Allergies are common in all age groups. It is a response of one’s own body immune system to agents like dust, metal, fibre, chemical. These agents also known as allergen are not harmful, occur freely in environment and do not bother most people they come in contact with. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one allergen. When an allergen comes in contact with an individual with allergy, it triggers an allergic or hypersensitive reaction. Heredity and environmental exposures contribute to susceptibility of an individual to allergies. A comprehensive boutique of care and treatment is provided by Allergist at Hinduja Hospital after analyzing all aspects of your lifestyle.
What is allergy?
The human immune system is programmed to combat any foreign substance (allergen, infectious agents) entering our body. In this process of dealing with allergens, the immune system produces a number of antibodies and activates blood called eosinophils. Together they attack the allergen with chemical substances. Sometimes the same chemicals can result in symptoms of allergy.
Symptoms of allergies may be obvious such as hay fever or not so obvious such as breathlessness after taking certain medicines. An allergic reaction can occur anywhere in the body (e.g. sneezing and stuffy nose, itching rash of urticaria and asthma). However other symptoms like severe urticaria, migraine and even life- threatening symptoms (reactions to drugs, foods and cosmetics) can occur.
- Specific allergic disease
- Allergic rhinitis / sinusitis
- Allergic conjunctivitis
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Chronic cough
- Vocal cord dysfunction
- Eczema, Atopic dermatitis
- Urticaria, Angioedema
- Contact Dermatitis
It is important to detect what is causing the allergy in an individual. After detecting the allergens , the best way is to avoid them (drug allergy), use control measures (house dust mites), create tolerance to them (food allergies), skin protection (urticaria) or treat them with oral vaccines (allergic colds or asthma We detect allergies by the skin Prick tests which in the hand of an allergy specialist are 90-100% sensitive. they
Cosmetic allergy:
Allergy to cosmetics is more common than we think. At least once in a life time a person suffers from it. We use all types of cosmetic daily in the form of soaps, shampoos, creams and make up. These cosmetics contain a number of chemicals which can irritate the skin, scalp and the face to cause allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe.
Typically the reactions start with a rash appearing on the area the cosmetic is applied, however sometimes reactions may occur in other parts of the body too e.g. nail polish may cause eye lid rash as a result of touching the eye lid with polished nails. Cosmetic allergies are known to occur even after it has been used for years of no reactions after applying it.
Preservatives and fragrances are the most common causes of allergic reactions:
- Fragrances: they are the most common cause of contact dermatitis caused by cosmetics. These rashes occur mainly on the face and neck. If you are allergic to fragrances, it is best to avoid them, but it can be difficult. Try not to use products labeled as un-scented as fragrance can be masked while manufacturing them. It is better to use fragrance-free products. Fragrances may be present in perfumes, cosmetics, moisturizers, laundry detergents and fabric softeners.
- Preservatives: Many cosmetics contain Preservatives. These include formaldehyde containing quaternium-15, and non-fromaldehyde preservatives including parbenz, thiomersol, and isothiazolinone. These can cause allergic dermatitis
- Hair products: are the second most cause of allergic dermatitis. Common chemicals include phenylenediamine in hair dyes, cocamidopropyl betaine in shampoos and bath products & glycerylthioglycolate in permanent wave solution. The reactions mainly occur in the region of the face. Neck, eyelids, scalp and the back.
- Finger nail coatings: acrylic coatings and formaldehyde-based resins on the nails give rashes on the face and the fingers. Nail polish also contains formaldehyde.
Control of House Dust Mites
House dust is one of the most common allergens to cause asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. House dust is not the gritty dust which blows in from the street, but is dust generated within the house itself. It exists in extremely minute particles which are very light and if disturbed, will rise and swirl around the room. A person walking through a room is followed by a cloud of this dust, and it is best seen when a shaft of sunlight is passing into a room through a window.
House dust contains disintegrating materials from clothing, carpet, bedding, etc as well as human dander and skin scales, and most important of all, living and dead particles of the house dust mite. This mite is smaller than a pin head and thrives on discarded human skin scales, thriving particularly well in the mattress and bedding. The mite has been found to flourish more at certain seasons of the year, usually autumn, but is killed by direct sunlight.
How to reduce house dust and the mite population
In the bedroom: Eliminate from the bedding, articles which tend to form house dust, e.g. feather-filled pillows and quilts, and wooden blankets. Replace with synthetic or cotton products. Mattresses and pillows may be encased in protective covers.
- Every alternate day wash pillow cases, sheets and mattress protector, and wipe down the plastic mattress cover with a damp cloth.
- If possible, expose the blankets, quilts and bedspreads to direct sunlight for several hours every week. Place fluffy toys into a plastic bag and leave in the freezer for four hours every fortnight.
- All beds in the patient’s room should be treated in the same way.
- If there is carpet on the bedroom floor, vacuum two or three times a week. Avoid carpets in the bedroom wherever possible, and if building a new house, chose lino, vinyl or waxed wooden floors. If you have this latter type of floor, clean twice weekly with a damp or oiled mop.
- Two or three times weekly, damp dust all chairs, cupboards, pelmets, window sills, etc. remembering books, lamps and tops of shelves and cupboards. Avoid unnecessary furniture in the bedroom.
- Avoid heavy curtains. Whenever possible choose light, washable curtains and wash frequently. Clean Venetian blinds regularly with a damp cloth.
The rest of the house
- The living room/television room is the other important area requiring attention. Vacuum or mop the floor as for the bedroom. Dust frequently, as for the bedroom.
- Vacuum any upholstered chairs or sofas twice weekly, especially the head rest, arms and edges of the seats. Ideal furniture cushions are made of foam rubber. Leather or vinyl is better than fabric.
General
- Use a vacuum cleaner with disposable bags.
- Do not empty the vacuum cleaner if you are allergic.
- Do not allow cats or dogs in the house. If they are allowed they should not sleep on the bed or upholstered furniture used by the allergic patient.
Bathing Instructions – Daily soak-and seal skin care
Moderate to severe atopic dermatitis
Use moisturising soaps (Soapex, Citaphil, Dove, Oil of Olay) – to keep the skin moist
After the shower do not wipe the skin with a towel. Wipe with bare hands
On the moist skin apply medicines as advised on the affected areas
Cover the remaining moist skin of the body with moisturisers in the morning and coconut oil at bed time
Take bath for at least 15 minutes, two times a day
Reducing skin irritation
Wash all new clothes before wearing them –removes formaldehyde and other chemicals
Use a liquid, fragrance-free, dye-free detergent and rinse the clothes twice to remove all perfumes, dye or chemicals
Wear loose garments to allow free flow of air to your skin
Finger nails should be cut short to avoid any damage to the skin due to scrathing