The extent of the allergy varies between persons and ranges from minor irritations to severe skin conditions. Although allergies cannot be cured, several treatments can be administered in order to relieve allergy symptoms. Skin allergies are managed and treated by an immunologist or allergist. Skin allergies generate from a reaction of the immune system to foreign substances such as pet dander, bee venom or pollen.

Generally, antibodies play the role of protecting the body from foreign invaders likely to cause infections or sickness. The immune system produces antibiotics, which indentify possible allergens as harmful, even when it is not the case. When the person gets into contact with allergens the immune system responds by inflaming parts of the body system, including the skin.

Diagnosis of skin allergies

Skin allergies are often diagnosed by looking out for rashes, itchy skin and skin infection. In addition, the doctor can check the family history in order to find similar problems. He/ she will also review the diet, allergic tendencies and prescribed drugs affecting the skin.

Allergy skin tests are done to help doctors develop the right treatment plan. The tests are used widely in the diagnosis of dermatitis (eczema) allergic conditions. Skin tests can be performed on all persons including infants. However, this tests may not be performed on persons with severe allergy reactions because certain substances used in the tests can trigger life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis). Moreover, skin tests may not be done on persons suffering with severe psoriasis or eczema; there could be the absence of enough clear skin to do the tests

Signs and symptoms of skin allergies

• Itchy skin
• Red skin
• Peeling, scaling or flaking skin
• Skin rashes

Causes of skin allergies

There are many causes of skin allergies, however the main culprits include:

• Fragrance mix:

Some of the common fragrance in foods, dental products, perfumes, soaps, antiseptics, insecticides and cosmetic products

• Quaternium 15

A preservative common in cosmetics including self- tanners, nail polish, sunscreen and shampoos as well as industrial products like waxes, paints and polishes

• Cobalt chloride

A metal present in several medical products, antiperspirant and hair dye.

• Thimerosal

Mercury compound often used in the manufacture of antiseptics or preservatives in several vaccines

• Gold sodium thiosulfate and nickel

Metals commonly found in jewelry.

Types of allergies

• Dermatitis

The skin allergy exhibits rashes and itchiness within 30- minutes of coming into contact with the allergen. Inflammation can occur and therefore there should be no covering of the skin.

• Eczema
• Eczema is an advanced dermatitis presenting more severe results such as scabs, blisters and flowing liquids. This skin condition causes a red rash and some itching. The symptoms associated with eczema can cause much discomfort. The skin condition is most likely to occur in children, with seven out of one thousand persons infected with the condition being a child below the age of five years.
• Hives

Skin hive is generally a harmless skin rash caused by allergy. The rash appears like raised circular welts that can become itchy and red. Hives appear in batches all over the skin.  Hives can range from small to several centimeters in diameter.

Prevention of skin allergies

• Fragrance free-products

Using products without fragrance such as fragrance free shampoos and body lotions can help protect the skin from fierce reaction and inflammation.

• Moisturizing lotion

A dry skin increases the chances for skin inflammation. Therefore, a good lotion can protect the skin from drying.

• Suitable detergent

A suitable washing detergent often free of soap and scent can keep the skin clean while preventing possible skin reactions.

• Allergen avoidance

By performing an allergy tests the doctor will be able to identify the allergens or substances responsible for the allergy. Together with a medical history, the allergy tests confirm the substances eaten, breathed or touched- causing the reaction. This will help in avoiding allergy triggers and in turn assist in reducing the symptoms.

• Administer medication

Allergy medications help reduce the reaction of the immune system and ease the symptoms. The drug may be a prescription or over-the-counter medication. Antihistamine creams for instance, can help in relieving redness and itching of skin. The antihistamine works like a sedative and therefore best administered during the night.

Patches on dry skin is a common health condition present in persons of all ages. For some persons, the condition is temporary while for others it is a lifelong battle.

The skin is the largest organ in the body, responsible for regulating the body temperature and moisture as well as protecting the body against harmful foreign bodies. A healthy and intact skin therefore offers an effective barrier from bacteria. The thin layer of oil (natural lipids) offers a coat of healthy skin and traps the skin moisture, leaving the skin soft and hydrated. Dry patched skin cannot offer this kind of protection.

Dry skin patches often result from environmental factors as well as things being done on the skin. A health condition or genetic predisposition is often responsible for dry skin patches. Dry skin patches that are left untreated san result in serious health conditions such as dermatitis. Dry skin patches are most common on hands, abdomen, legs and arms; nevertheless, they can appear on any part of the body.

