Skin allergies may be caused by many different factors, among the most common being exposure to chemicals or cleaners, animal dander, a particular food, or a reaction to a medication. Symptoms of skin allergies can be embarrassing as well as itchy and painful, but even though they can’t be eliminated, they can be treated.

There are several types of skin allergies:

Dermatitis is the medical name for a group of disorders that result in inflammation of the skin. Allergens generally include metals, chemicals, substances such as plastics, latex, plants, and pets. Some usual symptoms of Dermatitis are redness, swelling, burning, stinging, itching, and blistering of the skin, usually at the point of skin contact with the allergen. If Eczema results, its symptoms generally appear on the face and hands but may appear at other sensitive areas of the skin such as around joints.

Prickly Heat can result in a bumpy rash that appears on parts of the body where moisture collects. It can be itchy, but generally goes away in a few days if the area is kept clean and dry. Prickly Heat rash is common in children who wear diapers or who take medication for seasonal allergies. Often, the back or the bottom is the only area to develop a rash, although in a drooling baby it may also affect the chin or neck.

Urticaria is a red rash that is caused by eating a food you are allergic to or as a side effect of taking a medication. The affected area often looks burned because it is light red on the outer edges and very red in the middle.

Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. The skin in particular places becomes dry, itchy, and flaky. A red rash and blisters often appear. Eczema often affects the face, arms, elbows, and the back of the knees. The tendency to develop Eczema may be hereditary. The symptoms generally begin in childhood, although it may manifest later if exposure to the allergen continues. People with Eczema often experience hay fever and asthma as well. Eczema is the hardest skin allergy to treat, perhaps because the irritants that cause it may vary from person to person and the allergens are not always easy to figure out.

Hives are red and itchy blotches on the skin. There are two types of hives. Acute hives last up to 6 weeks. They may be caused by food allergies, medications, insect bites, and disease symptoms. Hives are simply the body’s warning that it has been exposed to something that it finds toxic. Normally hives go away fairly quickly once the offending substance is removed, but there are rare occurrences of Chronic Hives. Chronic Hives are not very common. They last indefinitely, on and off over long periods of time. The cause is not known, but some doctors believe them to be stress-related.

Skin Allergies may be embarrassing and painful. They are time consuming to treat. It is recommended that you see a Dermatologist for any long-lasting skin problem. A Dermatologist will try to determine your allergens, will advise you as to treatment or avoidance, and may treat Skin Allergies with over the counter products such as an antihistamine, or with prescription cortisone creams or allergy shots.