Let's help you understand allergies

Skin allergies are when you have an allergic reaction which causes skin symptoms. One type of skin allergy is contact dermatitis, a form of eczema triggered by contact with a specific substance.  Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include:

• Itchy, blistered, dry and cracked skin
• Lighter skin may become red, and darker skin may become dark brown, purple or grey

Symptoms usually start within a few hours or days of exposure to the allergen or irritant, and most commonly occur on the face or hands.

There are two types of contact dermatitis:

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when a substance directly damages the outer layer of the skin. You’re at an increased risk of this if you also have atopic eczema. Common irritants include soaps and detergents, household chemicals and many plants.

Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your immune system reacts to a substance in a way that affects your skin. Common allergens include cosmetic ingredients and metals, like nickel.

If you think you’re experiencing contact dermatitis, speak to your local Boots pharmacist or GP, or you can access prescription contact dermatitis treatment through Boots Online Doctor².

Treatments for contact dermatitis often include:

• Avoiding the irritant or allergens
• Emollients
• Topical corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone or steroid tablets

Another type of allergic skin reaction is hives (urticaria). The main symptom of hives is an itchy rash, which can:

• Be raised bumps or patches, in different shapes and sizes
• Appear anywhere on the body, either in one area or spread across the whole body
• Feel itchy, sting or burn
• Appear pink or red on white skin, and be harder to see on brown and black skin

Common triggers for hives include eating certain foods, bites or stings, chemicals and latex. Speak to your local Boots pharmacist or GP if you’re experiencing hives. Treatment for hives can include:

• Avoiding the allergen
• Antihistamines
• Menthol cream, available from your GP
• Steroid tablets, available from your GP

A food allergy is where your body has a reaction to certain foods. Symptoms of food allergies include:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Itchy skin or a raised rash
• Coughing, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
• Sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
• Feeling or being sick
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhoea

These symptoms may occur immediately after eating the food, or days later. If you experience any of the following more severe symptoms, call 999 for an ambulance as they can be an indicator of anaphylaxis:

• Wheezing
• Tightness in your chest or throat
• Trouble breathing or talking
• Swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
• A skin rash that includes itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin

The most common foods that people experience allergic reactions to include cows’ milk, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, peas, chickpeas, tree nuts like walnuts or almonds, shellfish and wheat. However, it’s possible to be allergic to any type of food.

If you think you have a food allergy, speak to your GP. They may refer you to a specialist for tests if they think you have a food allergy. You might also be asked to keep a food and symptoms diary to help identify what’s causing your allergic reaction.

If you do have a food allergy, you’ll have to avoid the food you’re allergic to. For many common allergies like dairy or gluten, free-from ranges are now available.

Your doctor will give you medicines to help you manage symptoms or for use in an emergency. This can include antihistamines for milder reactions, and adrenaline auto-injectors, for use in an emergency if you have a severe reaction (anaphylaxis).

Anyone who suffers from severe allergies should always carry two adrenaline auto-injectors with them. If you’ve previously been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector and taught how to use it, you may be able to access anaphylaxis treatment through Boots Online Doctor².

Food allergies are different to food intolerances (also known as food sensitivities). Food intolerances are where you have difficulty digesting certain foods. Eating these foods can make you feel unwell, but it’s not usually serious. Common symptoms of food intolerances include:

• Diarrhoea
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Stomach pain

Animal allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly identifies proteins found in pet saliva, urine or dander (shed skin particles) as a harmful substance. This often occurs with household pets (like cats, dogs or rodents) but can also occur with other animals, including farm animals, birds and reptiles.

Dander is spread when an animal grooms itself, leading people to assume that its fur or feathers cause the allergy, however, dander is more often the cause. Some people may refer to pets that don’t shed as hypo-allergenic (unlikely to cause an allergic reaction), however, no animal is truly hypo-allergenic. Animal fur can be a carrier for other airborne allergens such as pollen or dust.

Symptoms of an animal allergy can include:

• Sneezing
• Breathing difficulties including wheezing or coughing
• Watery, red, itchy eyes
• Skin rashes or hives
• Eczema flare-ups
• Anaphylaxis

These symptoms can come on immediately after exposure or may have a delayed response. If you suspect an animal allergy, speak to your GP, especially if you have other allergic conditions such as asthma or eczema.

