Itching All Over

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by zen

Food Allergy, Atopy and Flea Allergy All Cause Itchy Skin for Dogs

Skin problems in dogs are a common occurrence and are quite often the result of allergies. The most common causes of itchiness and hair loss in dogs are:

Atopy (an allergic response to an inhaled substance)

Flea allergy dermatitis (caused by flea saliva)

Food allergy

Secondary yeast or bacterial infections resulting from skin allergies

Symptoms of Skin Allergies in Dogs

Dogs suffering with skin allergies from any cause can be quite uncomfortable and even painful. Symptoms expected are:

Itchiness expressed by rubbing, licking, scratching, biting or chewing at the skin

Inflamed skin

Hair loss

Sores on the skin

Thickening of the skin

Secondary bacterial infection may cause a discharge to be present from the skin as well.

Diagnosis of Skin Allergies in Dogs

Diagnosing dogs with allergies can be difficult. Common diagnostic tests used by veterinarians to diagnose skin disease are:

skin scrapings, looking for mites and other parasites

skin cytology, looking for evidence of bacterial or yeast infections

blood screens (complete blood count, serum chemical profiles, possibly thyroid testing), looking for signs of systemic disease such as hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease

fungal cultures, often used to diagnose fungal infections such as ringworm

skin biopsies, which allow your veterinarian to better examine the architecture, cell make-up and abnormal changes in the affected skin

therapeutic food trials, to help rule in or rule out food allergies

therapeutic drug trials, often using medications effective in controlling fleas and/or killing mites and other parasites

allergy tests, either skin testing or with a blood sample, to help determine what allergies your dog has

Treatment of Dogs with Skin Allergies

Treatment will depend to some extent on the results of specific testing once testing has been performed.

Options for symptomatic relief of skin allergies in dogs include:

steroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone. Note that these can have significant side effects and should be avoided if possible.

antihistimines, such as Benadryl, Tavist, Atarax and Chlor-Trimeton.

fatty acid supplements

cyclosporine (Atopica)

various shampoos, topical lotions and gels

dips such as Lime Sulfur

antibiotics to relieve secondary bacterial infections

anti-fungal medications to relieve secondary yeast infections

The Role of Fleas in Skin Allergies in Dogs

Effective flea control is an important part of treating any dog with skin allergies as flea allergy is one the most common allergies seen. Just because you do not see live adult fleas on your dog does not mean that fleas are not the cause of the skin allergy. Dogs can be very efficient at removing fleas, especially when they are grooming excessively. In addition, there is a substance within the saliva of the flea which causes the flea allergy in dogs. So, one flea bite is all that is necessary to cause or sustain a skin allergy reaction.

Even if your dog truly does not have fleas, flea prevention is an absolute must because if your dog gets fleas, they will definitely influence the allergic reaction within the skin, making the skin allergy much more difficult to control for your dog.

Specific Treatments for Atopy in Dogs

Canine atopy requires allergy testing, either through skin or blood tests, in order to determine what allergens (allergy-causing substances) affect your dog.

Specific treatments for allergy involves either:

avoidance of allergens, where possible

immunotherapy or hyposensitization (often called “allergy shots”)

symptomatic relief

Treatment for Food Allergy in Dogs

Food allergies are usually treated by feeding specialized foods which are less likely to cause your dog’s skin to have an allergic reaction to the food. These are referred to as hypo-allergenic diets.

Hypo-allergenic diets contain unique, novel proteins which most dogs are unlikely to have been exposed to in the past. At one time, proteins such as lamb were considered novel but as pet food manufacturers started producing foods containing lamb and rice, these foods have become less useful.

If possible, obtaining a history of all diets which your dog has eaten in the past can be useful. Choosing a food which contains ingredients your dog has never eaten before is more likely to result in a successful outcome.

Another alternative to novel protein diets are hydrolyzed diets. Hydrolyzed diets contain proteins which have been broken into very small pieces in the manufacturing process for the food. The theory is that these smaller hydrolyzed protein fragments are too small to be recognized by the body as an allergen and are thus less likely to cause an immune response leading to skin lesions.

