What Are The Types of Skin Allergies?

Skin irritations plague most people from time to time. These irritations are so common that they are called by various names. 

Hives and Angioedema

Hives are a red, itchy, raised area on the skin. They can vary in size and occur anywhere on the body. Most hives go away within a few days or weeks, but some suffer from chronic hives with symptoms that come and go over several months or years. 

Angioedema (related to hives that swell) affects the deeper layers of the skin. It is usually not red or itchy and usually affects the eyelids, lips, tongue, hands, and feet. Angioedema often occurs together with hives, but it can also happen alone.

Contact Dermatitis

When certain materials come into contact with your skin, they can cause a rash called contact dermatitis. 

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when a material damages the part of the skin that the material comes in contact with. It is often painful rather than itchy. The longer the skin is in contact with the material or the stronger the material, the more severe the reaction. 

Eczema

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) affects between 10 and 20 percent of children and 1 to 3 percent of adults. A typical eczema symptom is a dry, red, irritated, and itchy skin. Sometimes the skin may have small, fluid-filled bumps with a yellowish fluid if it is infected.