Allergic Skin Reactions

Allergic reactions can be thought of as a kind of protective mechanism gone haywire. Although they don’t normally cause aging or wrinkles, the immune system is in the business of protecting the body against substances that the body comes in contact with that could be harmful to it. Occasionally, however, it puts up a misguided fight. The immune system’s protective response turns into an overreaction. The histamine that is released from the mast cells in the blood and tissues causes many of the familiar signs and symptoms of allergy (and sometimes odd and unfamiliar ones, too). The substance that triggered the immune system to react this way is called an allergen and if often treated with anti histamines.

Anything can act as an allergen. Why certain things do, why they do at certain times and not at others (allergies sometimes come and go) and why some things act as allergens to some people and not to others are all questions for which there are still no fully satisfactory answers. But it is known that certain substances (foods, medicines, or other chemicals) tend to trigger allergic reactions more often than others do-like peanuts and poison ivy. And, it is also known that in order to have a true allergic reaction to anything, you must have already had at least one previous exposure to it or to a substance that bears considerable similarity to it chemically.

It is also important to realize that you can become allergic to things even if you have been exposed to them for many years without problems. The reason for this is also unknown, but something apparently triggers the immune system to perceive the formerly tolerated substances as an allergen and thus an enemy.

Skin allergies usually persist for many years, although after age seventy, when the immune system tones down, allergies become less frequent. Allergic skin reactions take on different forms-they can be itchy, red rashes, or blisters, or, occasionally, hives, sometimes called wheals, but rarely leaves permanents marks or wrinkles in the skin.

Common sources of skin allergy at home and on the job include rubber, fabric, and dyes. They may not cause wrinkles or aging of the skin but reactions to earrings, the metal back of a watch, belt buckles, and bra hooks can be traced to their nickel content. Skin allergies to dyes or colors in clothing or shoes may cause your skin to break out. Rubber is another frequent culprit. The thin latex (rubber) disposable gloves that are used in the “universal precautions” against infection are an occasional cause of skin reactions for women and men in medicine, nursing, and dentistry. And, women who are allergic to rubber sometimes have problems in beauty salons. The rubber headrest attached to the shampoo tray can be a source of sensitivity. Allergies to rubber can mean problems for women (and men) who use latex condoms for birth control and disease prevention.

Urticaria, or hives, that is, itchy, red bumps, can result from inhaling things to which you may be allergic. Grasses and trees are some of the usual culprits. Sophisticated allergy tests have been devised to test for allergies of this nature.

Irritant reactions differ from allergies in that no prior exposure is necessary. Irritants can be caustic substances-such as acids or alkalis or milder chemicals-such as solvents or detergents. These are frequently found in household cleansers and many products used by chemists, carpenters, secretaries, doctors, artists, and people in many other occupations.

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