenses. Sometimes our hands carry major pollens that result in allergic conjunctivitis. It is equally important not to rub the eye without washing both the hands. Many studies have also reported that frequent bathing of the eye with cold water helps to clear the symptoms quickly. Some even say that frequent splash of warm water does the trick.
2. Avoid the allergen: Allergen being the villain behind the occurrence of this condition, it is very important to stay away from it. In peak pollen times, it makes sense to close the door. In case a person must go out, it makes sense to wear a sunglass. A pillow made of feathers should be changed every week to stay away from the infection. The number of dust mites at home should be decreased as much as one can.
3. Antihistamines: To quickly get rid of allergic conjunctivitis, doctors often prescribe antihistamines. It can be in the form of eye drop or oral presentation. They can successfully counter the effect of histamine which the body produces because of the hyper activity of the immune system. An antihistamine can block the aggressive effect of the immune system in a short time. Some of the commonly prescribed histamines include loratadine, cetirizine, emedastine, and ketotifen. People taking this form of the medicine for the very first time should refrain from carrying heavy load or driving.
4. Mast cell Stabilizers: These takes a little longer to act as compared to antihistamines. Their effects, however, are more lasting compared to its peers. Some of the popular mast cell stabilizers include nedocromil and lodoxamide. This medicine belongs to a non-steroid family and can successfully block the chemicals that cause inflammation.
5. Corticosteroids: These medicines are only prescribed by doctors when the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis are serious. They belong to the steroid family of medicine produced synthetically. They can reduce the immune response of the body quickly and reduce the swelling as well. They can have possible side-effects. It is therefore wise, to consult a doctor before using it. Consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Some people use the same soap for a lifetime not because they are loyal to the soap brand, but because they fear the reaction their skin would have to other soaps. Similarly, people across the world often see rashes erupt after using a new perfume, cosmetics, jewellery or after coming in contact with plants, such as poison ivy or poison oak. This condition is known as Contact Dermatitis. This can be described as skin condition where the skin is inflamed, red and itchy as a result of exposure to a foreign substance.

Most cases of contact dermatitis are not serious, but can be quite unpleasant. There are three types of contact dermatitis. These are:

1. Allergic Contact Dermatitis: This condition occurs when the skin is exposed to an irritant it may be allergic to. Common triggers are jewellery, perfumes and latex.
2. Irritant Contact Dermatitis: This is the most common form of this skin condition. This condition is triggered by toxic materials, such as bleach, battery acid, detergents, drain cleaners and kerosene. It is also known as hand eczema as it often occurs as a reaction to soaps or over exposure to water.
3. Photo Contact Dermatitis: This is the rarest form of contact dermatitis. It occurs when the active ingredients in sunscreen are exposed to sunlight.

Inflamed skin is one of the first symptoms of contact dermatitis. Some of the other symptoms are:

• Dry, flaky skin
• Redness of the skin
• Blisters that may be dry or oozing
• Burning sensation on the skin
• Itchiness
• Sun sensitivity

Contact Dermatitis on its own rarely requires anything more than medication. Most cases often subside on their own. Avoid scratching the infected skin as it can make the condition worse. Wash the affected area as often as possible with cool water and soap. Over the counter anti itch treatment like calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream can help ease the itchiness and inflammation. An anti histamine drug could also be beneficial. If the rash covers a large expanse of skin, consult a doctor who may prescribe a stronger steroid cream.

With contact dermatitis, prevention is better than cure. Three easy tips to follow to protect yourselves against the skin condition are:

• Only use those products that are labeled hypoallergenic or unscented.
• Use vinyl gloves instead of latex gloves
• Cover all exposed skin when working outdoors, hiking etc. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can ask a free question.

What is angioedema?

Angioedema or Chronic Urticaria is a form of severe swelling beneath the surface layer of the skin. In most of the cases, the swelling occurs along with the appearance of hives. This is why angioedema is commonly referred to as “giant hives.” They tend to be itchy and red boils can develop on the surface of the skin. They are predominantly caused by an allergic reaction to food or medication. Many other factors can also trigger angioedema. These can include pollen grains and insect bites. Angioedema is not a serious medical condition and only in some extreme cases, they tend to get really serious. It usually goes away on its own.

Symptoms
The most common symptom of Angioedema is the swelling beneath the surface of the skin. It may occur on any skin surface and can include your feet, hands, back, and lips. The other common symptom is the presence of the red boils on the surface of the skin. Additional symptoms of angioedema can include rashes, stomach cramping and in some cases swollen throat and difficulty in breathing. Difficulty in breathing can get serious if not treated immediately. Seek medical attention immediately if you get those symptoms.

Causes and Diagnosis:
Angioedema is caused predominantly by allergic reactions. Everybody condition is different and the allergic levels of your body can depend on various factors. Some of them can be even hereditary. Some of them can be due to insect bites, pollen allergies, poison oak or ivy, medications and certain types of food. It can also be due to illness or an underlying medical condition. There are certain risk factors too involved in it and this can include a previous allergic reaction, injury, stress and anxiety and as stated earlier – hereditary. Diagnosis is by a physical examination and in most cases, the doctors would examine the areas of the swelling. Your blood samples would also be tested and the substances that have caused the allergic reactions are identified first.

