Allergy

Since clothing is in close contact with your skin most of the day, it’s no surprise that your shirts, pants, and undies can cause skin problems. Any kind of fiber can bring on a rash, but you’re more likely to get textile dermatitis from clothes made with synthetics such as polyester, rayon, nylon, spandex, or […] Read More

You can find treatment options for mild to moderate allergic reactions. Antihistamines and decongestants can help treat certain symptoms, as can nasal sprays. If you have allergic-type asthma, your doctor might also prescribe an inhaler to ease attacks. Or they may inject a special antibody to manage symptoms. If you don’t get enough relief by […] Read More

Yes. Stress doesn’t cause allergies, but it can make an existing reaction worse by increasing the level of histamine in your bloodstream. This powerful substance can lead to allergy-like symptoms. Read More

The type of pollen that causes allergy symptoms comes from plants (trees, grasses, and weeds) that typically don’t bear fruit or flowers. They make lots of small, light, dry granules that can float in the wind for miles. Common plant allergens include: Weeds: ragweed, sagebrush, redroot pigweed, lamb’s quarters, goosefoot, tumbleweed (Russian thistle), and English […] Read More

“Hypo” means under or less than, so it’s a product that’s less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Many things we use every day, like cleansers, soaps, deodorants, makeup, and even mouthwash, have ingredients that can trigger a skin allergy. When you expose your skin to these ingredients, most often fragrances and chemicals used as […] Read More

Not yet. Strict avoidance of the food allergen is the only way to prevent a reaction, and an epinephrine auto-injector is the only medicine to stop a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Read More

Food allergy is sometimes confused with food intolerance. Food allergies involve your immune system and can be life-threatening. An intolerance is when your body has trouble digesting food. It can make you feel bad, typically with an upset stomach, but it is not life-threatening. The most common intolerance is lactose—which is a natural sugar found […] Read More

Symptoms usually start as soon as a few minutes after eating a food and as long as two hours after. In some cases, after the first symptoms go away, the second wave of symptoms comes back one to four hours later (or sometimes even longer). This second wave is called a biphasic reaction. The risk […] Read More

Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction in some people with food allergies. Although ingestion is the primary cause of severe reactions, in some cases, skin contact or breathing in a food protein (e.g., steam from cooking shellfish) can cause symptoms. Read More

No. While antihistamines can help relieve some mild symptoms from an allergic reaction, such as an itchy mouth or hives, they cannot stop the life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis. Read More