I have trouble skin, meaning I still break out but have those fine lines around my eyes. So I need a moisturizer along with something to help with those breakouts. It’s like I have teenager skin mixed with middle aged. On top of that, my skin is really sensitive. I have a history of red and inflamed skin after using certain products, and after that comes the dry, flaky redness. So what are the best products and regimen for good skin care to take care of the problems and the sensitive skin at the same time?

In Julyne Derrick’s article, the basics of skin care are broken down to a four step routine which includes cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and sunscreen. The thing to be careful is that each of these necessary steps has the power to cause an adverse reaction. It is important to find and use the right products, as well as know your own skin.

Skin allergies and sensitive skin are actually two different things, sort of like food intolerance and food allergies. But even though sensitive skin may be more predictable and only happen in certain areas, like the face, it is still something to deal with and avoidance probably does come into play.

There are actually four categories of sensitive skin, and contact dermatitis (which includes allergies along with other irritants) is one of them. The other three types are acne, rosacea, and burning and stinging. That’s the problem in finding the right skin care. Just because something is labeled “For Sensitive Skin,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it is labeled for YOUR sensitive skin.

For me, I think of the burning and stinging category, so I try to stay away from those products that have “acid” in them. All that does is make things worse by not only burning and stinging, but also leaving behind red and flaky skin.

I’ve found that products with fewer ingredients are better for me (sort of like food). Take a look through the labels and ingredients lists and try to find something with a shorter list of ingredients. Stay away from fragrances and added color. Just because something is higher end or more expensive does not mean it’s better. In fact, it can do more damage to your skin. Organic and natural products can be safer on the skin, and remember if you have corn or gluten allergy, these things are often in cosmetics. You don’t think about reading labels for cosmetics, but you may have to. There’s also nothing wrong with using some of the natural products made for babies and young children, like sunscreens and moisturizers, as they are often more gentle. Caryn Tatty lists some good makeup and cosmetics in Finding Green Gluten and Corn-free Cosmetics and Personal Products for those with sensitive, allergic skin.

Unfortunately, it can be a trial and error test to find what is best. And then, who knows, your skin may change and need something different!

For even more information, see http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/sensitive-skin

There are people allergic to gluten. There are those with a gluten sensitivity or intolerance. Others, like my friend and her daughters, have Celiac Disease, something altogether different. And then there are those who choose to go gluten free for other health reasons, ranging from a desire to lose weight to gaining more energy. What are all these different gluten reactions? Are they connected; are they manageable? Can you have any gluten?  Here’s some help in deciphering it all:

Gluten Allergy
Just like any allergy, this is the body’s reaction to something it thinks is harmful and antibodies build up to defend it. Symptoms can range from hives to anaphylaxis to nausea.  A tiny bit can cause the reaction so avoidance is usually necessary.

Gluten Intolerance
This is when the body reacts to gluten in a negative way, but it is not an allergy. It is not life threatening, but an adverse reaction can manifest. Often it is seen in digestive issues. Many people with a food intolerance, gluten or other, can have small amounts of the food. In fact, a friend of mine knows that she has intolerance to dairy, so she weighs the risks of eating it. If she’s home alone, she may have that bowl of ice cream, but not in a crowd of people or if she has something to do. They can often tolerate small amounts, like the traces found in foods or croutons on a salad, just not sandwiches or a plate of pasta. Some people also refer to gluten intolerance as gluten sensitivity (or any other intolerance, like dairy).

Celiac Disease
This is what my friend and her family are dealing with, and is very different from the other gluten conditions. In Celiac Disease, the body cannot digest and process the gluten, so damage is done to the intestines and the body manifests symptoms in a myriad of ways. Not only is wheat a culprit, but also barley, rye and often oats. Because the body cannot process the gluten, the villi in the intestines can become damaged causing long term problems. With an allergy, once the reaction subsides, it’s over, not with Celiacs.

Those with this condition need to avoid altogether, like an allergy. It’s recommended households have two toasters if anyone else will be eating gluten, though a gluten free house is the best bet. Just like with an allergy, traces of gluten can lead to damage.

