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An important clue that a skin rash
might be caused by an allergy is
that the rash occurs in a straight
line. In general, nature does not
make straight lines, so a linear rash
suggests that the rash is actually a
reaction to something that brushed
up against the skin.
Another thing to remember is that an
allergic reaction may take about 48
hours to appear. The saying among
dermatologists was that poison ivy
was known as “Tuesday Disease”
because people would go to the park
on Sunday and accidentally touch
poison ivy and then appear at the
doctor’s office for treatment on
Tuesday when the rash appeared.
This phenomenon is known as delayed
hypersensitivity, which means that a
certain kind of inflammatory cell known
as a T lymphocyte required time to
recognize and react to the compound
which caused the allergy. Treatment
for skin allergy is usually done with
topical anti-inflammatory medications
and, in severe cases, with systemic
anti-inflammatory medicines.
It is important to try to determine the
cause of a skin allergy so that you can
know what to avoid. Many things can
cause skin allergies. Some common
triggers for contact dermatitis, the
technical term for skin allergy, are
poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac,
hair dyes, nickel, leather, rubber,
fragrances and cosmetics. When
the dermatologist suspects a skin
allergy, he or she may recommend
a patch test to try to determine
what the patient needs to avoid.
A patch test consists of putting
on the back several pieces of tape,
each of which contains multiple
allergens. The tapes are left on
the back for two days, after which
they are removed and the patient’s
back is examined for signs of a
positive reaction. If there is a positive
reaction, the patient is given a printed
information sheet, which details which
substances must be avoided.
Some common triggers for skin allergies:
Is it a
Skin Rash
or Something Else?
Recognizing Signs of Skin Allergies
By Charles Gropper, MD
Director, Division of Dermatology
At SBH Health System, patch testing is done
using the North American Comprehensive Series,
which tests for 80 allergens. If you are interested
in this test, please make an appointment with the
Arthur Avenue Comprehensive Health Center by
calling 718-562-2481.
Did you know that the saying among
dermatologists was that poison ivy
was known as Tuesday Disease?
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Hair Dyes
Nickel Jewelry
Leather
Rubber
Fragrances
& Cosmetics
In the summer, many people will notice
itchy
red rashes on their skin. While there are
many causes of rashes, an important one
to note is an allergy to something that has
come in contact with the skin.
In only two days, a patch test
can reveal any skin allergies
you may have.
