Hay Fever is the most common and perhaps affects 30-40  percent of the UK population.  It is defined as an inflammation of the nasal membranes by seasonal or year round allergens. Common symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and itching of the nose. Traditionally children and young adults have been the most common age groups affected by this disease, but in recent years many middle aged and the elderly have also started experiencing these symptoms perhaps due to  increase in the pollutants in the environment. 

  Hives (Urticaria)  is an itchy rash and  appears as raised red bumps of various shapes and sizes, and typically lasts for only minutes to hours. It can appear at any age. Swelling or angioedema of the lips, eyes , hands and feet often accompanies urticaria. The swelling itself is not usually itchy or red but tend to give a burning or stinging sensation. Severe swelling can cause breathing difficulties and can be life threatening. If such a situation should arise emergency medical help must be sought immediately.

  Contact dermatitis rash may look very much like a rash in atopic dermatitis but it is very much localized in the areas of contact with the offending allergen . The offending allergens are chemicals  including cosmetics, hair dye, metals, topical medications and dental materials. Common affected areas  include the face and  eyelids, neck, hands and feet, however areas such as wrists , ear lobes and the waistline can also be affected due to jewelelry , buttons o r zippers.

   Pruritus - Itching without a rash  is relatively common and could involve a limited area of the skin or it could involve the entire body. When the itching is localized to a certain area of the body it is safe to say that the disease is limited to the skin. If however the problem involves the whole body it could still be a skin disease or there could be something going on within the body such a thyroid disease or iron deficiency.  Some medications may also cause itching. These include pain killers such as morphine and codeine.

   Atopic dermatitis (The skin rash associated with this condition is called eczema) is a chronic, recurrent skin disease which is commonly associated with infants and children  but can continue or even start in adults. It is usually an inherited trait and therefore runs in families. Allergens are a significient trigger of atopic dermatitis.  Common ones are animal dander and house dust mite although pollen and fungal spores can make the condition worse. Stress and irritants can also act as trigger factors. Irritants include harsh soaps, chemicals, wool, heat and sweating.  Allergies to certain foods can also  be a trigger factor. Egg and milk are the most common . One important point to remember in atopic dermatitis is that  skin rash (eczema) is purely a result of scratching to relieve itching . Therefore, in order to control the rash scratching must be controlled. Infant atopic dermatitis is generally more severe although there is often  improvement in later childhood. The areas of the body where eczema is most predominant is dependent on the areas being scratched for example in infants and very young children the most scratched areas are the face, chest and trunk and may involve arms and legs. The part that is spared is the diaper area. In older children and adults the rash map changes and moves to the areas in front of the elbows , behind the knees, can involve the face and eyelids and in some cases may involve only the palms of hands and soles of feet.

   In rare cases, an allergic reaction can become very severe — this severe reaction is called anaphylaxis . Anaphylaxis usually occurs immediately after exposure to an allergen such as peanuts, strawberries and fish. However some reactions may take as long as 4 hours. Some signs of anaphylaxis are swelling of lips, tongue and throat with difficulty in breathing and swallowing followed by dizziness or loss of consciousness. Immediate emergency medical help must be sought.

   Insect bites and stings can also  causes an allergic reaction and can be severe enough to cause an anaphylactic reaction in some people.

   If you suspect you may have an allergy the first port of call is your GP who may refer you to a specialist for further testing. The specialist may carry out skin prick test and or a blood test.

   After the tests the specialist would in most instances ask you to stay away from the offending allergens  (called avoidance) or may be able to offer some help through medications and shots

   DO NOT IGNORE YOUR ALLERGIES/SENSITIVITIES

   It is best to treat the allergies sooner than later. The symptoms of allergy can often be reversed if the allergy is treated early. The simplest way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid contact with the allergen. This method however is not practicle  for all situations ; dust, insects, pollen and a variety of chemicals are present no matter where you live. The first step in controlling allergy is to pay a visit to your doctor who will take your history and perform a physical examination if these point to allergy , the cause will be determined by either RAST and total IgE blood tests , skin tests or a combination of these procedures. A treatment programme involving avoidance (where possible and practical), medication or immunotherapy can be prescribed.