Here is a good article on gluten and Celiac Disease with a history of the condition, diagnosing, symptoms and complications. It does explain what my friend told me about not cutting out glutens even after being diagnosed if you are going to have an intestinal biopsy.

Optional Gluten Free Diets
Many people opt to go gluten free for different reasons, whether to lose weight or just cleanse. They may have no adverse reactions, but want to change their diets for benefits.

What happens sometimes, though, is restaurants may claim to have gluten free menu items, but they still bake their items in ovens used to bake gluten products or can have traces in other ways. That’s fine for people with gluten sensitivities or voluntary gluten free diets, but not for those with allergies or Celiacs.

I personally have had my daughter treated holistically and happy with her results. Though we still keep a mild watch for her allergen (nuts) she has had no outbreaks since her treatment. My take on many of these treatments is that it won’t hurt to try as they are very non-invasive and do not encourage prescription reliance.

NAET
This is the method we used with my daughter. It is a non-invasive, drug-free method for relieving allergy symptoms  (NAET stands for Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique). This treatment usually takes a few sessions depending on the severity of the allergy and can incorporate acupuncture, acupressure, even meditation and visualization while the patient holds a small, sealed, glass vial of the allergen. The allergen never comes in contact with the body. One way to look at this is the treatment resets the body to not react to the allergen.

EFT
This method, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques, incorporates tapping and verbal affirmations to reduce or remove the allergies from the body. Tapping is a common method used in people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Because the tapping is conducted at the meridian points on the body (where energy flows) it, again, is a sort of technique to reset the body and how it reacts to situations or allergens. It is also something a patient can be taught to do on his or her own.

Acupuncture
This is probably the one most common, or at least most well known to those who practice Western medicine. Acupuncture has its basis in traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting thin needles into the meridian points. Again, this method may take a few sessions and the patient may be prescribed herbs during the treatment.

Though many people balk at the idea of needles inserted throughout the body, it really doesn’t hurt. With my first hand experience, I can attest to that. It is in fact, a very relaxing treatment. With different sized needles and quite small ones available, even children can benefit from acupuncture treatment.

Acupressure
This is quite similar to acupuncture, but instead of needles, lights are used on the meridian points. Visualization is incorporated. Though acupuncture is usually more effective, acupressure is a nice alternative for children who don’t want the needles, or anyone else who may be wary of acupuncture.

Many Westerners who receive holistic treatment combine it with Western medicine. For instance, it is perfectly acceptable to use the holistic treatments, but if a bad allergy attack happens, by all means, take some medicine. Some people like the fact that even those these treatments may not completely eliminate an allergy, they can reduce it enough so that fears of anaphylaxis are eliminated and day to day activities can be resumed.

A lot of Eastern medicine depends on mind set. Visualization is a big part and a practitioner may ask the patient to visualize himself suffering an allergy attack and then again as allergy free. Those that can open their minds to this have a bigger change of  successful treatment. I think it is definitely a viable option of treatment for those who have been suffering allergies and can find no relief, or those that have a life threatening allergy. Be sure, however, to find a reputable practitioner before undertaking any treatments.

for more information:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/lifeandculture/ci_18378240

http://ahha.org/rosen.htm

This month, a comprehensive study was published online by the journal, Pediatrics. The  objective of this study, was to better estimate the prevalence and severity of childhood food allergy in the United States. “What I don’t think people understand is that (food allergies) can be life-threatening. You can have a severe reaction and end up in the hospital and even die of food allergy,” said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

This recent study shows that where it once thought that about 4% of kids have some sort of food allergy, in actuality it is closer to 8% being allergic to at least one type of food. One reason this study may have higher statistics is that it is a larger study that evaluated many different foods. According to a piece on Web Md, it also states that the study holds importance because it not only covered the basic statistics, but also hints at some of the misery that is visited on children with food allergies.

