Ten Helpful Tips To Help You Treat Skin Allergy At Home To Relieve Itching And Redness.
Allergies can be irritating or even debilitating, and it’s natural to look for ways to alleviate them. A skin allergy especially can interfere with any plan for the day, and if it is persistent, it can reduce the quality of life. Like most allergic reactions, there are several treatment options, but first, you need to identify the cause of the skin allergy.
Fortunately, prescription drugs are not always necessary to remedy the problem. Finding a home skin allergy treatment is easy to do, once the symptoms are recognized and the cause is identified. Take a look at the ten ways you can alleviate skin rashes, itching, and redness due to allergies at home.
Symptoms of a skin allergy
The typical symptoms of a skin allergy are fairly easy to recognize most of the time, but in more severe cases, you may not realize that the underlying cause of the problem is the allergy. Notable symptoms of skin allergies include:
- Redness and general irritation.
- Itching or burning in patches.
- Skin rashes (red or raised).
- Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), defined by dry, itchy, red skin, or the appearance of small bumps filled with clear or yellowish fluid.
- Hives, identified by red bumps and hives that burn and itch.
- Blisters (sometimes caused by direct contact with an allergen).
When it comes to a skin allergy, knowing the underlying cause can go a long way in treating the condition. Once you identify the allergen that caused the reaction, you can also assess how severe your allergy is.
Causes of skin allergies
Because they are young and curious and do not have a filter to keep them wary when exploring new things, children are more likely to have allergic skin reactions. They can come into contact with allergens both indoors and outdoors, and often, because they are too young to think that a specific item has caused the irritation, they do not avoid that contact.
The cause of a skin allergy is the fact that allergens increase the level of histamine in the body. Histamine is the body’s natural response to an unwanted irritant, causing excess mucus production to become inflamed. In the case of skin allergies, histamine produces excess fluid that seeks ways to escape the skin, causing rashes and other appearances of skin irritation. Histamine also causes the itching and burning sensation. Some of the most common allergens that cause skin allergies are:
- Poison ivy and other plants.
- Dust, dust mites and related particles.
- Exposure to extreme cold or intense heat that dries the skin and leaves it susceptible to other irritants.
- Pet skin and dander.
- Stress, either emotional or physical in nature
- The common cold, as well as other infections and viruses.
- Certain foods eaten.
- Insect bites and stings.
- Products with heavy fragrances and perfumes.
- Certain types of medications
The first line of defense against these allergens is avoidance. Staying away from the cause of a skin allergy will help alleviate symptoms, especially reduce severity when there is minimal exposure. But if you do come into contact with the allergen, taking the time to address it can mean a significant improvement in health and happiness.
Home remedies for a skin allergy
With most allergic responses, it is crucial to treat quickly to avoid long-term residual effects. The most common form of treatment is over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, which work to reduce the histamine in your system, thereby relieving the symptoms they cause.
However, there are quite a few home remedies that could be just as helpful without having to buy these medications, which can leave you drowsy and less alert. The items you may have available in your home could address various symptoms. Here are ten items to consider in place of antihistamines:
- Baking soda: If you experience excess fluid and itchy or burning skin and rashes, make a paste with baking soda. Mix one part baking soda with three parts water (or coconut oil) and smooth the affected area. Don’t leave it on too long, or your skin could become dry and more irritated.
- Aloe Vera: This natural plant, which can be purchased as a fresh green plant, or as an ointment, gel, or lotion. The properties of aloe are many, among them they refresh the affected area, help relieve itching and burning, so it is often used to relieve sunburn. Due to the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and emollient (softening) properties, aloe is an excellent treatment for skin allergies.
- Oatmeal: This should come as no surprise, as parents are urged to give children with chickenpox an oatmeal bath to soothe the itch. Oatmeal is soothing to the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. Add a cup of finely ground oatmeal to the bath water and soak for fifteen to twenty minutes. For facial irritation, mix equal parts of oatmeal and yogurt, adding a hint of honey, for a skin-soothing mask.
- Cilantro: Many of the items used in recipes are also great for allergy relief. Coriander is known to be antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-irritant, so it works well to alleviate the symptoms of a skin allergy. Drinking coriander juice can help, or you can simmer a teaspoon of coriander seeds in water to make a tea, sipping several times a day. A paste of leaves can also be applied directly to irritated areas.
- Cold compress: Cold reduces swelling, especially caused by heat-related allergens, shingles, stings, and poison ivy. A clean cloth soaked in cold water or a bag with ice will be your ally.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is good for relieving itchy and burning skin. Dip a cotton ball in the liquid and place it directly on the affected area. If this is irritating, dilute the vinegar with water first.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil is packed with vitamin E and antioxidants, which are great for healing as well as relief from irritation. Mix with honey and soften rashes and other irritated skin several times a day. Adding a pinch of turmeric, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, for best results.
- Chamomile: This ingredient is known to treat skin rashes and has properties to not only help relieve irritation and inflammation, but also to fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Soak a washcloth in chamomile tea and apply to affected skin for relief.
- Neem or Indian Lilac: In addition to sharing many of the properties with these other remedies, neem also has analgesic properties, which relieve itching and pain. Boil the leaves, allow the solution to cool, and use a soaked cotton ball to apply to irritated skin.
- Calendula: The flower of this plant is used to produce oil, which relieves inflammation, as well as to relieve bruises, wounds, eczema, ulcers, dry skin, rashes and other irritants. Apply the oil at least twice a day and leave for several hours.