Swimmer’s Rash
By Heather Legg | 1 Comment »
Swim team has begun and the kids are in the pool a lot. The other night, my daughter said her legs were itching and it brought back memories of last year and itchy thighs. We tried to remember which daughter it was last year who suffered from itchy thighs, and finally remembered it was our other one. So this year it’s a different child, same ailment. My husband, who seems better at connecting the allergy causes than I am, said, “They’re back in the pool.” Continue reading…
Spider Bites
By Heather Legg | 2 Comments »
I’ve noticed a few blogs and articles lately on insect bites and stings, as the onset of summer brings the onset of bugs, time outdoors and insects. So lo and behold, my daughter’s best friend just got a nasty spider bite. There is no real danger for her, just a welt on her leg that has lasted for over a week. Her mom is taking good care of it with Benadryl and Cortisone cream and it’s getting better. Continue reading…
Beware the Insects: AVOID Them!
By Heather Legg | No Comments »
It’s getting close to summer and most of us are spending a lot more time outdoors in the nice weather. Our activities take us outside, too, ball games, swimming pools, picnics, all kinds of events. However, there are certain guests we try to avoid while we are outside, the insects. For some of us they are just a nuisance, for others, they can be deadly. Anyone prefers to stay away from the insects, for those with allergies, it’s imperative that they avoid whatever it is they are allergic to; bees, wasps, ants, even mosquitoes. Since these insects have different habitats and characteristics, avoiding one is not always the same as avoiding the other. Here are some tips on avoiding a variety of insects: Continue reading…
Spring Skin Care
By Heather Legg | 2 Comments »
It’s time to start shedding the winter layers and letting our skin see a little day light. It’s important, however, to treat our skin well, especially if you have skin allergies. Skincare for spring and summer can be different than in winter, depending on your skin type and sensitivity, but here are some tips to help make your transition easy and allergy free, and keep your skin looking great. Continue reading…
Rubber and Latex Allergies: From Flip Flops to Gloves
By staff | 9 Comments »
I received an email yesterday of the dangers of Wal-Mart flip flops. Apparently, several people have gotten “burns” on their feet after wearing flip flops purchased at Wal-Mart. I did a little searching thinking this may be an allergy as opposed to the China conspiracy many others believe. According to a story on FOXNews.com, it is, yes, probably due to a reaction to a rubber and/or latex allergy.
Safe Ways to Apply Makeup with a Latex Allergy
By staff | 7 Comments »
Just like with food, there are so many hidden forms of latex that if you have an allergy to it, it can pop up anywhere. The symptoms are the same as for food allergies, hives, itchiness, sneezing, coughing, even anaphylactic shock. So just as those with food allergies need to check all products, those with latex allergies need to be just as diligent. It’s not just in rubber gloves, balloons and condoms; it’s in diapers and sanitary pads, pacifiers and makeup applicators. However, again like food, you can be safe if you check your labels and are aware of certain brands. Continue reading…
With Winter Comes Dry Skin and Eczema – What to Do (or Don’t)
By staff | No Comments »
Our days are finally getting colder which brings relief to many allergy sufferers. With the first few frosts, much of the mold and pollen is killed off, bringing clear breathing and no more itchy eyes and throats to many people. Ahhh, we can finally breathe. On the other hand, with the colder, drier air and the need to heat the indoors, comes dry skin. Where dry skin is, eczema often follows.
Eczema can actually be prevented fairly easy, but requires maintenance, and once it starts, a cycle begins of itching and scratching and then the condition worsens. Continue reading…
Acne and Allergies: Is There a Link?
By staff | 5 Comments »
While we are on the subject of debatable allergy symptoms, I’d like to touch on the topic of acne caused by allergies. Like headaches, the connection between acne and allergies is somewhat undecided, but there are those in the school of thought who strongly believe there is a connection, the biggest acne allergy inducing culprits being gluten and dairy.
Gluten allergies often cause inflammation, and this can happen anywhere on the body, including skin, hence, acne. Continue reading…
Hives: Why are They Worse at Night and What to Do?
By staff | 162 Comments »
The other night, my friend called me regarding her daughter who had a strange rash, hives we determined. What she didn’t understand was, though her daughter had the rash the night before, it had cleared up during the day, but was back that evening. I did tell her that it’s not unusual for rashes and hives, even insect bites to be fine during the day, but resurface or flare up at night. Though I knew that, I had no idea why, and curiosity got the best of me. Continue reading…
Knowing Your Enemy is the Best Way to Fight Skin Allergies
By staff | 2 Comments »
My family is known as the mysterious rash family around here, because one of us seems to always be breaking in some sort of unidentified rash to some sort of unidentified allergen. We’ve seen everything from general hives to the infamous pinprick rash to one isolated to inner thighs (on both of my daughters at the same time) to a bizarre eye swelling my husband gets on the whites of his eyes. Continue reading…
