Allergic rash on the stomach

What is a stomach allergy?

A rash on the abdomen is usually accompanied by itching, peeling, and redness of the skin. But, in addition to discomfort, rashes can be an indicator of serious diseases, such as chickenpox, measles or rubella. Therefore, if you discover a rash, you need to be extremely careful and contact a specialist as soon as possible. Of course, such rashes can be a common reaction to an allergen (for example, insect bites, cat hair, citrus fruits, household chemicals), but if there is a possibility of a serious infection, then it is better to exclude this option as quickly as possible.

Types of allergens

For an allergic reaction to develop, the body must encounter an antigen, that is, a foreign substance. The immune system recognizes it and begins to fight. Usually there is an increased sensitivity of individuals to: • plant pollen; • pet hair; • food products; • dust mite excrement; • mold; • household chemicals; • insect poison; • latex; • medications. Food allergens are noteworthy in that not only antihistamines, but also enterosorbents (activated carbon, Polysorb, Enterodes) help neutralize their effect, and for respiratory reactions, vasoconstrictor drugs (like Allergodil or Polydex) are important. Defining a group is relatively simple: it is not difficult for a person to compare the appearance of unpleasant symptoms with specific conditions. It is more difficult to understand which substance causes hypersensitivity. This will require a blood test.

Causes of a rash on the stomach

There are several of the most common reasons that cause the appearance of rashes on this part of the body:

Allergy. May be accompanied by burning, dry skin, itching in areas where the rash is localized. Swelling, nasal congestion, coughing, and in some particularly difficult cases, difficulty breathing, pressure surges, and even anaphylactic shock are also noted.
Psoriasis. This disease has a chronic course, with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation.
Scabies mite. This disease is characterized by the appearance of paired rashes in close proximity to each other.
Infectious diseases such as: chickenpox, measles, rubella, scarlet fever. Each type of infection has its own characteristics, for example, with chickenpox, the rash appears in the form of small blisters with a red base; with measles, the rash appears first on the face and upper body and only on the 2nd day “reaches” the abdomen. Remember that in case of infectious diseases, the rash has a bright red tint, the person has a fever, chills, and feels weak and drowsy.
Violation of personal hygiene rules.

Brief characteristics of the most common types of skin allergies

Hives

The term “urticaria” unites a whole group of diseases of different nature, but with a similar clinical symptom - blistering-type skin rashes, reminiscent of a nettle burn.

The causes of urticaria are varied. Skin allergies can develop as a result of a reaction to allergens (eg, food, insect bites, medications) or from physical causes such as exposure to the sun, cold, heat and pressure. Hives can be triggered by concomitant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, or chronic infection.

A typical symptom of urticaria is the appearance of rashes on the skin accompanied by itching. The skin around them may be red. Sometimes all the elements on the affected area of the skin can merge together, forming giant blisters.

The main characteristic of skin allergies is the complete reversibility of blisters: after some time they disappear without a trace, leaving no traces, white spots or scars. But unlike a regular nettle burn, this disease appears again, and with a change in location: today the urticaria was on the legs, and tomorrow it can be found on the arms.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis is a skin allergy caused by direct exposure to an irritating substance, or allergen.

Most often, contact dermatitis is caused by household chemicals, cosmetics, various chemicals, nickel, latex, and some medications.

Allergic contact dermatitis develops on areas of the skin that have been or are in contact with an allergen.

The first symptoms and signs of contact dermatitis may not develop immediately, but some time after contact with the allergen - several hours, days or even weeks.

The main manifestations of allergic contact dermatitis: redness and swelling of a limited area of the skin that has been in contact with the allergen, severe itching in the area of redness, and the appearance of blisters of various sizes on the skin with a clear liquid inside. When damaged, the bubble bursts and erosion forms in its place. When the skin allergy subsides, yellow crusts remain for some time.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic skin disease accompanied by itching and rash. This skin allergy is common in infants and children and usually begins in the first 6 months of life, often continuing into adulthood.

Atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial disease. The leading factor is hereditary predisposition. Food and inhalant allergens play an important role. In childhood, the main food allergens are milk proteins, chicken eggs, fish, and grains. With age, inhalation allergens are added: house dust, animal hair, plant pollen.

Provoking factors for atopic dermatitis can be mechanical, physical or chemical irritants, increased sweating, tobacco smoke, stress, hormonal factors, and infection.

Atopic dermatitis has three sequential forms (infantile, childhood and adult dermatitis), differing in the characteristics of their manifestation.

Any form of atopic dermatitis is characterized by dry skin, itching, thickening of the skin with increased skin pattern, peeling, redness and rashes.

With atopic dermatitis, a vicious circle is formed: itching - scratching - rash - itching. The skin with atopic dermatitis is changed even without an exacerbation. Its structure and water balance are disturbed.

Eczema

Eczema is a chronic recurrent skin disease of allergic origin, characterized by a polymorphic itchy rash (vesicles, erythema, papules). The causes of eczema can be very different, from external factors (chemicals, drugs, food and bacterial allergens) to internal ones.