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• What Are Dog Hot Spots And Ways To Treat Them
• Natural ONLY Yeast Infection Treatment – Treating Candida

by bill barber

The sudden outbreak of bumps and scales on the body is an unwelcome development, it alters, irritates and reneges on the natural look and feel of one’s skin. The disorder often triggered by physical exposure to materials or elements that affect the skin condition, due to one or more familiar instances, including reactions to costume jewellery containing nickel, certain foods and excessive hand washing among others.

Skin distressed by atopic dermatitis turns itchy and inflammation takes toll, appears red, swollen, cracked and might crust or weep. Patches of atopic dermatitis may show on different parts of the body, but does not spread to other people, it is at its most active during childhood and flares up on and off throughout an individuals lifetime.

Common categories of rash are scaly patches generated by fungal or bacterial infection, scaly patches of skin not caused by infection turn red, itchy or patches appear all over the body. Scaly itchy patches often epitomize one of the conditions called eczema – emanating from hereditary problems relating to the skin.

Atopic dermatitis usually worsens when the dry winter chills bite and irritation kicks in as a clear sign of stress. Atopic ailments are hereditary and may be linked to allergies, their line of influence includes asthma, hay fever and atopic and atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis affects minors and adults in different ways, during childhood the skin disorder runs riot as scaly patches on the scalp, arms, legs, torso, knees or elbows and as chapped cheeks, while adults contend with attacks on the hands, eyelids, genitals and the rest of the body.

Relief by treatment is administered using irritation combating prescriptions like steroids (cortisone creams), while non-steroids creams (tacrolimus, “protopic” + pimecrolimus “elidel”) fell out of favor for toxicity and efficacy reasons. The use of Burow’s solution is helpful in dehydrating the dripping stages of atopic dermatitis and is a non-prescription medication.

Avoiding the allergen is by far the greatest remedy for contact dermatitis (saliva from lip licking, solvents or water on hands). Eczema is characterized by an itchy red rash usually starting on the cheeks, and commonly entails the folds on the elbows, on the back of the knees or ears. In the advanced stages, it manifests as an itchy red, raw rash engulfing the whole body.

The tendency to scratch only serves to spread the rash and might result in the dripping formation of crusts. Other scaly rashes are psoriasis – a hereditary condition affecting elbows, knees and elsewhere; pityariasis rosea – affects teens and young adults (chest and back) and xerosis – dry winter rashes.

more posts of interest:

• Skin Allergies And Rashes
• What Are The Common Forms Of Dermatitis Skin Problems?
• What Causes Contact Dermatitis?
• Natural And Herbal Remedies For Acne And Skin Conditions
• Quick Health Tips – Skin Diseases Causes And Remedies

by Juan Antonio Cap

There are abounding types of acquisitive bark allergies and rashes. However, not all rashes that crawling are accompanying to bark allergies. The afterward are the best accepted types of allergic bark rashes.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Atopic dermatitis frequently occurs in adolescent children, although may alpha in adolescent adults, and can abide into developed life.

The adventurous of atopic dermatitis, about alleged eczema, occurs breadth an actuality scratches. In infancy, the adventurous occurs on the chest, cheeks and scalp, breadth the adolescent is able to scratch. Older accouchement and developed about accept the adventurous in the bark folds of the elbows and abaft the knees, although may additionally action on the face, neck, hands, anxiety and back.

The adventurous is red, about flakes or oozes, and has baby blisters or bumps. There are about excoriations, or areas of burst skin, from advancing scratching.

Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema (Swelling)

Urticaria, frequently alleged hives, is an acquisitive adventurous that can action at any age. This adventurous appears as aloft red bumps of assorted shapes and sizes, and about lasts for alone account to hours. While it can be actual itchy, an actuality will about not abrade (scratch to the point of breaking the bark and account bleeding) themselves.

The abscess that sometimes goes forth with urticaria is alleged angioedema, and about involves the lips, the eyes, and the easily and feet. Angioedema is usually not acquisitive or red, it tends to burn, bite or account an amazing sensation. Severe abscess that blocks the adeptness to breathe can be alarming and alike life-threatening.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is acquired from bark acquaintance with a actuality that causes a rash-like reaction. Bodies acknowledge to a array of chemicals, including cosmetics, beard dye, metals, contemporary medications and dental materials. An archetype of an acquaintance dermatitis is a adventurous from adulteration ivy, which is an acutely acquisitive and appears as blisters that alluvium and band afterwards acquaintance with plants of the Toxicodendron family.

