Allergies are all too familiar for many people in Atlanta. With an especially high amount of pollen in our air, Atlanta has a reputation for causing seasonal allergy symptoms in people of all ages. You may not hear as much about skin allergies, but these allergic reactions can be just as uncomfortable, embarrassing, and inconvenient.

At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, our board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants are experts in your skin’s health, and this includes skin allergies. To help you have all the information you need to protect and care for your skin, our team is sharing the top facts and insights every patient needs to know about skin allergies.

Skin Allergies Require Testing to Identify

Seasonal allergies tend to be easy to guess – there are different types of pollen in the spring and the fall, so you are most likely allergic to the type of pollen that is most prominent during your allergy season. Skin allergies can be far trickier.

It can take minutes, hours, days, or even weeks for your skin to develop an allergic reaction, so by the time a reaction appears, there are countless items your skin has touched and it’s difficult to narrow it down. In addition, you may be allergic to an ingredient that is in household products without your knowledge. In this case, it’s challenging to pick up on the patterns of the products or substances that trigger your reactions.

To properly diagnose your skin allergy so you can minimize future reactions, you need skin allergy testing. For a more comfortable process, Dermatology Associates of Atlanta offers needle-free patch testing at our Eczema Center.

Sunlight Can Affect Allergic Reactions

In most cases, allergies are fairly simple: you come into contact with an allergen and it triggers a reaction. For some skin allergies, though, it’s more complicated. You may come into contact with something you’re allergic to but you don’t have an allergic reaction until your skin is exposed to the sun. This is called photoallergic contact dermatitis, and it is most common for shaving lotion and some perfumes.

It’s Best to Avoid Scratching an Allergic Rash

Allergic reactions can vary from person to person, but they often create an itchy rash. If you develop this rash, though, it’s best to avoid scratching it. Scratching can increase your skin irritation, and you may break your skin in the process, leaving you vulnerable to an infection.

Instead, in the case of an allergic rash, you should schedule a dermatology appointment so our experts can identify your allergy and prescribe or recommend ointments, creams, or other medications to treat any reactions that appear.

Not All Skin Reactions Come from Contact Allergies

If you develop an allergic rash on your skin, it is typically because your skin came into contact with an allergen like a chemical, product, or bug bite. In some cases, though, food allergies can cause rashes too. This is yet another reason why skin allergy testing is so important: because you may not be contacting your allergen in the way you would expect.

Getting Expert Skin Care for Your Skin Allergy

A skin allergy may not be as concerning as a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, but it is still an uncomfortable and stressful condition that people face on a daily basis. If you have a skin allergy or if you suspect that you may, now is the time to schedule your skin allergy testing to get your allergy under control and minimize future problems. Call our dermatology office to schedule your testing today. Be sure to follow Dermatology Associates of Atlanta on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more skin care tips.