Allergy On The Face - What To Do, How To Treat Allergies On The Face?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Allergy on the face

Allergy on the face is a group of diseases united by common clinical manifestations on the skin, which does not have a single etiopathogenesis, but is always accompanied by hypersensitivity reactions.

In clinical practice, the term "facial allergy" as a nosological unit is practically not used. This formulation is appropriate for a comparative description of similar clinical manifestations on the skin of the face in a variety of allergic diseases. The phrase "allergic dermatoses" is used more often.

Content:

• Pathogenesis
• Facial allergy symptoms
• Causes of facial allergies
• Types of facial allergies
• Allergy to frost
• Facial allergy in newborns
• How to treat facial allergies?

Allergy pathogenesis

The causes of dermato allergies are not well understood. Their pathogenesis is complex, it covers almost all organs. Allergies are systemic diseases caused by impaired immune response, then the body tissues are involved in the process. Manifestations on the skin of the face and body are the result of internal changes that have taken place.

The most likely routes for an allergen to enter the body are:

• Injection;
• By mouth with food, water, or medicine;
• Inside with inhaled air;
• Contact through the skin or mucous membranes.

Allergy is reproduced in the form of four types of responses, in clinical practice their combinations are often found:

• Type I response (anaphylaxis). Allergen (A), upon initial ingestion, causes a response in the form of antibodies (AT). This is the immunological (preparatory) stage. ATs cause sensitization of the body (hypersensitivity). When A re-enters the body, they meet with sensitized antibodies. As a result, there is a rapid release of histamine, serotonin and other substances - mediators of pathogenesis. This is the second pathological-chemical stage. ATs are fixed on mast cells (connective tissue of the skin) and lymphocytes (cellular immunity). Under the influence of histamine, mast cells in the skin "explode" and form damage on it. The reaction develops within 10-15 minutes. This is the so-called pathophysiological stage (stage of clinical manifestation). Allergy manifests itself in the form of urticaria, Quincke's edema,atopic dermatitis on the face;
• Type II response (cytolysis). It develops with incompatibility of blood groups (allergic blood transfusion pathologies). It participates in the pathogenesis of dermato-allergies indirectly;
• III type of response (immune complex). It is the result of the formation of a large number of circulating immune complexes (CIC) or the impossibility (for any reason) of their elimination (destruction) by phagocytes in the tissues of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Moving through the bloodstream, the CECs settle in organs and tissues, causing toxic changes in them. This type of response is typical for discoid and disseminated lupus erythematosus (symmetrical red spots on the cheeks, connected on the bridge of the nose in the form of a butterfly), hemorrhagic vasculitis (rashes on the skin of the arms, legs and trunk), serum sickness (including a rash on the skin of the face);

• IV type of response (delayed hypersensitivity). Allergy develops with the participation of immunocompetent lymphocytes (T cells) after exposure to antigens (AH). As a result of the interaction, a pool of sensitized lymphocytes is formed. When AG re-entering the body, an increased formation of T-cells of various subpopulations occurs. The reaction to repeated administration of hypertension develops slowly. A vivid clinical picture appears only after 6-48 hours.

Facial allergy symptoms

Allergy is indicated by the subjective sensations of the patient and external signs on the skin of the body and face, revealed during the collection of anamnesis. Symptoms, determined by examination of the patient, allow differentiating different forms of dermatitis.

A rash or rash on the face (exanthema) is a limited skin lesion that differs from healthy areas in color and appearance. Different types of rashes with dermato-allergies are of great importance for the differential diagnosis of diseases and the appointment of the correct treatment. Allergodermatosis on the face is accompanied by the formation of primary and secondary rashes.