A acquaintance dermatitis adventurous may attending like atopic dermatitis, but the adventurous is about amid alone in the breadth of acquaintance with the behind chemical. Accepted locations accommodate the face, abnormally the eyelids, neck, easily and feet. Acquaintance dermatitis to metals, such as in adornment or snaps/buttons/zippers on clothing, frequently occurs on the neck, wrists/hands, earlobes and at the waistline.

Itching Without a Rash

It is a almost accepted botheration for bodies to accept agog after a adventurous actuality present. The medical appellation for agog is pruritus, and this affection can represent a bark problem, or alike an centralized ache aural the body.

When the agog is bound to a assertive breadth of the body, the best acceptable acumen is a ache action bound to the skin. The breadth of the anatomy that itches about gives a big clue as to the account of the itching.

Pruritus the involves the absolute anatomy may still represent a ache of the skin, or may be acquired by metabolic problems such as thyroid ache or adamant deficiency. Abounding medications can account itching, decidedly affliction medications like codeine and morphine.

Learn added about agog and pruritus, how to actuate the cause, and the treatments available.

Sources:

Atopic Dermatitis Practice Parameters. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004;93:S1-21.

Practice Parameters for Ache Management: Acute and Chronic Urticaria and Angioedema. Ann Allergy. 2000; 85: S525-44.

Beltrani VS, Bernstein IL, Cohen DE, Fonacier L. Acquaintance Dermatitis: A Practice Parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006;97:S1-38.

Note: The advice independent in this armpit is for educational purposes only, and should not be acclimated as acting for claimed affliction by an accountant physician. Please see your physician for analysis and analysis of any apropos affection or medical condition.

Dr. Thomas P. Habif, MD discusses Perioral Dermatitis Information. See more at www.dermnet.com PLEASE RATE AND COMMENT!!! Perioral dermatitis is a distinctive eruption that occurs in young women and resembles acne. The eruption is confined to the nasolabial folds and spares a clear zone around the vermilion border. Papules and pustules on an erythematous base is the most common presentation. There are varying degrees of involvement. This patient has involvement of the entire perioral area. This patient presents with just a few papules. This limited eruption is the most common presentation. Scaling is seen in some cases. Scaling may occur as part of the disease or be induced by drying and irritating topical treatment. The chin is the most sensitive part of the face and does not tolerate drying therapy as well as the forehead and cheeks. Topical preparations such as benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin, and alcohol-based antibiotic lotions aggravate the eruption. Pustules on the cheeks adjacent to the nostrils are highly characteristic. Pustules next to the nose are sometimes the only manifestation of the disease. Pustules and papules may also be seen lateral to the eyes and sometimes this is the only manifestation of the disease. Patients with lateral eye involvement think they have acne, rosacea or contact dermatitis. The duration of perioral dermatitis is unpredictable. Some patients respond to oral antibiotics and never have another episode. Others have recurrent disease for …
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More Dermatitis Articles

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When your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to you will develop what is called a skin allergy. When you eat food or even proteins you breathe in may cause symptoms to appear on your skin. These reactions are commonly called hives or rashes, and usually appears within 48 hours after the initial exposure to the allergen. Redness
Swelling
Blistering
Itching
Hives and rashes. Poison ivy

Oak
Sumac Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)Researchers have found that atopic dermatitis can be triggered by:It is also related to the development of other allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, in most children. Itchy rash that appears first as small white pimples with red centers over the infants cheeks, neck and scalp. When the infant begins to scratch the rash, the area can become infected, produce fluid and spread over a wider area.In older children the rash appears on the:Over time if the skin is chronically affected by the rash, it will become dry, thick and browner in color. Some children develop the rash on the eyelids, palms of the hand and soles of the feet. The bend of the elbow;
Back of the knees, ankles and wrists;
On the face
Neck
Chest
And palms of the hands and soles of the feet.A doctor will take a careful medical history, looking for allergy in other family members. Skin testing helps confirm food allergies. A food challenge can also confirm that atopic dermatitis is triggered by food.Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis begins with efforts to reduce the itching and inflammation. A person affected with Atopic Dermatitis can:Other ways you can help control and treat Atopic Dermatitis are:If symptoms resist normal treatment remember that the disease can be controlled. It may take awhile to find out the cause and what the best treatment for it is. The condition also nearly always improves over time.Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The information contained in this article should not substitute seeking responsible, professional medical care. It is not meant to attempt to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of skin condition.

