Sun Allergy
You go out into the sun, and your skin breaks out in hives or a rash. Do you
have a sun allergy? Probably not. An immune response to sunlight is a very rare
clinical occurrence. What people often mistake for a sun allergy is actually
sun sensitivity. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing is
the best way to prevent sun sensitivity symptoms.
A Sun
Allergy or Sun Sensitivity?
The body's immune system rarely reacts to sunlight enough to warrant a
diagnosis of a sun allergy. However, symptoms of sun sensitivity can mimic those
of skin allergies. Solar urticaria, or sun-induced hives, is a fairly
common reaction. Sun sensitivity can also be aggravated by certain medications.
Sun block and sunscreen may help, but no sunblock completely shields skin from
sunlight, so the skin may still react. A "sun allergy" reaction can be avoided
by limiting sun exposure, wearing protective, long-sleeved clothing, sunglasses
and wide-brimmed hats.
An annual "sun allergy" affects many people in the springtime, especially in
areas where winter sunlight is limited. Called polymorphous light eruption
(or PMLE), the condition occurs up to three days after initial sun exposure,
causing skin rashes and hives. As springtime progresses, the body builds up a
tolerance to sunlight, and the condition usually fades completely by summer.
People who experience PMLE should use sunscreen or sun block until the skin
adapts to the new season.
Is dust allergy
an indication of a
dirty house?
No. A dirty house can make a house dust allergy problem worse, however. Normal
housekeeping procedures may not be enough to get rid of house dust allergy
symptoms. This is because many of the substances in dust cannot be removed by
normal cleaning procedures. For example, no matter how vigorously you dust or
vacuum, you will not reduce the number of dust mites present deep within
carpeting, pillows and mattresses. Vigorous cleaning methods can put more dust
into the air making symptoms worse.
What are house dust mites?
Tiny microscopic creatures called house dust mites are an important cause of
allergic reactions to house dust. They belong to the family of eight-legged
creatures called arachnids. This family also includes spiders, chiggers and
ticks. Dust mites are hardy creatures that live well and multiply easily in
warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit
with a relative humidity of 75 percent to 80 percent and die when the humidity
falls below 40 percent to 50 percent. They are rarely found in dry climates.
As many as 10 percent of the
general population and (in some regions) 90 percent of people with allergic
asthma are sensitive to dust mites. Recent studies in the United States suggest
that at least 45 percent of young people with asthma are allergic to dust mites.
Dust mite particles are just the
right size to be inhaled. They are found in the highest concentrations in
pillows, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture. They float into the
air when anyone vacuums, walks on a carpet or disturbs bedding, but settle out
of the air once the disturbance is over. A dust mite allergic patient who sleeps
for eight hours every night spends one third of his life with his nose in direct
contact with a pillow loaded with dust mite particles!
There may be many as 19,000 dust
mites in one gram of dust, but usually between 100 to 500 mites live in each
gram. (A gram is about the weight of a paper clip.) Egg-laying females can add
25 to 30 new mites to the population during their lifetime. Mites eat particles
of skin and dander, so they thrive in places where there are people. Dust mites
don't bite, and cannot spread diseases. They are harmful only to people who
become allergic to them. While usual household insecticides have no effect on
dust mites, there are ways that allergic people can reduce exposure to dust
mites in the home.
Why is mold present in house
dust?
Molds are commonly found in outdoor air, and they come in any time you open a
door or window. Any house can develop a mold problem given the right conditions.
You might not see it growing on the walls, but it may still be present in your
home. Molds require two factors to grow indoors: (1) free moisture that can
occur in the form of relative humidity above 50 percent, leakage from pipes or
foundations, or any ongoing source of water; and (2) something to grow on. Molds
particularly like to grow on wallboard, wood or fabrics, but will grow virtually
any place if they are given a chance.
Molds spread by producing spores
that can become airborne. These spores end up in house dust where they grow.
Dust from mold-contaminated houses can cause allergy symptoms if a
mold-sensitive person inhales it.
Does house dust contain
cockroaches?
As unappealing as it seems, cockroach particles can be a component of house
dust. This is most common in older, multifamily housing and in the southern
United States where complete extermination of cockroaches is very difficult.