Primary types of facial rash with allergies:

• Papule (nodule). A uniform, red swelling that rises above the skin. When pressed, it changes color to white. Distinguish between superficial (epidermal), deep (dermal) and mixed (epidermal) papules. Depending on the size - miliary (up to 3 mm), lenticular (up to 7 mm), numbered (up to 30 mm). Small papules are painless, after the end of pathogenesis, they disappear without a trace;
• Pustule (abscess). A convex cavity filled with pus, which is usually detected when the pathogenesis is complicated by the penetration of pyogenic microflora. Does not fade when pressed. A white head stands out in the center. Distinguish between superficial and deep pustules. Superficial abscesses heal without a trace, deep ones degenerate into scars;
• Blister (urtica). Quite a large bubble of round or irregular shape, filled with exudate. Blistering is usually accompanied by itching and burning. As a rule, bubbles disappear without a trace within 24 hours. An exception is urticarial vasculitis - with it, the blisters last up to 4 days. A blister is the result of acute inflammation of the papillary dermis, accompanied by mild edema. Diagnose with allergic urticaria, mosquito bites, horseflies, toxidermia;
• Vesicle. A tubercle with a diameter of not more than 10 mm, filled with a transparent or reddish exudate. It is the result of the stratification of the epidermis under the influence of various allergic factors. Vesicles can be found in contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, Lyell's syndrome and other allergies.

Secondary types of facial rashes with allergies:

• A scab is a crust on the skin formed by dead tissue and dried inflammatory exudate. Scabs are observed with long-term dermato allergies;
• Scale - exfoliated dried epidermis, fragments of yellow or gray color, can be of different sizes - from large (5 mm) to small (1 mm). Appear after the disappearance of the vesicle, pustules or papules;
• Erosion is a deep defect of the skin (down to the lower layers of the epidermis), the result of repeated opening of vesicles or pustules. Erosion repeats their shape and size.

Eczema is an acute or chronic allergic skin inflammation characterized by primary and secondary rashes, burning sensation and itching. Eczema is accompanied by flushing and dry skin. The primary rash with eczema is a blister, papule or pustule, the secondary is scales and crusts. Painful cracks form in areas of the skin with folds.

Rashes on the face also include allergic contact dermatitis, which is accompanied by delayed-type reactions. Dermatitis is manifested by hyperemia at the site of contact, then edema and primary rashes (papules and vesicles). In the absence of effective treatment, the vesicles burst, the pathogenesis is complicated by exudative processes that spread to the areas adjacent to the primary focus.

Diagnostic value of allergy rashes

The presence of only primary rashes is evidence of an acute course of allergy on the face. The predominance of primary or secondary skin rashes indicates an acute or chronic course of the disease.

Detection of different types of primary rashes - evidence:

• Subacute course of the disease;
• Multi-factor allergies;
• Complications of pathogenesis by viruses, bacterial or fungal microflora.

Secondary rashes are evidence of a chronic course of allergies and the presence of proliferative, alterative and exudative inflammatory reactions on the skin.

Red spots on the face (erythema) are discolored areas of the skin. The stain is flush with the skin and cannot be felt. The appearance of spots in allergies is associated with a temporary expansion of capillaries due to increased blood flow (hyperemia). Such spots are diagnosed with exudative erythema multiforme, discoid and disseminated lupus erythematosus and other diseases.

Swelling of the eyes and face (angioedema) is a dangerous allergic reaction. It develops rapidly as an immediate type of allergy. It manifests itself on the face in the eyelids, in the infraorbital space, on the lips, cheeks, mucous membranes of the oral cavity and larynx. The swelling is dense, painless on palpation. Quincke's edema is dangerous laryngeal edema. The first sign of stenosis (narrowing) of the larynx is a hoarse voice, a barking cough. Without emergency assistance, it can be fatal.

Causes of facial allergies

Dermato allergies are very relevant in modern society. From year to year, there is an increase in the number of allergic people in all age groups.

The most common causes of hypersensitivity have been identified:

• Ecological problems, the impact of physical, chemical, biological and stress factors;
• Increased frequency of hereditary pathologies;
• Food variety, the use of deeply processed and preserved products, exotic dishes;
• High mobility of people, travel to places with unusual climatic and living conditions, high probability of contact with pathogens of atypical infectious and invasive diseases;
• An exaggerated understanding of hygiene. Fighting banal microflora in everyday life often backfires.

Types of facial allergies

Allergodermatoses on the face cause severe discomfort and aesthetic inconvenience in the patient. Itching, rashes and redness on the face are a common reason for visits to medical institutions.

