Things to Know About Nose Allergies From Chapstick

If you experience nose allergies, you know how uncomfortable you can get when your allergy is triggered. A common symptom of nose allergies is dry, iritated skin from blowing your nose often. You may be wondering if Chapstick will treat your dry nasal skin similar to how it heals your dry lips. Once you know the benefits and risks of using Chapstick for nose allergies, you can work with your doctor to determine if it is an appropriate treatment for you.


Nose Allergies
Nose allergies can occur in response to many triggers, such as environmental conditions, pollen, dust, animal dander or cigarette smoke. The most common symptoms of a nose allergy include a runny nose or nasal congestion. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that you may also experience postnasal drip, which occurs when mucus drips down your throat. Sneezing, plugged ears and a decreased sense of smell are additional symptoms that can accompany nose allergies. Your nose may also become red, sore and chapped from blowing it repeatedly.
Chapstick
Chapstick is a topical emollient used to soften the lips and to treat dry and cracked lips. Topical emollients help treat a variety of other skin irritations, including diaper rash, cold sores and acne. Chapstick may not be appropriate for all of these conditions. If you have a sore, red and raw nose from nose allergies, ask your doctor about using Chapstick on the affected areas. The softening agents may help form a barrier on the skin around your nose so that it can begin to heal. The softening agents may also soothe the irritation so it becomes less bothersome.
Recommendations
If your nose allergies are flaring up, ask your doctor about taking an antihistamine. Antihistamine medications help reduce the nasal symptoms associated with allergies, which may help you reduce how often you blow or wipe your nose. If the skin around your nose continues to bother you, try wiping a small amount of Chapstick on the affected areas. Drugs.com notes that there is no prescription or recommended dose for Chapstick. Use it as needed, but call your doctor if the skin around your nose does not heal and continues to bother you.
Considerations
If you use Chapstick to ease the dry and sore skin around your nose, use it only on the external areas, Drugs.com advises. Use unscented Chapstick to avoid further irritation from fragrances or other added ingredients. Do not use any type of Chapstick on an open sore or if the skin around your nose is bleeding. Clean the irritated skin around your nose before applying Chapstick.

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4 Things to Know About Allergy Defenses

Sneezing, coughing and watery eyes are just a few of the symptoms caused by allergies. Allergic reactions are common. They affect more than 50 million people, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and while most are nothing more than bothersome, some reactions can be life-threatening. It is possible to prevent allergies if you know what your triggers are. Preventing allergies may take some effort, but saving yourself from the symptoms may be worth it. For those who have more severe symptoms, speak with your doctor about treatment options.
Immune System
The immune system is designed to protect your body. For people with allergies, the immune system is overreacting to something you've been exposed to, called an allergen. This is your immune system fighting off something it doesn't need to. It is not known why some people have allergic reactions and some don't. However, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, family history plays an important role in whether you are prone to allergies.
Types of Allergies
Everyday items in your environment commonly lead to allergies. This group of allergens includes trees, grass, dust, mold and animals. Certain foods can also cause allergies. Some of the main triggers in the food group include milk, eggs, soy, fish and tree nuts. In addition, some people are allergic to insect stings or even certain medicines.
Prevention and Symptom Control
There is no fast cure for allergies. The first step is to determine what triggers them. An immunologist or allergist can perform tests that will narrow down what triggers your allergies. Once you know, preventing and treating your allergies will be easier. Sometimes life changes will be necessary. For example, if you are allergic to pet dander, you may be able to have only hypoallergenic breeds in your home. If you are allergic to dust or dust mites, you may need to put some extra effort into housework. Vacuuming, changing bed linens regularly and dusting will help reduce the amount of dust allergens in your home. If your allergy is a certain food, you will need to cut that food from your diet. Over-the-counter allergy medications are available and may bring some relief to allergy sufferers. You can also discuss prescription allergy medications and allergy shots with your allergist.
When an Allergy is Life-threatening
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be fatal if not promptly treated with an adrenaline shot. Anaphylaxis can be caused by insect stings, latex exposure, food and medicine. The reaction can occur within minutes of exposure to the allergen. Some of the symptoms include a shortness of breath, a tight throat, anxiety and vomiting. In these instances, seek immediate medical attention. If you are prone to these types of reactions, your immunologist can prescribe medicine such as epinephrine injections in the event that you are exposed to these allergens in the future.

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How to Reduce Translucent Soap Allergic Reactions?