In most instances, the best way of managing your allergy is to avoid the animal as much as possible. Stopping the animal from having contact with soft furnishings, regular cleaning and washing hands after coming into contact with the animal or items the animal may have touched can also help.

Where it’s not possible to prevent contact with the animal, your doctor may suggest antihistamine medications, allergy barrier nasal sprays, eye drops or other methods to manage your symptoms. You can browse the full range of allergy treatments here.

Your GP will decide whether you should carry emergency medication (adrenaline) to treat a severe allergic reaction. If you’ve previously been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) and taught how to use it, you may be able to access anaphylaxis treatment through Boots Online Doctor².

It’s also possible to develop allergic conjunctivitis  (allergic eye disease) in response to allergens. Symptoms can include:

• Itching, burning, watering and redness of the eye
• Puffiness of the eyelid

This is a common symptom of hayfever and other allergies like house dust mites or pet allergies.

Treatment for allergic conjunctivitis can include:

• Avoiding the allergen

Insect bites and stings are common and are not usually serious. Insect bites normally cause a small, red lump on the skin which may be itchy and painful. However, some people may have a mild allergic reaction to bites or stings, where a larger area of skin around the bite or sting becomes swollen, painful and red. This normally gets better within a week.

For milder reactions, you can speak to your local Boots pharmacist who will be able to recommend the most suitable medications to help. This might include hydrocortisone creams and antihistamine creams or antihistamine tablets. You can view the full range of allergy treatments here.

It’s also a good idea to avoid bites or stings where possible. This can include ensuring any pets in your home have been treated with the appropriate flea treatments, covering exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and trousers in places where you’re more likely to encounter bites or stings and using insect repellents.

Sometimes a more severe allergic reaction can occur, leading to symptoms including:

• Breathing difficulties
• A swollen face or mouth
• Dizziness

If a severe reaction occurs, dial 999 for an ambulance immediately.

A latex allergy occurs when you have an immediate reaction to the proteins found in natural rubber latex when it comes into contact with your skin.  Symptoms of an immediate latex allergy can include:

• Itching
• A red, raised rash
• Swelling, often around the eyes and lips
• Breathing problems, like coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing

These symptoms usually occur within 30 minutes of exposure and resolve within 24 hours.

Natural rubber is used to make products like rubber gloves, and the chemicals that are added during the manufacturing process may also cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people, which is usually a delayed rather than an immediate reaction.

Symptoms of a delayed rubber chemical allergy usually occur between 48 and 72 hours after exposure and last for several days. Symptoms can include:

• Itching
• Redness
• Swelling
• Weeping or oozing
• Blistering

If you think you may have an immediate latex allergy or a delayed rubber chemical allergy, speak to your GP.

If you have a latex allergy, you’ll need to ensure that you avoid contact with products containing latex. In many instances, latex-free alternatives are available including latex-free gloves and latex-free condoms.

Your doctor may prescribe antihistamine medications to manage mild reactions and will decide if you should carry emergency medication (adrenaline) to treat a severe allergic reaction. If you’ve previously been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) and taught how to use it, you may be able to access anaphylaxis treatment through Boots Online Doctor².

If you work in an industry where you’re likely to come into contact with latex products, for instance, healthcare professionals or hairdressers, it’s important to let your employer know that you’ll need to use latex-free alternatives.

Latex is also often found in many healthcare products, for instance, wound dressings or electrode pads, so it’s also important that you let healthcare professionals know that you have an allergy when you visit them. This is also true of any service that may use latex gloves or other products containing latex, for instance, hairdressers or beauticians.

Mould allergies are caused by a reaction to the spores (tiny particles) that are released by mould into the air.

Mould occurs in damp, musty environments. Outside, this can include compost heaps and garden sheds. Indoors, damp environments (like kitchens or bathrooms), fridges and the soil of house plants can be common sources of mould spores.

Contact with mould spores in people who are allergic can cause symptoms including:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Runny nose
• Worsening of asthma symptoms

Minimising exposure to mould is one of the best ways of managing your allergy. This can include cleaning areas like kitchens and bathrooms, ensuring there is plenty of ventilation in your home, and opening windows when possible.

Eye drops, nasal sprays and antihistamine tablets can also prove helpful in relieving symptoms. You can browse the range of allergy products available here.