Below are allergic diseases that have different mechanisms of pathogenesis, but a single symptom is a rash on the skin of the face:

• Atopic dermatitis (type I allergy);
• Urticaria (type I allergy);
• Quincke's edema (type I allergy);
• Toxidermia (I, II, IV type of allergy), a hematogenous pathway of penetration of the allergen is characteristic.

Various allergens can cause allergies on the face:

• External agents - plant pollen, food, animals, microscopic mites, fungi, dust, and more;
• Internal agents - in case of autoimmune diseases caused by infections, compounds of a protein nature are formed - autoallergens;
• Physical factors (cold, heat, radiation) are also provocateurs of the production of autoallergens.

Allergy to frost on the face

Cold allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body to hypothermia (cooling) of certain areas of the skin of the face or hands. It manifests itself as symptoms of the first (anaphylactic) type of allergy. It can develop at any age, is more common in children. Predisposing factors are past illnesses accompanied by damage to the body's immune cooperation.

Some sources indicate a hereditary predisposition to cold allergies. Pathogenesis begins in open areas of the skin. With the development of allergic phenomena, the process can affect other parts of the body. Cold allergy is a systemic disease of the whole organism. Skin symptoms are a consequence of deep changes in the internal organs. Cold allergy is triggered by hypothermia - strong cooling and chapping of exposed skin.

Cold and other physical factors (heat, ultraviolet radiation) are not allergens per se, but they stimulate the pathological mechanism of the production of internal allergens in the subcutaneous tissue. Further, the processes proceed as in the case of a classic immediate type allergy. Histamine, serotonin and other mediators of allergy act on mast cells located in the connective tissue of the epidermis and dermis. The result is skin rashes in the form of hives on the face and body. To prevent the onset of symptoms of cold allergy in everyday life at an early stage, it is possible with complex protective measures.

Facial allergy in newborns

The cause of allergic dermatoses in newborns can be dysbiosis, hereditary factors, food allergies and medications. When making a diagnosis, you may need to consult a gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and other narrow specialists. Allergies in newborns are manifested by exudative diathesis or eczema.

Allergic exudative diathesis is manifested by hyperemia, peeling of the skin of the cheeks and forehead. In some cases, swelling. As a result of itching, the child shows anxiety, does not gain weight well, and developmental delays are possible. Diathesis can cause serious long-term consequences - diseases such as bronchial asthma.

Children's eczema is manifested by bright red papules. The skin of the face is edematous, eczema is accompanied by an effusion of exudate, with the development of pathogenesis, the skin becomes crusted. Eczema spreads to the skin of the hands, usually the wrists. It is characterized by severe itching and scratching. The disease most often occurs in the first weeks and months of a child's life.

What to do, how to treat facial allergies?

There is no single treatment regimen for allergies. However, there are general principles of therapy based on the following steps:

• Identification of an allergen and exclusion of its effects;
• For multifactorial or polygenic allergies - neutralization and elimination of allergens from the body (intestinal sorbents, in a hospital setting - with physiological fluids);
• Taking medications that eliminate itching and neutralize the effect of allergens;
• According to indications - taking medications that modulate (correct) the patient's immune system;
• Control over the reactions preceding the manifestations of allergies, informing the attending physician about personal observations and organizing your own life and nutrition, taking into account allergy dependence;
• It is recommended to use traditional medicine, including medicinal herbs to reduce allergy dependence and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Herbs for facial allergies

According to the doctor's prescription, medicinal herbs are used as auxiliary therapy. The effect depends on the quality of the plant material and the shelf life of the herbs. The pharmacological properties of herbs are significantly lower than those of antihistamines. However, in some cases, with uncomplicated allergies, the appointment of herbal medicine is justified and advisable.

The principle of using herbs for allergies on the face is identical to drug therapy, namely: to bind toxins, remove them from the body and weaken the effect of pathogenic factors. For allergies, chamomile, nettle, calendula, peppermint, horsetail, celandine, violet, dandelion, burdock root are recommended. Herbs are used for a long time in the form of decoctions and infusions, in some cases - in the form of applications on the affected area of the facial skin.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).