Emotional Toll
It is hard for people without food allergies to understand what those with them have to go through. My friend who I have mentioned recently who just had two of her children diagnosed with Celiac Disease finally got in touch with a leader of a support group. The support group leader asked her where she was in the first stages of the diagnosis. She said, “Have you been to the grocery store, freaked out and cried yet?”

I remember doing that when my daughter was diagnosed with her food allergy. I still remember walking through the store wanting to cry at all the things she couldn’t have anymore. There certainly is a lot of emotional toll on a family with food allergies, and it is important that others realize we are not trying to control or baby or alienate our children; we just want them to safe. I was glad to see that this study tackled this aspect.

Dangers Continue, Especially for Teenage Boys
The study also showed that almost 40% of kids with a food allergy exhibit some form of a severe reaction such as wheezing or anaphylaxis, and that allergies tend to peak in preschoolers, those kids around 3 – 5 years old. However, another maybe the most dangerous time, according to the study, is the teenage years, especially for boys. They tend to exhibit more reckless behavior and that even encompasses not wanting to ask questions regarding food allergies in restaurants and with friends.

Maybe what we can take from this is that we still need to coach our kids. It’s not enough to teach them how to act and eat when they set off for kindergarten or their first sleepover. We need to remind them when they go out with friends or on a date. We need to get it in their heads when they go off to college and maybe even a bit more reckless. It is way cooler to ask if there are any peanut products in the kitchen than pass out with anaphylactic shock, and as they get older, they need to know this. They need to stay careful and keep their Epipens with them, even if it’s not cool.

Now we have a study to support all of this.

Sources:
http://children.webmd.com/news/20110620/food-allergies-in-kids-more-common-than-thought

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/20/food.allergies.pediatrics/index.html

She said for the past few years she has had mystery outbreaks. For her, they start at her hairline and work their way down her body and end up on her feet. We watched the progression of the breakout of hives around her face and hairline and by the next day, those had gone but her feet were swollen and red. She wasn’t concerned with anything more than the hives, and they didn’t even really itch that bad; she was mostly frustrated with the unknown cause.

As I did a bit of research when we got home, I did find that on her feet it could be something a little different than hives, called angioedema. According to webmd.com, this is “similar to hives but the swelling occurs beneath the skin instead of on the surface.” The article mentions a common place for this is the hands and feet (as well as eyes and lips), and it can last longer than hives but usually not more than 24 hours. It can also, though rarely, occur in the airways blocking air flow, similar to anaphylaxis.

Angiodema forms in response to histamine (like hives) and blood plasma leaks out of small blood vessels in the skin, therefore causing the swelling. I’m sure our friend would like to know (or not) that it is common to have the reactions with no idea why, though allergic reactions can occur from anything from foods (meaning anything from a food itself to preservatives and additives), insect stings, sunlight exposure or medicine.

As far as treatment goes, everyone tends to go to the antihistamines first which is recommended. Benadryl can usually be effective, but it is important to take the right dosage. Once Benadryl (or similar form) is taken, there are some other things to do, but it is smart to take medication at onset to try to control the outbreak. To relieve the itching, cool compresses usually help. Because heat can be a trigger, too, cooling down the body can help, either with a cold shower or bath in addition to cool compresses. Relaxing is helpful as well, though sometimes easier said than done. Hives can get worse with stress (which adds heat to the body) so trying to sit and relax during an outbreak is a good idea.

Of course, if the hives are getting to air passages and turning into swelling of the lips, face and/or mouth, emergency medical attention may be necessary in case breathing is at risk.

Often, like our friend, people never learn the cause of their hives or angioedema. This is classified as idiopathic hives. According to the World Allergy Organization, if no cause is found, even with blood tests, it’s not considered a true allergy because no IgE antibody is involved.

“Research suggests that in 35-45% of patients with idiopathic hives the cause may be autoimmunity – that is, the patient’s immune system working against itself. These autoimmune types of hives are not serious and usually respond to treatment with antihistamines.”