Treatment:
Angioedema is a condition that can go away on its own. Hence minor symptoms and minor skin allergies do not require medical treatment. Moderate symptoms, however, do require treatment and mostly these involve drugs and medications to curb the itching and swelling. There are also certain home remedies that can be used to relieve such symptoms. You can use wet compress, cold press and wear cotton clothes to avoid itching and scratching. In many instances, the agents that cause the irritants are identified first and then the patient is advised to stay from those agents. For example, if a certain type of food is causing you allergic reactions, then you might be asked to stay away from it. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can ask a free question.

Every year, the emergency rooms at hospitals get flooded by cases of allergic reactions from food. According to a census, about 15 million Indians suffer from some kind of food allergy. The symptoms of food allergy may vary from itchy mouth to potentially fatal conditions like anaphylactic shock. Other symptoms of an allergic reaction can present themselves as difficulty in breathing, swelling of the tongue, rashes and intestinal discomfort.

According to specialists, allergies to food can develop at any age, at any time. Hence, if you suspect a sudden allergic reaction to a food that you have consumed before without any problem, it is advised to consult a doctor.

Here is a list of the most common food allergies that people suffer from frequently-

1. MILK: Milk is the most common food that children and infants are allergic to. Milk allergy must not be confused with lactose intolerance wherein a person faces many difficulties in digesting the sugar present in milk. The two conditions are not related. Milk allergy is the hypersensitivity reaction that happens in response to certain proteins present in milk and can be potentially deadly. Most children are seen to outgrow their allergy to milk.
2. WHEAT: It is a common misconception to confuse Celiac’s disease with a wheat allergy. Wheat allergy exclusively occurs due to the hypersensitivity to the protein present in wheat alone. In Celiac’s disease, it is the gluten in the food they are hypersensitive to, which is also present in rye, barley and oats.
3. SOY: Soy is a very common allergic food and most children seem to outgrow it by the age of 10. Most of the time, soy allergy is not too severe and the symptoms presented are mostly mild. Although, cases of anaphylaxis in reaction to soy have been reported. Soy and soy protein are very common ingredients found in food, hence it is advised to check the ingredients present before consuming it.
4. SHELLFISH: This allergy usually does not go away and you are most likely to deal with all your life. Most people who experience allergies from shellfish are most likely to be hypersensitive to both crustaceans (lobsters, shrimps and crabs) and mollusks (mussels, oysters, scallops and clams). This type of allergy can become very intense and you must even avoid the steam produced from cooking shellfish. For some people, the mere contact with shellfish can trigger an allergic reaction  

Also known as contact dermatitis or contact eczema, allergic eczema is a condition wherein one experience symptoms of skin rash on coming in contact with an allergen. Other symptoms include a burning sensation in the eyes, coughing and a runny nose.

Causes-

This condition is caused when you come in contact with an allergen. Some common triggers that cause your immune system to react in this manner are:

1. Perfumes in cosmetics

2. Hair dyes

3. Metals such as nickel found in jewelry

4. Latex based products

5. Chemicals present in soaps and other cleansing agents

6. Certain antibiotic creams and lotions

7. Adhesives

Symptoms-

With allergic eczema, the most common symptoms include itching and pain around the affected area and tender skin. Inflammation and dry skin are some other common symptoms that one may experience. Pus-filled red bumps are common occurrences along with this disorder. The skin may start to thicken and turn scaly. The symptoms may show up when one is exposed to sunlight.

Treatments-

The treatment for this disorder begins after a thorough diagnosis of the symptoms. Based on how severe the symptoms are, the treatment is prescribed accordingly. The first step is usually to wash the affected area with warm water to wash away the allergens. In case of mild symptoms, you may not need any treatment. It is also advised to use apply moisturizing cream to maintain hydration of the skin. To reduce inflammation and itching, use of corticosteroid creams is recommended.

In case of severe symptoms, strong corticosteroid pills may be prescribed.

If the treatments are carried out properly, the symptoms tend to clear up within 15-20 days. However, it is important to remember that the condition may erupt again if you come in contact with the allergen once more. Thus identification of the allergen is very important for long-term treatment and preventive measures. By seeing an allergist contact dermatitis can be ruled out by doing an Allergy Patch Testing. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist and ask a free question.

What is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is defined as allergic symptoms in the nasal passage. Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal (occurring during specific seasons) or perennial (occurring year round). The allergens that most commonly cause seasonal allergic rhinitis include pollens from trees, grasses and weeds, as well as spores from fungi and moulds. The allergens that most commonly cause perennial allergic rhinitis are house dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander and fungi or moulds. Perennial allergic rhinitis tends to be more difficult to treat.

How does allergic rhinitis occur ?

This condition occurs when allergens (allergy- causing substances) come into contact with the nose, and usually also the ears, sinuses, and the throat. When allergens come in contact with the lining of the nose and sinuses, they trigger the cells to release the chemical histamine, which causes the allergy symptoms described below.

What are the symptoms ?

• Nasal congestion 
• Sneezing 
• Watery " runny nose" 
• Itchy eyes,nose,or throat 
• Puffy eyes or 'allergic shiners'
• Post nasal drip 
• Tears 

These symptoms may occur during a certain season or year long. They can occur at any age. 

What is the treatment for allergic rhinitis ? 

A number of medications, including antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, and decongestants are available to control symptoms. Allergen immunotherapy could provide long lasting benefit. You can "train" your immune system not to react exaggerated to an allergen anymore.