Have you ever felt itchy skin after touching a foreign object? If true, you may be experiencing symptoms of allergic itching. This condition is the body's response to factors that trigger the emergence of allergies. In addition to itching, another response that can arise from allergies is a red rash on the skin.
The condition in which an inflammatory reaction or itching occurs when the skin comes into 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 Itchy Allergies
So far there are more than 3000 substances or objects that have been proven to cause an allergic itching reaction in a person. Here are some objects that are generally a trigger factor for allergic itching:
- Latex, the basic material for making rubber gloves, balloons, and condoms.
- Nickel, a metal that is usually used as a mixture of jewelry and buttons on jeans.
- Body care products, such as shampoo, deodorant, body care soap, nail polish, hair paint, lotion, and sunscreen cream.
- Laundry cleaning products, such as detergents and fabric softeners.
- Medicines that are 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.
Generally, the 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 hits the skin, there are several ways you can do it at home, namely:
- Knowing trigger factors and avoiding themMany people focus on using medications to treat allergic itching. But actually, the most important thing in dealing with itching due to allergies is finding out the trigger factors for the emergence of allergic itching and avoiding them as much as possible. By knowing the trigger factors for allergic itching, the appearance of symptoms can be avoided and does not always require medication.
- Don't scratchScratching will not relieve the itching that hit the skin, but it will make the skin condition worse. Scratching itchy skin can also cause irritation and infection. To avoid the urge to scratch, cover the itchy skin with comfortable clothing. In addition, other preventive measures are to cut nails and wear gloves at night.
- Compress with cold waterRelieve itching due to allergies can be done with a cold compress. Cover the itchy skin area with a cloth that has been moistened with cold water or ice water to protect the skin and prevent scratching. Do this step for about 5-10 minutes until the itching subsides. Cold temperatures can help reduce itching.
- Take a shower coldIn addition to compressing with cold water, cold showers can also be one way to reduce itching due to allergies. To be more effective in relieving itching, add baking soda or bath products made from oatmeal into the bath already filled with cold water.
If the itching does not go away, you can try applying an anti-itch medication. Use an anti-itch medication that contains hydrocortisone or calamine as the main ingredient. Apply an anti-itch medication to the itchy skin twice a day until the itching subsides. If necessary, taking antihistamines can also relieve allergic itching, but the dosage and use need to be adjusted according to a doctor's prescription.
Even if the independent steps above work, don't forget to still find out what's causing the allergic itch. If you are not sure about the cause, you can consult a dermatologist to get further examination and the right medication. The doctor will perform a complete examination, and if necessary, suggest an allergy test to find the exact cause of allergic itching in your body.