Skin allergies? What allergies?

This is the 3613th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

"Red spots and rashes suddenly appeared on my body, and they were itchy. What happened to me?" Don't be afraid, it might be a skin allergy. Skin allergy is not an exact disease name, but a general term for a class of diseases with skin allergy symptoms. Skin diseases caused by allergies mainly include urticaria, eczema, contact dermatitis, etc. Modern medicine calls "allergic reaction" also "allergic reaction", which means that the body's immune system will have memory when it first comes into contact with certain substances that are not very dangerous, such as pollen, dust mites, etc. When these substances enter the body again, they will specifically bind to antibodies on the surface of mast cells and basophils, release allergic reaction mediators mainly composed of histamine, and produce an immune response that is harmful to the body. "Red spots, rashes, and itching" are the specific manifestations of this allergic reaction on the skin.

1. Specific manifestations of skin allergies

Sudden redness, swelling, peeling and itching of the skin. Urticaria: mainly manifested by wheals on the skin accompanied by varying degrees of itching; eczema: dry skin, chronic eczematous skin lesions and obvious itching; contact dermatitis: skin lesions mainly manifested as erythema, edema or blisters and exudation.

2. Causes of skin allergies

1) Allergic constitution caused by family history;

2) Caused by contact with clear allergens, including food, clothes and bedding that are not thoroughly cleaned, and medicines, etc.

3) External environmental stimulation, including seasonal changes and temperature changes, can cause skin allergies;

4) Chemical factors mainly include long-term abuse of cosmetics. No matter what kind of cosmetics, they will always contain preservatives, flavor enhancers and other added ingredients. Long-term use without paying attention to skin cleansing will cause skin sensitivity, and under various stimuli, cause allergic symptoms.

3. How to find your allergens

There are many types of allergens, and finding your own allergens is the first priority to relieve skin allergies. Common allergens include inhaled ones, including pollen, dust mites, catkins, etc.; ingested ones include animal protein, that is, our common milk or other meat products, as well as nuts and fruits; there are also some contact allergens, such as cosmetics, hair dyes, detergents; in addition, there are drug allergies, common penicillins, sulfonamides, etc. In short, there are many types of allergens. In daily life, we should pay attention to which types of allergens we will have abnormal reactions after contacting based on family genetic history and occupational exposure.

In addition, there are also clinical allergen detection methods, including serum testing, which detects the expression of IgE in serum; skin prick test, which is to prick the skin with purified liquid of different allergens to detect allergens; patch test, which is to stick a patch tape containing allergens on the skin to observe skin reactions. However, the above tests cannot exhaust all allergens, and it is mainly based on one's own medical history to self-detect allergens.

4. What to do if you have skin allergies

1) First, identify the allergens. After identifying the allergens, what needs to be done is to avoid the allergens, eliminate the causes, avoid various allergenic and irritating foods, and reduce external environmental stimulation.

2) Reduce skin irritation and avoid scratching or excessive washing of the skin to avoid aggravating skin symptoms.

3) Symptomatic treatment is performed after skin allergy occurs, and some anti-allergic drugs are used under the guidance of a doctor, including antihistamines, corticosteroids, etc. Desensitization treatment based on the identification of allergens is also a commonly used clinical treatment method.

5. TCM’s understanding of skin allergies

There is no exact name for skin allergy in traditional Chinese medicine. It is usually believed that it is caused by congenital deficiency, weak exterior, contact with certain substances (i.e. allergens), which allow external evil to invade and lodge on the skin surface, causing the evil heat to fight against the qi and blood; or improper diet leads to heat accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract, coupled with wind evil, which cannot be discharged internally or released externally, and is trapped on the skin surface and causes allergies.

Treatment is mainly based on syndrome differentiation and treatment. For wind-heat syndrome, the treatment principle is to dispel wind and clear heat, and Xiaofengsan is used with modifications. For damp-heat syndrome, the treatment principle is to clear heat and remove dampness, and Longdan Xiegan Decoction is used with modifications. For blood deficiency and wind-dryness syndrome, the treatment principle is to nourish blood and moisten dryness, and Danggui Yinzi combined with Xiaofengsan is used with modifications. External treatment of traditional Chinese medicine also has a good effect in treating this disease. Some mild and less irritating Chinese medicine lotions can be used for external use, such as calamine lotion and Sanhuang lotion.

Skin allergies are not scary. By identifying the allergens, treating the symptoms, and reducing the mental burden, you can restore your beautiful face.

Chen Yuanran, Li Fulun

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