Because there can be so many causes, or none at all, for hives and angioedema, the hardest part may be the unknown and the fact that they can’t even be controlled with avoidance, as you don’t even know what to avoid.

In a Foxnews story, I read about medical service dogs who have the training to use their acute noses to detect peanut products, tree nuts or other allergens. Because there are more and more kids with food allergies, and we are seeing how severe these allergies can be, having these dogs part of keeping those with allergies safe is an incredible tool. In this story, a boy with a severe allergy to peanuts is featured and his peanut sniffing dog can enter a baseball park and sniff out any dangerous residue or peanut product.

If you think about all of the places residue can be, it’s quite scary. Think about children in grocery carts eating peanut butter crackers who may have their hands on the carts. Someone who touched an elevator button or stair handrail after eating peanut products – the residue can be there. Anywhere.

In this story, a boy is featured who is deathly allergic to peanuts and cannot even be near them, much less touch any residue. His dog can sniff out any area where he will go, including rooms and furniture or equipment he may touch. The boy, who is 11, already elbow bumps instead of shaking hands and does not open any doors himself to avoid any possible contaminants.

With a dog, he can lead a much more normal life. Before, his mother could rarely even leave him alone and he stayed home most of the first eight years of his life. But now he can go most any place along as his dog is with him. His dog, Remy, can even sniff a plate of food in a restaurant to check for any peanut traces, and he doesn’t even drool or try to nab any food!

These dogs do not come cheap, however. They cost around $10,000 and many don’t believe they are much more than a gimmick. However, for those who have the dogs, they can attest to the freedom it gives them to carry on a much more normal life. Rather than live in fear of coming upon something deadly to them, they can trust that their canine companion can offer his instinct, training and acute sniffer to detect any danger. Many people start fundraisers along the lines of allergy awareness to raise money to have one of these dogs.

Allergy sniffing dogs have been featured in the news on prominent channels such as FOXNews and NBC Nightly News. If interested in learning more about peanut sniffing dogs, look to Angel service dogs. This organization’s mission is to support the “acquisition, training, and placement of highly trained Allergy Alert Dogs for sufferers of life-threatening allergies” as well as offer education to groups including churches and civic organizations to help them create safe environments for those with severe allergies.

Not only are these dogs helpful to kids with severe allergies, but also adults. Service dogs are protected by the American with Disabilities Act and can go anywhere where the public is served, including restaurants, hotels, theaters, sports facilities, libraries, museums and all forms of transportation.

Wow – this is some life changing material, with a mix of emotions, too. Though Celiac Disease is not an allergy, all the allergy precautions need to be taken. Here is the definition from Celiac Central:

Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean? Essentially the body is attacking itself every time a person with celiac consumes gluten.

So no more gluten and add to that all the allergies, and her food is really limited. Many of the gluten substitutions have soy or corn in them as a replacement. My friend was even stumped looking for jams and jellies because the ones without high fructose corn syrup often have apple pectin in them.

Diagnosis
I think the big kicker is all the work it took to get this diagnosis. There weren’t the digestive problems often associated with Celiac’s and there weren’t any anaphylactic type symptoms associated with allergies. My friend took her daughter to doctors ranging from the pediatrician to an ENT to allergists, and no one ever mentioned Celiac’s until she demanded a full blood work up. Her daughter had terribly sensitive skin and was constantly itching with eczema and other rashes. She had strep throat and ear infections one after the other. And the doctors simply wrote it off as a peanut allergy and a weaker immune system. No, her mom said, I want more!

One thing she couldn’t get over is how she had expressed her concern over the skin issues to all of the doctors and no one made any connections. Even the allergist said it was not related to anything; it was something all on its own! Not only is irritable, rashy skin a sign of Celiac Diesease, but also a sign of food allergies. He never mentioned the soy or corn or any other foods, he solely focused on peanuts.

I think what we can take from this is that we must use our instincts. Whether it is a condition regarding allergies or something beyond allergies, go with your gut. Get the answers you need and don’t settle for the standard answers if you don’t feel it’s applicable to you or your family.