Exacerbations of this type of skin allergy occur under the influence of psycho-emotional stress, diet disorders, contact with chemicals and other allergens.

Depending on the cause of the appearance and location of the rash, several types of eczema are distinguished: seborrheic, true, occupational, microbial. The areas where the rash is localized tend to itch and peel, causing a lot of inconvenience to the person. Eczema is chronic with periods of exacerbations and remissions, and treatment of skin allergies is often complicated by the addition of pyoderma or herpes. With skin allergies of this type, changes in the functional activity of the digestive tract, metabolic processes, neuroendocrine disorders, and vegetative-vascular dystonia can also be observed.

Toxidermy

Toxidermia is an acute toxic-allergic inflammatory skin lesion, which is an allergic reaction to the introduction into the body (inhalation, ingestion, parenteral administration) of substances with allergenic properties.

The causes of toxicerma are most often drugs and food products.

More often, widespread toxicerma is observed, which is manifested by multiple rashes and itching. Often this type of skin allergy involves the mucous membranes, which may also have various rashes.

In addition to the common one, fixed toxicoderma is possible, in which one or more swollen red spots of round or oval shape appear; in some cases, a bubble may form in the center of each of them. Typically, such skin allergies are associated with taking medications. After the action of the allergen ceases, the inflammatory phenomena subside, and the stain remains for a long time. The most severe forms of toxicerma are Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Lyell's syndrome. They are considered emergencies and require hospitalization.

With a huge variety of allergic dermatoses themselves, there are diseases with similar symptoms. For example, a rash can accompany some infections, diseases of internal organs, etc. Therefore, do not try to diagnose yourself with “skin allergies” and do not self-medicate.

Only a doctor, having collected a detailed history and conducted the necessary examination, will be able to determine the exact cause of the disease and prescribe medications that are suitable in each specific case.

Symptoms of an allergic rash on the stomach in an adult and a child

In order not to confuse an allergy with an infectious disease, it is important to know its main symptoms. These include the following:

With allergies, red or pink rashes appear on the stomach (sides). They can be either small and appear as nodules and papules, or they can look like large spots that slightly rise above the skin.
With allergies, the stomach itches, the patient complains of severe itching and burning.
The skin around the rash is swollen. Swelling may be present in other areas of the body (around the lips, on the cheeks, on the eyelids).
A local increase in temperature is possible.
Depending on the type of rash, the rash can be either dry or weeping.

Diagnosis of allergic diseases

Laboratory diagnostics will help identify the specific substance that causes hypersensitivity. Collecting anamnesis only helps the doctor understand in which direction to search.

Hundreds of allergens are known to medicine. Taking an analysis for each is very time-consuming and expensive, so the group of stimuli is determined by the survey method. For example, a patient notices that in spring and summer his runny nose does not go away and his eyes water. The doctor realizes that he has a pollen allergy. By comparing the periods of symptoms and the dusting calendar, you can further narrow the search area: • end of March - shrubs; • end of April - deciduous trees; • mid-May – coniferous trees, cereal grasses, dandelions; • end of June - linden, buckwheat; • from July to autumn - nettles, weeds. But the final answer to the question of which plant causes an acute immune reaction is given only by blood tests and skin tests.

Allergy on the stomach in a child

Before starting treatment for a stomach allergy in an infant, it is important to accurately establish the diagnosis. The fact is that many childhood infectious diseases are also characterized by rashes (rubella, chickenpox).

You need to carefully ensure that the baby does not scratch the rash, as this can lead to infection entering the wounds and subsequent suppuration. Allergy treatment should be prescribed by a pediatrician or allergist, since due to the characteristics of a child’s body, therapy should be more gentle than for an adult.

Angioedema - or how food allergies manifest themselves in the worst way?

Acute food allergies can cause a serious allergic reaction called angioedema. Prompt treatment is critical for this condition. Without treatment, angioedema can cause asphyxia, coma, or even death.

Life-threatening signs of a food allergy:

tongue swelling;
a feeling of a lump in the throat that makes it difficult to breathe;
problems swallowing or speaking;
a sharp drop in blood pressure;
rapid pulse;
dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of consciousness

With such symptoms, you should urgently call an ambulance.

Allergies on the stomach in pregnant women

The period of bearing a child is characterized by a special load on the mother's body. For this reason, even those women who have never previously noticed a tendency to atypical reactions of the immune system may notice the appearance of allergies. A rash on the abdomen during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence, so do not panic when you notice the appearance of red spots. To find out their nature, you need to consult a doctor.

Typically, allergies in the abdominal area in expectant mothers are caused by eating inappropriate foods. Many women note that they get a rash as soon as they eat a piece of chocolate, a spoonful of honey, strawberries, shrimp, chicken eggs and some other foods.

Another possible cause of rashes is a reaction to various stretch mark treatments. To protect yourself from such troubles, we recommend that you use proven high-quality products - oil or emulsion for the prevention of stretch marks "La-Cri". They contain natural oils, plant extracts, and vitamins. At the same time, the emulsion and La-Cri oil are hypoallergenic and do not contain fragrances, parabens, dyes or hormones.

