All About Skin Allergy

An allergy is a natural response within the body caused by the triggering of an immune system reaction caused by coming in contact with any foreign substance or allergen. This could be anything from the outside environment that we touch, eat, or inhale. Skin allergy or irritated skin can be caused due to various factors including immune system disorders, infections, and medications. Some common skin allergic conditions include atopic dermatitis, hives (urticaria), and contact dermatitis. Here, at the Dr. Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic, the Best Skin Allergy Specialist in Delhi, Dr. Rajat Kandhari offers a wide range of services to diagnose, prevent, or treat allergies. The comprehensive allergy services are tailored to the needs of the patient. Dr. Rajat Kandhari, best dermatologist in Delhi aims to make the patients understand, avoid, and treat the causative agent of allergy so that they effectively manage their condition. 

A skin allergy can be difficult to manage as the exact cause cannot be easily identified by the dermatologist because there are several possible triggers for an allergy. This condition can have an impact on everyday life and can result in months and years of distress and trouble when the underlying cause remains unknown. It has been reported that most skin allergies and their symptoms are an outcome of common allergens like peanuts, eggs, dust mites, pollen, pet dander, seafood, mold, and latex. The skin professional in Delhi at Dr. Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic specializes in the identification of allergens and allergy treatment. We run a variety of allergy tests including patch tests and specific allergy blood tests to check for the causal factor(s).    

How can one get to know if he/she has an allergy?

When a person is exposed to an allergen, the symptoms of allergy may develop suddenly or after a few hours. The visible signs depend upon the gravity of the allergic condition itself. Severe forms of allergy result in anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening situation. A skin rash is the first common symptom that appears after an allergic skin reaction. Ultimately, a person may develop the following combination of symptoms of skin allergy:

• Rash

• Swelling

• Redness

• Flaking or scaling of the skin

• Dry or cracked skin

• Raised bumps

Other most common symptoms of allergy:

• Vomiting, sickness, or diarrhea

• Blocked or runny nose

• Difficulty breathing (wheezing)

• Itchy eyes, ears, throat, lips, or mouth roof

• Sinus pain

The anaphylaxis symptoms include:

• Fast heartbeat

• Fainting or collapse

• Confusion

• Troubled breathing

• Swelling around the face and mouth.

If the patients have severe allergic reactions or an emergency condition then they must seek prompt medical attention.

Most common skin allergens:

• Household cleaners such as laundry detergent, soap, and disinfectants.

• Clothing materials like wool

• Skincare products and fragrances contain irritants like ascorbic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, and paraben preservatives.

• Handling or consuming certain foods.

• Cold or hot temperature

• Poison ivy or oak

• Nickel-based jewelry

• Drugs

• Latex

• Pet dander

• Insect stings

• Sunlight exposure

• Pollen

• Contaminated water

What happens in the initial and follow-up allergy consultations?

In the very first meeting with Dr. Rajat Kandhari, a skin allergy doctor in Delhi a thorough allergy assessment and medical examination are conducted for the patient. This includes a review of medical and allergy history and existing medical concerns suffered by the patient. The patient is also asked to undergo special blood tests to check for the level of sensitivity to different allergens. If the suspect is an allergy caused by skin contact with anything, then a patch test may be carried out. This test involves applying stickers containing allergens such as metals, fragrances, preservatives, hair dye, etc. on the upper back and left undisturbed for 48 hours. The patient is advised for another visit about a week later to collect the test results and discuss the treatment options. In the follow-up appointment, the patient learns about how to avoid allergens, control them, and treat symptoms. 

The treatment of skin allergies includes topical therapies like the use of emollients- that helps to reduce itching and steroids- that helps to reduce swelling and tablets of antihistamine and decongestants. 

Advanced treatments like light therapy and lasers are also recommended when the first line of treatments does not offer promising results.

If you are suffering from any type of skin allergy, and want healthy disease-free skin. Schedule an appointment with the best dermatologist in Delhi/NCR at Dr. Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic, top skin clinic in India.

Is It Eczema or Psoriasis? How to Tell the Difference Between the Two Skin Conditions?

 

Most people suffer from itchy, red, blotchy skin which persistently causes irritation and discomfort. It could be psoriasis or eczema. These are two skin concerns which sometimes exhibit similar symptoms resulting in some confusion while diagnosis. This is why it is always advised to consult an experienced dermatologist who holds expertise in performing skin examinations and additional tests to help confirm the type of skin condition and also recommend suitable effective treatments to get healthy skin.

If the person thinks that psoriasis or eczema could be the problem, then the doctor can make a final call by looking for things that tell them apart. Here is a guide to differentiating between the two skin issues-eczema and psoriasis’ shared by Dr. Rajat Kandhari, Best Doctor for Psoriasis and Eczema Treatment in Delhi.

How does eczema or psoriasis feel different to the patient?

Eczema itching is dreadful. People tend to have an urge of scratching the irritated skin very badly often leading to skin bleed.

In Psoriasis, the skin itches but also feels like stinging or burning. Some people describe the itching as if some fire ants are biting the skin.

What are the differences in skin appearances?

Eczema results in red, inflamed skin which may be crusty, scaly, or oozing pus or fluids. A person might have leathery, rough patches on the skin which sometimes turn dark.

Psoriasis is characterized by silver, scaly, and raised red patches of the skin. With a closer look, one can notice that the skin is thicker and more swollen as compared to eczema.