Translucent soap is a mild bar soap designed to minimize skin irritation. Translucent soap is also sometimes called transparent soap. It is usually considered a safe alternative for those who react to the ingredients in opaque soap. However, some ingredients in translucent soap can trigger allergic reactions in some people. If you sometimes react to translucent soap, see your doctor to confirm the symptoms are due to an allergic reaction.
Translucent Soap
Soap does more than just cleanse the skin. It also helps prevent infection, removes dead skin cells and cleans excess oil from the skin's surface. Beginning when soap was first invented, around 2800 BC, soap makers have made cleansers out of many different substances, including animal fats, oils and salts. Recently, increased awareness of the harsh chemicals used in soap has prompted soap makers to use milder ingredients. In translucent soaps, a much higher amount of glycerin is added in place of animal fats and the coloring agents that give opaque soap its color and can cause skin irritation. The amount of glycerin used depends on the brand, which is why translucent soaps vary in transparency. Because transparent soaps omit coloring agents and harsh cleansers they are considered better for sensitive skin.
Allergy Triggers
The natural and synthetic fragrances added to translucent soaps sometimes trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. Allergic reactions are not always immediate. You may develop an allergic reaction after using the same soap for months without a problem. The perfumes and dyes in soap cause most of the allergic reactions, even if the perfumes are made from natural ingredients, such as essential oils, dried herbs or parts of flowers. Alcohol is also sometimes added as a stabilizer to transparent soaps and can cause reactions in some people.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Reactions to translucent soaps can range from mild redness to open sores. Allergic contact dermatitis is a common condition that usually develops within hours of contact with an allergen in soap. The skin often appears red, irritated and swollen. In more severe cases, you may notice fluid-filled blisters called hives. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that repeated exposure to allergens can cause the skin to become thick, red and scaly, with patches of leathery-looking skin. Physicians sometimes prescribe corticosteroid creams to treat severe reactions. For a definitive diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis, see an allergist or dermatologist.
Allergy Prevention
The key to preventing allergic soap reactions is identifying and avoiding the allergen. Ask your physician to give you a skin allergy test to determine what substances are causing your allergic reaction. For many people, it is a specific substance, such as a fragrance, essential oil or cleansing additive. Choose translucent soaps with the fewest ingredients to reduce your risk of reaction. The AAD warns that soaps labeled as "unscented" may actually contain fragrances that are masked by other chemicals. The AAD recommends people with sensitive skin choose a "fragrance free” soap for cleansing.

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Things to Know About Alimentum Corn Allergy

Alimentum is the brand name of the Expert Care line of baby formula from Similac. If your baby has a corn allergy, you should know some Alimentum products contain corn-based ingredients. Some corn-based ingredients, including corn oil, corn syrup and corn starch, do not aggravate children with a corn allergy because the most common allergen in corn is a protein. The aforementioned ingredients are 99.5 percent protein-free, according to information from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. However, parents of infants with allergies should discuss the specifics of their child’s diet with a medical professional.

Alimentum

Alimentum has a special formula designed for a baby with colic or an allergy to milk and soy protein. Information from Similac claims the Alimentum formula begins to reduce colic symptoms within 24 hours for most babies, citing as evidence an unpublished study by Abbot Nutrition in Ohio, Similac’s parent company. Alimentum comes as a powder you mix with water and a ready-to-feed liquid.

Corn Ingredients

Ready to feed Alimentum does not contain corn-based ingredients, according to information from Drugs.com. However, Alimentum powder contains 35 percent corn maltodextrin and may aggravate a corn allergy in a minority of patients, says Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D., from the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Many major brands of baby formula contain corn-based ingredients, such as corn syrup solids and modified cornstarch, as a source of calories. Alimentum uses sucrose and modified tapioca starch instead. If your infant has a corn allergy and other food sensitivities, discuss which formula is best with your doctor.

Prevalence of Soy and Milk Allergy

At 12 months, between 2.2 and 2.8 percent of babies have an allergy to cow’s milk and an estimated 0.4 percent of young children have an allergy to soy, according to a study from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatric Clinics of North America. The protein Similac uses in Alimentum is casein hydrolysate, which is derived from milk.

Safety of Casein Hydrolysate

Although casein hydrolysate comes from milk, it does not cause an allergic reaction when consumed as infant formula, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine published in the April 1991 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. In the study, 25 children with a proven reaction to cow’s milk consumed reconstituted powdered cow milk, casein hydrolysate formula or placebo. The casein hydrolysate group had no reaction to the formula and the researchers concluded it is generally safe for children with hypersensitivity to cow's milk.

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