Can Allergies Cause Itchy Skin?

Irritated, red, and itchy skin feels uncomfortable or even painful, leaving you desperate for relief. You might think allergies only cause symptoms like sneezing or watery eyes, but many people with allergies experience itchy skin as well. If you often find yourself scratching your skin while experiencing other allergy symptoms, at-home allergy treatments can help provide relief. Keep reading to find out what causes allergies and how to soothe your itchy or irritated skin.

What Are Allergies?

Allergies occur when your body reacts to something it views as harmful.¹ Normally harmless substances, called allergens, cause your immune system to react, resulting in an allergic reaction.¹ When your immune system detects a substance that it thinks will harm you, it creates antibodies to fight it off, which leads to the release of pro-inflammatory substances, such as histamine. These chemical substances, such as histamine, cause uncomfortable, disruptive allergy symptoms.¹ Depending on your body and the allergen your immune system reacts to, your allergy symptoms might not always look the same. Common mild allergy symptoms include:¹

• Watery or red eyes
• Runny nose
• Itchiness
• Rash or hives

While mild allergies are harmless, moderate or severe allergic reactions cause dangerous symptoms.¹ If you experience severe hives, swelling, or trouble breathing, seek emergency medical help immediately.¹ Although itchiness is a common and usually harmless allergy symptom, sudden or severe itching of your eyes or face may be an early sign of anaphylaxis.¹ Severe allergic reactions require immediate emergency medical attention, but you can treat most mild allergy symptoms at home.

How Do Allergies Cause Itchy Skin and Rashes?

Different types of allergic reactions cause itchy skin or rashes. The cause and symptoms of your skin reaction determine how you’ll be able to treat the problem.²

• Contact dermatitis.² One of the most common causes of itchy skin from allergies is contact dermatitis. When your skin is exposed to an allergen or irritant, it can cause red itchy bumps on your skin, especially at the site of contact.
• Hives.² Raised, itchy bumps called hives are another common symptom of an allergic reaction. Typically, hives appear red and will turn white in the center when pressed.
• Eczema.² Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema causes dry, sensitive skin and ret itchy patches of skin. Eczema often comes and goes over time, and flare-ups can be triggered by allergens or chemical irritants.

While itchy skin caused by allergies can be treated at home, your healthcare provider can also help determine the cause of your reaction and recommend the best treatment.

What Allergens Cause Itchy Skin

Allergies can be caused by a wide range of otherwise harmless substances called allergens. Usually, the allergens that cause itchy skin will also cause other common allergy symptoms. Contact dermatitis is typically caused by exposure to allergens like fragrances, metals, perfumes, or medications.⁵ Eczema may also be triggered by latex or antibiotic creams or ointments.⁶

Itchy skin caused by hives is usually related to airborne or food allergies.⁷ Being exposed to pollen, mold, and pet dander or eating nuts, eggs, or shellfish can cause hives.⁷ Although hives can be harmless, they may sometimes be a sign of a more serious allergic reaction.⁷

How to Treat Itchy Skin at Home

If you know what allergens cause your itchy skin, avoiding them as much as possible can help prevent reactions. However, you might not always be able to avoid them.

One way to treat itchy skin caused by allergies at home is by taking allergy medications with antihistamines.³ Antihistamine allergy medications help reduce inflammation and ease allergy symptoms.³ For moderate or severe allergies, your healthcare provider may recommend carrying an emergency epinephrine shot at all times, which can help reduce dangerous symptoms until you’re able to get emergency treatment.³ If you believe you are suffering from allergies, consult with your doctor to find the best course of treatment.

Once you’ve taken allergy medication, there are other at-home treatments you can use to soothe your skin.⁴

• Avoid scratching. When your skin itches, scratching may provide some immediate relief but it further irritates your skin and can cause it to itch for a longer period of time.
• Take a shower. Washing any skin that has been exposed to allergens can help ease your itchy skin. Try to limit your shower to 10 minutes and use lukewarm water to prevent dry skin.
• Use fragrance-free products. Some lotions, soaps, or detergents include scented chemicals that may irritate your skin.
• Apply moisturizer. If you’ve already taken allergy medication and washed any skin exposed to allergens, moisturizing your skin can soothe your itchiness. Moisturizer also keeps your skin from becoming too dry.
• Avoid extreme temperatures. Maintaining a cool environment in your home can help prevent dry, itchy skin.

Explore more articles from FLONASE and find out how to live comfortably with allergies.