Keratosis pilaris is a genetic disorder of the skin. It is a common skin condition where the skin on the back and outer sides of the upper arms are rough and bumpy. This condition is also described as chicken skin or goose bumps. The common areas of the body that are affected are the outer-upper […]
Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed type allergic reaction on the skin after contact to a specific allergen. For allergic contact dermatitis to occur, the skin must first come into contact with the offending agent and sensitization to occur. At first, the area might sting or burn, but then later itch is the major problem. The
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Perfume is a complex mixture of natural and synthetic sweet-smelling constituents. More than 5,000 compounds are known to be in used in the making of perfume. Certain compounds evaporate and become airborne thus lending perfume its smell. Patients with allergic airway diseases can have exacerbations of their symptoms upon inhalation of these perfume compounds. For
The diagnosis of food allergy requires detailed history taking, followed by physical examination and appropriate testing to confirm the suspicion of food allergy. Patients with Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema produce very elevated levels of IgE and as a result, will produce a lot of “false positive” results in their blood tests. As a result, please see a
Do not use only blood tests to diagnose food allergy Read More »
Patients with respiratory allergies such as allergic rhinitis and asthma can have their diseases exacerbated by perfume. Perfume particles evaporate and become airborne giving perfumes their smell. Patients with allergic inflammation in their airways have airway hyper-reactivity and can easily become irritated by inhalation of perfume leading to symptoms such as blocked nose, runny nose, sneezing,
Wangi Mudarat / Perfume Allergy Read More »
Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs which leads to airway hyper-reactivity. Upon exposure to airway irritants, allergen triggers or infection; the airways contrict leading to symptoms of shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. It is important if you suspect asthma to see a qualified Allergy & Immunology specialist for
Asthma the enemy within Read More »
Allergic asthma is one of the main causes for asthma and causes inflammation of the airways that leads to shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing upon exposure to the allergen. It is sometimes hard to differentiate allergic asthma from other causes of asthma without proper evaluation by an Allergist. Sometimes defects in the immune system
Sometimes immune defects can masquerade as asthma Read More »
One of the many techniques a qualified Allergist/Immunologist uses to diagnose allergy is the skin prick test. Properly performed, it is the most accurate method to diagnose allergic sensitization. By choosing the proper allergens to test, it will be cheaper and more accurate than any blood test panel. Skin prick test involves direct testing of
What is asthma? Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. The chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyper-responsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night or early in the morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread, but variable, airflow obstruction within the lung that
Bathing is an important part of Atopic Dermatitis care. Bathing can remove dirt, allergens and microbes from the skin. However, it is important to understand that bathing alone is not adequate. Bathing can actually dry out the skin by removing natural oils from the skin and cause the Atopic Dermatitis to flare. Also using harsh soaps, scented
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) and Bathing Read More »
