Have you ever felt itchy skin after touching something? If this is the case, you may experience symptoms of allergic itching. This condition is the body's response to the factors that trigger the onset of allergies. In addition to the itching, another response that can occur is a red rash on the skin.
The condition in which an inflammatory reaction or itching occurs when the skin comes in contact with certain foreign objects is called allergic contact dermatitis. Usually, the symptoms of allergic itching appear on parts of the body that are directly exposed to foreign objects or substances that trigger allergies.
Causes of allergic itching
So far, more than 3000 substances or objects have been shown to cause allergic itching in a person.Here are some things that are usually a trigger for allergic itching:
- Latex, the basic material for making rubber gloves, balloons and condoms.
- Nickel, a metal that is generally used as a mixture of jewelry and buttons on jeans.
- Body care products, such as shampoo, deodorant, body care soap, nail polish, hair dye, lotions and sunscreen.
- Laundry cleaning products, such as detergents and fabric softeners.
- Drugs applied to the skin, such as antibiotics.
- Perfume or fragrance and alcohol.
- dye.
- Certain types of plants, especially nettle (poison ivy) and pollen.
- UV rays.
Usually, your body's reaction to these triggers will be worse if you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema.
How to overcome allergic itching without medication
When allergic itching affects the skin, there are several ways to do it at home, namely:
1. Know the triggers and avoid them
Many people focus on using medicines to treat allergic itching. In fact, the most important thing in treating allergic itching is to find out what triggers for allergic itching and avoid them as much as possible.
Knowing the triggers for allergic itching can help prevent symptoms from occurring, and they do not always require medication.
2. Do not scratch
Scratching does not relieve the itching that affects the skin, but it worsens the condition of the skin. Scratching the itchy skin can also cause irritation and infection.
To avoid the urge to scratch, cover the itchy skin with comfortable clothing.In addition, another preventive measure is to cut the nails.
3. Cold compress
Relief from itching due to allergies can be achieved with a cold compress. Cover the itchy area with a cloth dampened with cold or ice water to protect the skin and avoid scratching.
Do this step for about 510 minutes until the itchiness goes away. Cold temperatures can help reduce itching.
4. Cold shower
In addition to compressing with cold water, cold showers can also be a way to reduce itching due to allergies.To be more effective at relieving itching, add baking soda or oatmeal from a bath product to a bath already filled with cold water.
If the itching does not go away, you can try applying anti-itch medication.Use anti-itch medication that contains hydrocortisone or calamine as the main ingredients.
Apply an anti-itch medication to the itchy skin twice a day until the itching is gone. If necessary, taking antihistamines can also relieve allergic itching, but the dosage and use should be changed as prescribed by the doctor.
While the above independent steps are working, don't forget to find out what causes allergic itching. If you are unsure of the cause, you can visit a dermatologist for further testing and appropriate medication.
Your doctor will do a full exam and, if necessary, offer an allergy test to find the exact cause of the allergic itching in your body.