Allergic individuals, particularly those with asthma, will tend to have
increased symptoms when they go into such houses. Cockroaches require food and
moisture to survive, so eliminating sources of each can help reduce exposure. In
cockroach endemic areas, the services of a skilled professional exterminator
will be required to keep cockroaches under control.
Is house dust allergy seasonal?
Yes. In the United States, dust mite populations tend to peak in July and
August, and their allergen levels stay high through December. Mite allergen
levels are lowest in late spring. Some dust mite-sensitive people report that
their symptoms get worse during the winter. That's because mite fecal particles
and pieces of dead mites, both of which trigger dust mite allergy, are still
present. Mold levels tend to peak during the summer months depending on where
you live since some tropical areas have molds year-round. There is also evidence
that cockroaches have a seasonal pattern, peaking in the late summer.
Forced-air heating systems tend
to blow dust particles into the air. As they dry out over time, even more of the
particles become airborne. This does not account for the seasonal pattern,
however, since air blows through the same ducts during the summer when air
conditioning is used. People may have fewer symptoms from house-dust exposure
during the summer because they spend more time outdoors.
For these reasons, the terms
"seasonal allergy" and "perennial allergy" are being used less frequently. It is
better to classify symptoms as "intermittent" or "persistent".
How do I know if I have house
dust allergy?
If you think you may have an allergy to house dust, consult an
allergist-immunologist. To pinpoint the cause of your symptoms, the allergist
may ask questions about your work and home environments, eating habits, family
medical history, frequency and severity of symptoms, exposure to pets and a
variety of other questions. Your allergist may test you for allergy by doing
skin tests, which involves pricking the skin or injecting it with different
allergens and observing for a reaction. A positive reaction (a raised welt with
redness around it) may indicate that you are allergic to that allergen.
Occasionally, your allergist may order a blood test instead of the skin test to
confirm the diagnosis of allergy.
What can I do to relieve house
dust allergy symptoms?
If you are tested and found to be allergic to a component of house dust,
specific avoidance measures can be undertaken. Your allergist can give you
expert advice on which avoidance measures are right for you. The three basic
treatments for dust allergy are:
How do I avoid house dust?
Avoidance measures work best to relieve symptoms, but it's not possible to avoid
all exposure to all types of house dust. Some of these procedures are difficult,
and you may not need to do them all. Ask your allergist which ones will be most
helpful for your situation. If you're found to be allergic to furry pets, well,
there needs to be a family meeting to decide what is going to be done. In
general, finding another home for an allergenic pet followed by a thorough
housecleaning is the best solution for symptom control.
If you live in a dust mite area,
you can not eradicate them completely. First line steps to limit dust mite
exposure focus on the bedroom because, on average, people spend one-third of
their lives in the bedroom. Of all the rooms in the home, the bedroom often
contains the most dust mites. Special zip-up covers can seal dust mite particles
inside your pillows and mattresses. This will substantially limit your exposure
to dust mite particles, and should reduce your allergy symptoms. More extreme
measures, such as pulling up carpets and buying expensive dehumidifiers, should
only be undertaken in consultation with your allergist.
Reference: Indoor Allergy
Survival Tips ---- http://allergy.mcg.edu
Since one of the most common cores of allergy, asthma and
sinusitis is fungal infections,
as well as polyps, reflux disease and bacteria, you
have to make sure that your home and real estate is free from
molds and mildew, which later may develop into molds, and prevent
any of their future growth.
-
To eliminate molds and mildew from your home, office
or other real estate and property, follow the suggestions of the book Do It Yourself
Mold Prevention, Mold Inspection, Testing, & Remediation.
For more info, please visit: Mold
Book.
-
To
visit the best internet mold website, please visit:
Mold Inspector.
-
To find a
Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator or
Certified
Mold Contractor
in your area, please visit:
Certified Mold Inspector.
-
To find services of a mold lawyer or a
mold attorney,
please visit
Mold Lawyer.
REFERENCES:
http://www.allergies-relief.com/html/types-of-allergies.php3
http://www.insect-and-skin-allergies.com/html/skin-allergies.php3
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