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• Skin Rash | Skin Rashes | Skin Rash Types | Skin Rash Cures

When your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to you will develop what is called a skin allergy.

Skin allergies also occur:

When you eat food or even proteins you breathe in may cause symptoms to appear on your skin. These reactions are commonly called hives or rashes, and usually appears within 48 hours after the initial exposure to the allergen.

Symptoms commonly seen in skin allergies are:

Redness

Swelling

Blistering

Itching

Hives and rashes.

You can even develop a skin allergy to a substance in a product that you have used for many years. The product does not have to be a new one. The most common types of allergic contact dermatitis are allergies to:

Poison ivy

Oak

Sumac

Another fairly common type of skin allergy is:

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Atopic Dermatitis is especially common in infants and children. Atopic dermatitis is the most difficult to treat. Atopic dermatitis usually goes away during childhood, or by the age of 25. However, for some people it is a lifelong skin disease. Adults can also develop atopic dermatitis.

Researchers have found that atopic dermatitis can be triggered by:

Allergy

Emotional stress

Involves high levels of immunoglobulin E (lgE), which is the major allergy antibody.

It is also related to the development of other allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, in most children.

Symptoms of atopic dermatitis are:

Itchy rash that appears first as small white pimples with red centers over the infants cheeks, neck and scalp. When the infant begins to scratch the rash, the area can become infected, produce fluid and spread over a wider area.

The rash can also appear on the outside surfaces of the arms and legs. It often does not appear in the diapered area.

In older children the rash appears on the:

Inner forearm;

Behind the knees and

Opposite the elbows.

Over time if the skin is chronically affected by the rash, it will become dry, thick and browner in color. Some children develop the rash on the eyelids, palms of the hand and soles of the feet.

Teenagers and young adults get the rash most often in:

The bend of the elbow;

Back of the knees, ankles and wrists;

On the face

Neck

Chest

And palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Atopic dermatitis is not contagious. However, if the scratching leads to a bacterial infection such as Staphylococcus aureus of an area covered by eczema, this can cause impetigo. Impetigo is a skin infection that is contagious.

A doctor will take a careful medical history, looking for allergy in other family members. Skin testing helps confirm food allergies. A food challenge can also confirm that atopic dermatitis is triggered by food.

A food challenge is when suspected foods are removed from the diet, and then they are added back in, first in small amounts then in increasing quantities. The patient is watched to see if symptoms recur.

Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis begins with efforts to reduce the itching and inflammation. A person affected with Atopic Dermatitis can:

Bathe in warm water not hot water for no more than 3-5 minutes.

Use super fatted, unscented soap or soap substitute.

Pat the skin dry.

Promptly apply moisturizer to help keep the skin hydrated.

For thickened skin area, moisturizing ointments are used.

Trim the patients fingernails to reduce problems from scratching.

At night, patients can wear cotton socks on their feet or gloves on their hands to prevent scratching while asleep.

If the rash is oozing, doctors may prescribe a lotion to dry the rash and an antibiotic to treat infection. Do not use corticosteroid products on the face if a rash is present.

Other ways you can help control and treat Atopic Dermatitis are:

Stay indoors in air conditioning when the weather is hot to avoid sweating and itchiness.

Use a humidifier in the winter to keep skin from drying out.

Avoid wool, polyester, wrinkle-resistant, flame-retardant or scratchy fabrics in clothes and bedding.

Reduce indoor allergens by washing bedding in hot water, removing rugs, stuffed furniture, stuffed toys and curtains where possible.

If symptoms resist normal treatment remember that the disease can be controlled. It may take awhile to find out the cause and what the best treatment for it is. The condition also nearly always improves over time.

A new drug called tacgolimus has shown good results in both adults and children with atopic dermatitis.

more posts of interest:

• Common Skin Allergies – Part 1
• Eczema – Simplified Guide To Eczema
• Causes and cures of eczema
• Diseases of Hands-skin Disorders
• What is Irritant Contact Dermatitis?