Where do they appear more often?

Eczema is mostly located on the body part that can bend or fold like behind the knees or inner area of the elbow. People can also have them on the wrist, ankles, and neck. In babies, this may occur on the scalp, chest, back, chin, arms, leg, and cheeks.

Psoriasis is commonly found on the body sites like knees, palms of hands, lower back, elbows, soles of the feet, face, and scalp. Sometimes, it may appear on lips and mouth, ears, toenails and fingernails, eyelids, and skin folds.

What are their different triggering factors?

Usually, eczema is the result of skin-irritating agents such as certain soaps, disinfectants, detergents, and juices from meats or produce. It can also be set off because of some allergens like dust, pollen, pet dander, dandruff, mold, and some food. Other triggers include skin infections, excessive sweating, humidity, stress, heat, and hormonal changes.

Psoriasis can be caused due to some common triggers like infections or stress. Otherwise, flare-ups can arise when the skin gets injured or traumatized. Instances include scratching of the skin, vaccination, and sunburn. Certain medications can also lead to Psoriasis like malarial drugs and lithium drugs.

At what age do they first appear?

Eczema symptoms are often common and begin in babies or young children and the condition may improve with increasing age. It is possible that an adult suffers from eczema, but is less common. If adults get eczema, it could mean that they have some underlying medication such as stress, hormone, or thyroid disease.

On the other hand, psoriasis usually shows its symptoms between 15 to 35 years of age but it is possible to have in other age groups. Rarely, a baby could have psoriasis. If one is experiencing similar symptoms, consult Dr. Rajat Kandhari, Psoriasis Specialist in Delhi to know more about the treatment options for managing this concern.

What health conditions they are associated with?

Eczema can be linked to dry and sensitive skin type or may run in families especially if any family member has hay fever or asthma.

Psoriasis is usually linked to serious health issues like depression, heart disease, and obesity.

Treatment options for eczema and psoriasis:

In either case of eczema or psoriasis, the treatment varies based on the skin condition and its severity.

Mild to moderate eczema can be treated using topical corticosteroids and emollients on the skin. For moderate to severe eczema, Dr. Rajat Kandhari, a skin allergy doctor in Delhi may prescribe immunotherapy drugs and biological drugs. The patient may also get relieved by undergoing phototherapy.

Psoriasis can be treated either systemically or topically. Topical steroids or emollients can be used for mild to moderate psoriasis with limited spread on the skin. For severe cases, light therapy in combination with medications affecting the immune system or a biological drug can be used.

To know more treatment options for eczema and psoriasis management in Delhi, consult the best skin doctor in India, Dr. Rajat Kandhari.

Stretch Marks Treatment

 

Stretch marks are permanent scars on the skin that appear immediately after shrinking or stretching the skin due to tearing. These can be observed in the form of coloured streaks or lines, but their appearance does not indicate an underlying health issue. The newly formed stretch marks are often red or purple coloured. But over time, they gradually become white or silver-coloured. The sudden change in the skin firmness leads to the rupture of collagen and elastin fibres. When the skin heals from this wear and tear, most individuals experience stretch marks.

This skin condition is not found among all people but may be present in people that have fluctuation in hormone levels in pregnancy or at the time of puberty (due to growth spurts). It can also develop because of quick weight gain or loss or due to rapid muscle growth during strenuous exercise or gym training.

Dr Rajat Kandhari, the best skin specialist in Delhi, is an expert in lasers and advanced cosmetic treatments to cure any type of skin problem.

A skin doctor can determine the major cause responsible for the formation of stretch marks on the skin.

Dr Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic, Best Skin Clinic in Delhi, provides the best treatment for removing stretch marks.

Stretch marks can be diminished in appearance by certain treatments that are performed by dermatologists. To get desirable results, a combination of procedures may be followed. Some of them are described below:

Microneedling- It is a collagen induction therapy wherein tiny microneedles are administered into the white stretch marks, thereby penetrating deep within the dermis. The dermis is the middle skin layer wherein stretch marks are formed. This results in the puncturing of the superficial skin layer that traumatizes the skin and leaves behind wounded skin. As a result, the body naturally stimulates its wound healing process by producing new collagen and elastin fibres. The treatment causes the formation of new skin with enhanced texture and firmness.

Growth factor injections- In this treatment, growth factors are extracted from the blood-derived by centrifugation of the blood drawn from the patient’s arms. It contains blood-clotting proteins and growth factors. The growth factors are taken in injection and administered into the properly cleansed stretch marks. The injured skin gets healed naturally by stimulating collagen synthesis and producing more healthy skin cells. The micro needling and growth factor treatment are often combined for the best results.

Laser therapy- In this treatment process, the light of a specific wavelength is focused on the target skin area. It successfully removes white/grey stretch marks by causing thermal damage. The method is commonly used to trigger the regeneration of skin cells by activating melanin pigment production. This results in the blending of the stretch marks with the normal skin tone. Fractional lasers are considered first-line treatment for stretch mark reduction. The treatment is well tolerated and has minimal downtime.

Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency technology is also available at Dr Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic that has the ability to penetrate the deeper skin layers and remodel the stretch marks appearance. A combination of TCA peel with laser treatment is also performed at Dr Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic to remove deeper and old stretch marks.

Consult Dr. Rajat Kandhari, the Best Skin Specialist Doctor in Delhi, to get healthy stretch marks-free skin.