I think my skin is beginning to break out with an allergic reaction, how to prevent it from getting worse?

Question

I will see the doctor tomorrow, but what can i do to temporarily better? And is there a minimum number of days that the reaction gets worse, then it gets better? (cause last two times i saw the allergy specialist...when prescribing me medication hes like "it will get worse for a day or two...then the pills will start kicking in")im just wondering why its like that. thanks

when i said "break out with an allergic reaction", i mean as in hives

Answer 1

It often takes two days or more to completely clear whatever caused your allergic reaction from your system.

Do you know yet what you are allergic to? Finding out that can make a difference, because then you know what things or foods to avoid. I have lots of allergies. I keep an antihistamine with me for milder allergic reactions that do not cause full blown anaphylactic reactions, where your air way closes of. For that I carry an Epi-pen.

If you are breathing okay, take an antihistamine and it will help clear it up, over the counter kinds works just as well as most prescription, follow directions for dosage on the bottle and taking extra isn't going to make it work faster or better. It will make you sleepy, so eating some with the pill can help it not make you as sleepy.

One thing I've learned from going to allergist that you need to consider though, is if you take anything for the allergy before seeing them, it can make finding out what you are allergic to harder. WHY? Because anytime you have an antihistamine in your system, it can interfere in the prick testing they do on your back, becasue it surpresses the reaction that they are looking for in order to identify your allergy. So if you're breathing is okay, you may want to just wait until seeing the doctor tomorrow. If you are having a lot of allergic reactions, you may want to talk to your doctor about at least having it set up to where when you have an allergic reactions, if it's office hours, you just show up so she/he can at least see the reaction as it's happening and follow it's progression. It can really help in setting up good treatment options for you.

MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE A MINOR YOU ASK YOUR PARENTS BEFORE TAKING ANYTHING, ANY DRUG! Also make sure to tell your doctor everything you've taken for the reaction and anything you took for a cold or cough in the last 48 hours, as these drugs can all interfer in the testing process.

P.S if you chose to not take the antihistamine for now, so you'll not have it in your system tomorrow when you see the doctor, you can use any diper rash creame that has Zinc in it to help the rash not itch, so you don't scratch it.

GOO LUCK!

Answer 2

I think to get yourself some relief use oatmeal anything. They make oatmeal bath packs (Aveeno or Equate), oatmeal moisturizer (Suave, Avon, Aveeno or Equate), oatmeal soap (Suave). It will help with the itching and soothe the skin.

Don't fret and don't take anti-histamines or Benadryl until you see the allergist. If he wants to take blood to further diagnose the cause of your hives, you will mess them up and could have false negatives. It took them many tests, many different drugs and a few years to diagnose the cause of my hives. Some drugs will work immediately and then stop working all together. Some drugs will set you off in an explosion of hives and then start working. And still others seem to do nothing at all and you're wondering why you keep taking them.

Uticaria (hives) can be chronic and idiopathic, which means there is no known cause and they never really go away, you manage them. Contrary to common belief, some, like mine, are not due to an allergy, but are auto-immune related. That is why it is not a good idea to self-medicate with histamine blockers especially right before you see your allergist. You will distort the results you are getting from what he has perscribed.

Please try the oatmeal. If you cannot get to the store, but have some at home, you can make your own concoction. Put about 2 cups in a blender or food processor and pulverize it until it is almost a powder. Put it in an old stocking, sock or tie it in an old t-shirt. Toss it in the tub while it is filling and keep squeezing the tube into the water. You will feel a slime coming out of the tube and that is what you want in the water. Once you get in, squeeze the tube all over your body allowing the slime to coat your skin. When you get out, pat your self dry trying to leave as much of the slime on your skin as you can. Then you can use witch hazel on the hives which will feel like they are cooling off. But, only do that once they start flaring again, if they do after the bath.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Benadryl which will make you sleepy and hydro-cortisone cream. Also, try to think of what is causing the rash: does it always appear when you eat a certain thing, right after you shower (could be the soap,) when you use a certain laundry detergent, etc. If you make changes in your soaps, might want to try to make them slowly so you can tell if it works or if the new thing is breaking you out more. I am allergic to bar soap (have to use shower gel) and some types of laundry detergent, most liquids are less irritating and the less scent the better. Also, try looking for 'hypo-allergenic' on labels.

Answer 4

What did you eat? Touch? Come across?

For me, rashes last 2-3 days then go away, to stop them I use witch hazel on a cotton ball, rub lightly over the area, then put cortizone cream on it or vaseline over night and then it goes away.

If you get rashes often it could be a sign you are allergic to a food ingredient or dye.

Answer 5

Try Benadryl

Answer 6

Take benedryl and put some cortizone creme on it. Cool compress too.

Answer 7

Take Ibuprofen (Morin, Advil, etc), in the meantime... it's an Anti-inflammatory.

Answer 8

Dont scratch it. put like cream on it. sorbolene. and dont forget to ask ur doc for zantac. i dont know if u guys have zantac over their tho :S

Answer 9

try to leave it alone maybe until you can see the doctor?