Signs and Symptoms

Itching is a common symptom of dry skin patches. Moreover, the skin condition exhibits dry, reddish and rough patches. Other persons develop raised, small reddish bumps on the skin. Severe dry skin patches can display cracks and bleeding. Fissures can develop in the severe case.

Causes for dry skin patches

• Misusing moisturizer. Moisturizers play an important role in protecting the skin from harsh environmental conditions. They are useful when applied on damp skin as opposed to dry skin. However, the majority of persons apply moisturizer on dry skin offering the least benefit. The quality of moisturizer used on the skin cannot be ignored. Alcohol- free and perfume- free moisturizers are best on dry skin. Meanwhile, the greasy and thick type is effective in sealing moisture.
• Weather. The skin can be affected by extreme weather conditions. The dry air particularly during winter is responsible for causing dry skin patches. Furthermore, the dry and warm air created by the heating system during winter and the air conditioner during summer gets rid of moisture from the environment resulting in dry skin. Investing in a good humidifier can therefore help in replacing the moisture lost by heating or cooling.
• Prolonged hot baths. Prolonged- frequent hot baths can cause patches on dry skin. Hot water has a tendency of removing the skin’s natural oils that ordinarily serve the role of protecting the skin. Showers as opposed to baths and warm water rather than hot offers more benefits. Furthermore, the feeling of tightness in sections of the skin after taking a bath or shower is an indication of dry skin.
• Harsh soaps/ detergents. Harsh soaps have the capacity of intensifying this skin problem. Antibacterial and deodorant soaps apart from removing the dirt, they strip away the skin’s natural oils. Fragrance-free and mild soaps are therefore a better choice. Furthermore, dry skin should not be subjected to brushes and abrasive sponges, a washcloth would be more helpful.
• Drugs and medications. Several drugs and medicines influence the skin condition. Blood pressure drugs and acne medications extend several side effects including drying of skin. Letting the doctor know about the drying skin, he/ she may consider changing the dosage or offering a different medication.
• Psoriasis. This skin disorder exhibits a rapid production of dry, rough and dead skin-cells that create thick scales.
• Atopic dermatitis. This common eczema results in persons exhibiting more drier and sensitive skin. The majority of people having mild eczema often confuse their skin condition with excess dryness. The areas affected include the neck, face and fold areas (on ankles, knees, wrists and elbows).
• Diabetes. The fluctuation in the levels of glucose in diabetes patients leads to dehydration that can cause dry skin patches.
• Malnutrition. Inadequate nutrition has a bearing on the largest organ in the body, the skin. Dry skin patches are common particularly in malnourished children.

Although dry skin patches are a less serious health problem, failure to address the problem can generate into more serious complications. Furthermore, they could be a symptom of an existing health condition like diabetes. Adapting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates a routine skin care plan and healthy diet can improve the quality of the skin.

Dry skin on the face is a problem present in many people, especially during winter.  Furthermore, the use of harsh chemical- based detergents, soaps and lotions can strip away the skin’s natural oils, resulting in a dry, flaky and cracked skin. Moreover, deficiencies of essential oils such as Omega 3 and vitamins & minerals like vitamin A and E can result in dry skin.

