Side Effects from Skin Allergies

Skin allergies occur when some chemicals or elements come in contact with the skin and the skin reacts to it as a harmful substance. Skin allergies can be confined to the point of contact or spread over large areas including the entire body.

Some people can get rashes on the hands and feet which can create problems and make a person unable to work and do simple daily tasks as a matter of fact. So once you come to know the cause of the reaction, it would be best to avoid contact with that cause so as to avoid any further complications.

Generally you can cure simple skin rashes with corticosteroid cream, but researchers have studied and concluded that about three percent of those with skin allergies are also allergic to the cream itself!

Recent studies have proved that the main cause of skin allergies is the metal nickel. It is widely used in making buttons on some clothing, U.S. Coins, jewelry and clasps.

People who are suffering from skin allergies have to face one tough task that is figuring out the root cause of their allergy. The only option to determine the cause of skin allergy is to purposely inject up to 73 known allergens into a small patch of skin and see which one causes a rash. This procedure is better known as a patch test. It can help physicians to come to a conclusion to what is causing a person to suffer from a particular skin problem.

 Top Offenders List includes Cosmetics and Beauty Items

A recent study also pointed to a mix of eight fragrance allergens in food, cosmetic products perfumes and dental products. Gold which is a precious metal used in jewelry is also high on the list of causes for skin allergies. It has other uses such as dental fillings and coins. People who develop skin allergies after wearing gold may have to switch to silver or another metal to avoid the rashes associated with the metal in particular. Myroxylon pereirae which is an extract from resin tree is used in preparing many cosmetic products such as perfumes and skin lotion.

Another compound that is neomycin sulfate is also used in cosmetics, deodorants and soaps and is also present in first aid creams and pet food. Many people develop skin allergies from formaldehyde which is a preservative that is used for paper, medications, cleaners cosmetics and in some fabric finishes. Shampoo and sunscreen may also include quaternium 15, which is another preservative found in industrial products such as paint, wax and polishes.

To conclude the topic on skin allergies we can say just one thing, it is difficult finding out the cause of allergy. It can be an uncomfortable experience but another method for curing light allergies is to maintain a rash diary in which one may detail minor points like what he or she was doing or wearing when they noticed the outcome of the rash. In the course of time, this helps to determine the cause of skin allergies and also helps to make a list of what to avoid.