If a pregnant woman has an allergy in the lower abdomen, it can be assumed that the expectant mother is wearing inappropriate underwear. If panties contain synthetic fibers, such underwear can cause allergies.

The cause of the rash can be dermatosis, a common problem for many pregnant women. In this case, treatment should be prescribed by a dermatologist.

Food allergies: recommendations to avoid

The most effective prevention of food allergies is to eliminate foods that act as allergens from the diet.

It is important to always check the ingredient list on all pre-packaged foods and drinks. Pay attention to “may contain” labels, such as “may contain traces of peanuts.”

Be careful with products labeled as vegan. There is no official definition of veganism, which means that products under such brands are not always completely free of animal substances. If you have food allergies to milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans or shellfish, carefully read the ingredient lists of vegan products. Pay attention to "may contain" warning labels.

The Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Moscow treats food allergies in adults and children. You can also get tested for food allergies with us.

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Treatment of stomach allergies

If you notice the appearance of an allergic rash on your stomach, it is important to determine the reason why it appeared as soon as possible. To do this, you need to visit an allergist who will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary tests or tests. Only after the allergen has been identified will the doctor select the appropriate therapy. This usually consists of taking antihistamines and creams or ointments to help relieve redness and itching.

Causes of allergies

Many allergic diseases are genetic in nature. Their owners often have an atypical arrangement of leukocyte antigens and a neutral mutation of the gene encoding the beta chain of the immunoglobulin E receptor. Hypersensitivity is indeed often inherited. In a family with an allergic child, one of the adults will definitely be particularly susceptible to certain substances, and not necessarily to the same ones. Thus, food allergies often develop in the offspring of people with hay fever.

The reason may also be the environment or lifestyle: • early exposure to viruses and bacteria; • diet; • contaminated air; • uncontrolled use of antibiotics and, as a result, dysbacteriosis. In the last 10-20 years, the number of children with hypersensitivity has increased significantly. The reason for this is conditions close to sterile. They prevent the immune system from gradually adapting to antigens.

Allergic rash on the stomach: what to do first?

What to do if you are sure that the rash on your stomach is an allergic reaction:

Find out what caused it and immediately eliminate contact with the suspected allergen. For an allergic rash on the stomach, it is most often synthetic clothing, a reaction to powder or fabric softener, or food.
Take a shower, cleanse the skin without injuring the irritated areas.
Take an antihistamine.
Relieve skin itching. To do this, you must always have La Cree cream in your medicine cabinet, which contains natural ingredients: oils, plant extracts. It is important that the cream does not contain hormonal drugs, so it is suitable even for children. If an allergic rash occurs on the abdomen (itching, redness or peeling), simply apply La-Cri medicinal cosmetics to previously cleansed skin. All brand products are sold in regular pharmacies and meet international quality standards.

Types of hypersensitivity

The Jell and Coombs classification has been used in medicine since 1969. It shows that the mechanisms of development of allergic reactions are different.

Type I (anaphylactic) . Marker - Immunoglobulin E. Development time - from several minutes to one hour. Examples: rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, Quincke's edema, urticaria, anaphylactic shock.

Type II (cytotoxic). Marker - IgM and IgG antibodies. Development time is several hours. Examples: autoimmune hemolytic anemia, transplant rejection, Rh conflict.

Type III (immune complex). Marker - Fixed immune complexes. Development time is from several hours to several days. Examples: serum sickness, rheumatoid arthritis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Arthus phenomenon.

Type IV (slow). Marker - T-lymphocytes. Development time - several days Examples: contact dermatitis, food gastroenteropathy, immune response to tuberculin, drug hypersensitivity.

Allergens directly cause reactions of the first or fourth type. These are usually low molecular weight proteins that, when ingested, trigger the release of immunoglobulin E or the activation of T cells.

Clinical researches

Conducted clinical studies prove the high efficiency, safety and tolerability of the products. It has been empirically proven that La Cree cream for sensitive skin:

reduces itching and irritation;
relieves skin redness;
moisturizes and gently cares for the skin.

Sources:

Fokina R.A., Atopic dermatitis: stages of development of classification forms, Siberian Medical Journal, 2007
A.N. Pampura, A.A. Chuslyaeva, Modern approaches to the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children
Yukhtina N.V., Modern ideas about atopic dermatitis in children

Skin tests

Diagnosis using skin testing allows one to identify in advance a person’s tendency to allergies. It is prohibited to carry out during an exacerbation of any disease, as well as if there is a history of anaphylactic shock. There are several ways to do a skin test: • Patch test. An applicator soaked in an allergen solution is applied to the skin. The reaction is assessed within 48 hours. • Prick test. A drop of a provoking substance is applied to the scratch. Observation takes up to 40 minutes. • Subcutaneous. The antigen is administered using a syringe (similar to the Mantoux test). In practice it is rarely used due to excessive aggressiveness.

In rare cases, respiratory tests (nasal or bronchial) are used instead of skin tests. Thus, to detect occupational asthma, the patient, under the supervision of a doctor, inhales an irritating substance identified at the workplace.