How to avoid dry skin on the face

1. Avoid harsh soaps. Harsh soaps and detergents strip away the skin’s natural oils, leaving the skin flaky and dry. Furthermore, products that are likely to keep the face fresh during summer and spring may cause problems during the winter. It is therefore necessary to choose a gentle, fragrance free, super- fatted soap for cleaning. Super- fatted soaps are generally loaded with oil. Consequently, olive- based soaps moisturize the face and protect it against possible irritation.
2. Cleanse & exfoliate the face. Cleansing removes dead and dry skin beforehand helps in retaining the moisturizer. Clearing the dead skin- cells offers the ideal opportunity for the moisturizer to penetrate the skin. A natural process of cleansing and exfoliating the face involves the use of oatmeal scrub. A simple mixture of oatmeal (1 tbsp.) and warm water (1 tbsp.) applied with a gentle scrub on the face, allowed to remain for 5 – 10 minutes and rinsed using warm water cleanses the face.
3. Moisturize the skin. Moisturizing the face with healthy-natural vegetable oils can help replenish, smoothen and soften the skin. Some of the oils to consider include jojoba oil, olive oil and almond oil. Compared to creams, these oils have a tendency of remaining on the skin and preventing the loss of water through evaporation. This is particularly useful for cracked and drying skin.
4. Use warm water. Instead of hot water, it is advisable to use warm water to wash the face. This will protect the face from losing its natural oils as well as moisture. A sensitive, dry and cracked face is often the result of exposure to prolonged hours of hot water. Furthermore, it is necessary to limit showers and baths to less than 15- minutes.
5. Invest in a humidifier. A humidifier helps in regulating the moisture content in the air. Dry air is common during winter attributed to the heating system, which removes the natural moisture resulting in skin dryness.
6. Avoid artificial preservatives and fragrances. Artificial preservatives and fragrances often contain hostile chemicals that can cause sensitivity to the skin. Fragrances in skin products are a common cause of allergies. A mixture of carrier oils and natural essential- oils, such as almond and olive oil present a better alternative. Applied to the face, these oils serve as a good moisturizer and reduce the skin’s sensitivity.
7. Eat foods loaded with healthy nutrients. Vitamins and minerals help in nourishing the skin. Flaxseed, walnuts and salmon offer essential nutrients useful for attaining healthy skin. Essential fatty acids like Omega3 also help in providing the right quality for oil that is useful for improving the health of cell membranes in order to keep away harmful substances and to allow nutrients to gain access to the cells. Omega3 also helps in reducing the production of agents that are likely to cause skin damage.
8. Drink water. Eight to ten glasses of water daily can help the skin retain its moisture. This is particularly useful during hot seasons.
9. Wear a proper cap. If you cannot keep away from hot sun, then shielding the face with a proper cap or umbrella can help protect the face from direct sun light.
10. Apply some screen. During winter, it is common for the majority of persons to avoid using the sunscreen. However, during winter you get a substantial measure of sun deflected by the snow. It is therefore advisable to choose a sunscreen high in zinc or titanium- that act as physical blockers.

Skin complications

Dry skin on the face often responds to a healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consult the doctor in the following circumstances:

• If the skin fails to improve regardless of on the best efforts
• The dry skin and itching affect sleeping
• Dry skin exhibits some redness
• Reveal large portions of peeling or scaling
• Have an infection or open sores from scratching

Dry skin on the face if not effectively managed can lead to other health complications including eczema. Furthermore, a severe dry skin on the face can result in deep fissures or cracks that open and bleed, paving way for an invasion by bacteria.

Eye bags are caused by the fatty tissue below the skin retaining fluid and creating a puffy look. In time, the continual stretching of the skin, combined with either natural or premature aging results in the skin simply not springing back into its normal position and sagging down to create the bags.

Home Remedies

Everyone seems to have their very own, personal remedy for eye bags, but some remedies are more common than others. How well they will work in reducing bags depends whether accompanying life style changes have been made.

Essential Changes Before considering any kind of remedy, home made or of the shelf, it is necessary to ensure that one’s life style will not counteract such treatments. This includes getting enough sleep, getting enough fluids to remain hydrated, giving up smoking and reducing salt, alcohol and caffeine intake.

Plenty of fresh air and regular exercise are also essential, as is a healthy and balanced diet. Reducing stress to a minimum, hard as this may be today, will also assist the process, if in no other way than promoting better, more restful sleep.

Natural Treatments

The most common treatments for eye bags usually involve using something cold to soothe the area.

Spoons By placing ice cold spoons onto the eye bags, gently rolling their backs over and around the area, irritations and inflammation will be soothed, gradually serving to reduce the swelling.

Tea Bags Using tea bags, a very old remedy known to just about every person on the planet, will not only cool the area, but draw out excess fluid and provide anti-oxidants necessary to repair damage.

Cold Compress A compress made with very cold milk will provide nutrients and reduce swelling through the cooling action.

Herbal Treat A chamomile compress prepared by making an infusion and letting it get cold before soaking a cotton pad with it will again cool the area, while also bringing the chamomile’s anti-inflammatory properties into action.

Cucumber Applying slices of cold cucumber provides vitamins, anti-oxidants and cools the area, encouraging healing and reducing swelling in the process.

Potato Thinly sliced raw potato will draw out excess fluid, provide nutrients and cool the skin, promoting natural healing and reducing the bags through the cooling effect as well.

Aloe Vera This natural extract has both cooling and moisturizing qualities. A generous helping of gel will reduce fluid retention and cool the area sufficiently to reduce swelling.

Acupressure This method, using the application of gentle pressure to certain points around the eye, is perfect for improving circulation, toning muscles aroun dthe eye and releasing vital energies.

Natural Eye Creams A good, pure eye cream specifically formulated for eye bag reduction will provide essential nutrients, anti-oxidants and so forth, stimulating the skin into creating what it needs to become strong and flexible again, as well as providing cooling and moisture.

The creams meant to be applied at night will provide the best healing effects, while day creams provide a fresh look and protection during the day.