Diet Changes
So now my friend is busy reading, researching and discovering all she can to manage Celiac’s and the allergies. One or the other is difficult enough, but combine them and the food choices become very limited. She has to read labels and become versed in all the ingredient speak and different names for gluten, soy and corn.

One thing we did talk about is how clean the family’s diet will become. Once you start reading labels you learn how many foods have way more processing then then need and way more additives than necessary. She has looked into phone apps, cookbooks and blogs to find the best recipes and diets for her daughter and family.

From this, we need to take in that there is a way to cope. Whether it is Celiac’s or a food allergy, you cope and adjust and you move along. It is a challenge life gives us, but there is only one alternative and that is to empower ourselves and children and go from there.

No matter how scary a diagnosis of Celiac’s or a food allergy may be, it is better to know than wonder what is making you or your child sick. Once the diagnosis is there, the diet can be adjusted and modified. It takes a lot of learning and managing and dictating, but it can be done.

The Connection Between Latex and Certain Foods:
For people with any of these food allergies, even oral allergy syndrome, they need to watch out for a latex allergy. Often with oral allergy syndrome, we don’t think as much about the reactions or the foods as it’s not as life threatening as a true allergy with anaphylactic reactions. However, even a food sensitivity or oral allergy syndrome to the above listed foods can be a red flag of a latex allergy, and a latex allergy has the potential to lead to an anaphylactic reaction. Latex is made from the sap of commercially grown rubber trees with other chemicals added and many of the foods related to it mimic the latex protein as they break down in the body, hence the connection.

Exposure and Symptoms:
With latex gloves, cornstarch powder is added to prevent stickiness and give a smooth feel. The problem here is that the latex proteins will stick to the cornstarch particles. In places like operating rooms and other high exposure areas, there can be a lot of latex particles in the air, and this is dangerous for someone with a severe latex allergy.

For many people with this allergy, their main symptoms are mild rashes that may come even a day after contact. Others have a more immediate reaction with hives and itching upon contact, while people with a severe reaction can go in to anaphylaxis when exposed to contact, though it is rare.

What You Can Do:
There is a correlation between the severity of the latex reaction and food allergies, being that those with a more severe allergy to latex will have a more severe reaction to those certain foods. If you notice that any of the above listed foods, plus some others (see sources), give you a reaction, let a doctor know before any type of surgery. Coordinate your procedure with the hospital and they can take precautions to make sure the operating room is safe for you with thorough cleaning and latex free supplies. Often they can schedule you for the first surgery of the day to avoid contamination and follow other protocol to ensure a latex free environment.

Let your other doctors and dentists know, too. There are gloves that are latex free and other gloves that do not have the powder. If you think you may have a latex allergy because of a reaction to a band aid or condom, you can have a skin test done. The same goes for if you have an allergy to any of the common fruits associated with latex allergy; you can be tested just to know one way or the other. Many health care workers actually develop an allergy to latex because they are exposed to latex repeatedly. They can try switching to the non powdered gloves as this has been shown to decrease the allergy.

Anytime you are gearing up for surgery it can be stressful, especially when you are asked all of those questions and told the risks. Knowing whether you are at risk for a latex reaction will help quell the fears a little, and if you are, appropriate precautions can be put in place so the surgery can be as safe as possible.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/latex-allergies

Maybe our wait is over. The latest is a skin patch that may cure peanut allergies. Two French pediatricians are working on this patch in hopes of finding a cure for those that suffer from deadly peanut allergies. The patch will re-educate the body so it will no longer over react to peanut exposure. Currently, the patch is being tried on people in Europe and the United States. It works by releasing small doses of peanut oil under the skin, similar to the way allergy shots release small doses of the allergen into the body. It is a type of reprogramming so the body will not go into such severe reactions.

One of the researchers and inventors, Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou, a senior consultant at Saint-Vincent de Paul hospital in Paris, told the Daily Mail: “We envisage that the patch would be worn daily for several years and would slowly reduce the severity of accidental exposure to peanuts. Because it is not going straight to the blood stream, there is not the risk of a severe reaction. Even by wearing a year could reduce the possibility of a life threatening reaction.”

