Having a skin reaction is never pleasant, and it might make you want to keep allergy medicine on hand at all times.
Luckily, allergy relief helps to ease the symptoms and reduce the chance of widespread allergic reactions. Whether you have recently had a new treatment, are starting a new skincare product, or have gotten too close to nature, here are some tips on how to respond.
Identifying Allergic Reaction Symptoms
Whether an allergic reaction is topical or internal, it should not be ignored. When it comes to topical skin reactions, the typical symptoms are itching, redness, and sometimes swelling. Further symptoms might include a rash, dry and flaking skin, leathery patches with darker pigmentation, blisters, burning, and tenderness.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Allergy Relief
If your skin reaction is more severe, it is important to seek immediate medical attention for allergic skin reaction treatment. Immediate medical intervention should be sought for any of the following symptoms:
- Infection
- Pus secreting from blisters
- Difficulty breathing
- Symptoms in the eyes or nasal passages
- If the allergen was ingested or has affected your mouth or digestive tract
How to Get Allergy Relief
An essential first step is to immediately stop using the product that is causing the allergic reaction symptoms. Allergic reactions on the skin will appear within 24-48 hours of applying a topical treatment. If you are unsure of the cause, this window should narrow your search.
You can also wash the product off of your skin with cold water or with a cold compress if it was freshly applied. You can also apply topical steroid medication, such as hydrocortisone cream if you are experiencing itchiness. Oral allergy medication or an antihistamine can also be taken to treat symptoms.
For more severe reactions, the best plan is to make an appointment with your dermatologist or allergist. They can prescribe a treatment such as a corticosteroid cream or an oral steroid to reduce inflammation.
How to Prevent Future Allergic Reactions
Having an allergic reaction is not only stressful, but it is also hard on your skin. If you have had a recent allergic reaction, it might be necessary to give your skin a break. Check with your dermatologist and/or allergist on which skincare routine is gentle enough to use during this time.
Whenever you are using a new product, it can be helpful to try it on a discreet area to see how your skin reacts. Your dermatologist or allergist can also help with this process with a patch test if you’ve had issues in the past with skin care products. A patch test is a special skin test where specific ingredients present in commonly used products are applied on your back to see which ingredients you are sensitive to.
Whenever you are changing up your skincare routine, it can be helpful to run it by your dermatologist. Whether you have a medical emergency or just want to schedule a cosmetic consultation, set up an appointment with our own Dr. David Erstein. Dr. Erstein is an expert in evaluating medication allergies, cosmetic allergies, diseases of the skin, insect sting reactions, and latex allergies.