Allergies - Homecare Help For Puffy Eyes & Itchy Skin.

It seems more and more people are suffering from allergies these days. Hay fever is on the rise and doctors are saying more allergy sufferers are seeking medical help because their allergies have increased in intensity over the last few years.

Eyes puffy, red and sore. Feel like your sinuses a closing up without the benefit of a headcold to go with it? Look like you've gone ten rounds in the ring with the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion?

If you've been experiencing the above symptoms on and off over the last few months, or years, and you've written off colds as being the culprit, then it could be an allergic reaction to your soaps and cosmetics.

Allergies can develop slowly over time. Just because you had no allergies as a kid doesn’t mean you’ll never have them. In fact, it’s rare that children are allergic to fish, for example, but many adults are. Likewise, allergies can also slowly disappear. Sometimes people grow out of their allergies, or experience a lessening of symptoms. This is what everyone hopes for! But, don’t count on it. Get help!

Allergies can come in all shapes and sizes, and with symptoms around the face you shouldn't rule out airborne or plant-based allergens either. Here's a few quick suggestions to help you figure out what might be going on.

Are you itchy anywhere else? Common spots to be effected are your armpits, arms and legs, but you could be itchy anywhere. A rash isn't necessarily present, but if you're presenting with one, get yourself to a doctor or naturopath as soon as you can to have it checked.

Many endure the endless sneezing, watery eyes and general tiredness without too much complaint. They simply stuff more facial tissue in their pockets and sniffle on. But that’s not at all necessary. It used to be that over-the-counter allergy medicines made you too sleepy to drive or work. But there are many effective non-drowsy formulas today, like Alavert or Claritin. They are referred to as “second-generation” allergy medications.

Is your scalp itchy for no apparent reason ie, you've ruled out skin condition, dry scalp and lice.

These are all prime indications of intolerance to the chemicals and/or fragrances used in cosmetics or soap.

It's easy to check. Switch to chemical-free, fragrance-free products and see what happens. If the symptoms decrease, and barring any other symptoms, then it's likely you've found the source of the problem.

If you just don’t like to take drugs, there are even some good natural allergy relief formulas available. Take a look at AllergiClear or SOS HistaDrops.

Lucky you, it wasn't too bad. If the symptoms persist you may need to be a bit stricter with your product. Look for soaps that are naturally made from olive oil or castille oils and have absolutely no chemicals or fragrances.

But there may come a time when you have to take the next step – talk to your doctor and get a prescription-strength allergy solution. And the criteria for making this decision, surprisingly, does not always include assessing the severity of your allergies. Instead, just ask yourself if your allergies are negatively affecting your life. Studies show that when you have allergies you’re 20 times more likely to miss school or work than a non-sufferer. You spend many days too tired to be productive. Your concentration is reduced. You stand a far greater chance of being involved in an accident, or getting some other injury. You’re simply not performing at your full capacity.

Read the labels carefully! These products will probably come in bars or rounds of soap-like substance. They are much softer than soap and need to be kept dry in between uses. The products come in a range suitable for body and hair, and though more expensive than common commercial cosmetics, you do not need extra add-ons like conditioner. The companies that manufacture such natural products usually produce a skin-care range as well and provide helpful tips on their products and the benefits of avoiding chemicals.

If your skin is not sensitive or fragile, then a loofah brush can be a great help as well. It removes dead skin cells, improves circulation, assists with muscle strength & pain through massaging, aids with conditions like tinea, and feels wonderful!

If this is true for you, NOW is the time to go to the doctor. You’ll probably want your regular doctor to recommend an allergy specialist. The two of you can go over all the things you can do to reduce the affects of your allergies and live a normal life. Don’t wait for your respiratory symptoms to turn to sinusitis, a common path for allergies to take. When that happens, it will have an even more severe affect on your life.

When using a loofah brush, be gentle around the decolletage and neck area, and avoid the face completely. If you'd like to try a similar technique on your face, purchase a facial brush.

So, you're doing all you can and the allergic symptoms are still persisting?

1. If at any time your symptoms go beyond the inconvenient and annoying, go to your health professional.

Hopefully your allergies are controllable with over-the-counter medication. Sometimes you need to try different kinds before you find the drug that works for you. Don’t give up! Many times, the vital ingredients don’t work well on everyone. But find a different prime ingredient and you may find your solution. And don’t forget, if your symptoms are starting to rule your daily activity, or they’ve become chronic, it’s important to see a doctor... [read more]

2. Look at other possible allergens your body comes into contact with, such as detergents, air fresheners, cleaning chemicals, plants, air pollution. Make the switch to safer, gentler products wherever you can.

3. If you are fed up with the symptoms or if they are increasing in severity, please, it's time to go to your health professional. You may need to undergo more detailed allergy testing or the symptoms may be indicators of something else.

Do not play around with your health and your life, if in doubt, seek professional help. Easing of even niggling symptoms may save you from worse later on.