If trials go as expected, it is hopeful that the patch could be on the market within a few years. Some human trials have already been conducted and seen success. Current tests are being done to determine the size of the dose and how long the patch will need to be worn for optimum effectiveness.

According to Dr. Benhamou, “At best we are talking about a sufferer eventually being able to eat modest amounts of peanut without a reaction. But what we want to do most is to eliminate the severe reaction that occurs when people are exposed to the tiniest speck of peanut.”

Many people are at such great risk from peanut allergy that they are limited to where they can go and must avoid places like planes and baseball parks. Even though they may not be able to actually eat substantial amounts of peanuts or peanut butter after wearing the patch, they won’t be at such a risk if a trace is ingested by accident. Other methods that are used to treat other allergies, like shots for insects or hay fever, are not feasible as some peanut allergy sufferers are far too allergic.

Though most people with peanut allergies are not so severe that a trace in food or oil on the skin will send them into anaphylactic shock, enough are so that it is a very dangerous and worrisome condition. If people could be more confident that if they were to have a reaction, it would be mild, they could maintain a different lifestyle with much less worry. Parents could use the patch on their children from the beginning and by the time children are on their own more, the allergy could be much less severe.

It will be interesting to watch the development of this patch and hopefully it will soon be a viable treatment for those with peanut allergies. According to the researchers, this will be available for milk allergies as well.

Sources
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392034/Doctors-invent-patch-cure-deadly-peanut-allergy.html#ixzz1O8WWEcfG

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/29/new-skin-patch-cure-deadly-peanut-allergy/#ixzz1O8VJkVVi

Few days ago I saw in the news that in Chicago, a bill that could allow this is making its way to the governor’s desk to hopefully become a law. The senate just passed a bill that “would allow school nurses to inject students with epinephrine even if the student isn’t prescribed it.” The House already unanimously approved this bill in April.

If this passes, a nurse could use an Epipen on someone who is having an allergic reaction even if the student does not have his own prescription for an Epipen or have it in his medical plan. I even thought about this earlier this week as I was picking up my daughter’s Epipen from the school nurse for the summer. The nurse had to first find my daughter’s name in her file, then her Epipen in a closet FULL of Epipens. Wouldn’t it be a lot faster just to grab an Epipen, regardless of whose it is, if there is a life threatening situation? I certainly would not mind if her Epipen was used to help someone out, possibly save someone’s life.

I’ve also often thought that restaurants should all have an Epipen or two on hand, just in case. You really never know when an allergy could manifest. So many times people have a first reaction later in life, or simply don’t have their medicine on them. Wouldn’t it be worth it to have an Epipen or two around, just like a fire extinguisher or first aid kit? They are such a simple means of halting a reaction and possibly saving a life.

We know we live in a very litigious society, and everyone is afraid of a lawsuit. Who wants to be the person that stabs someone else with an auto injector full of epinephrine? But someone may just need it and not have a prescription – wouldn’t it be worth it?

With this new bill hopefully passing into a law in Chicago, maybe it will spread to other areas beyond schools. However, what a great place to start. Unfortunately, the reason behind this bill is a tragic one. Last year in December, a thirteen year old girl died in Chicago of anaphylaxis after eating food cooked in peanut oil. She was not given the injection.

Now this bill will only pertain to schools and school nurses, and a school  nurse will be needed to administer the shot. A few other states already have this ruling, including Massachusetts and Kansas. Maybe in the near future we will see this country wide and along with the need for donations of band aids, rubber gloves and extra clothes in school clinics, there will also be a call for Epipens. I, for one, would be more than happy to supply an extra Epipen if it could save someone’s life.

Sources:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/emergency-epinephrine-allergy-shot-legislation-gov-quinn-signature-20110519

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-allergic-foodreaction-injection-bill-sent-to-gov-quinn-20110518,0,2329243.story