Watch out for summer allergies!

Although we cannot avoid the summer allergens completely, there are certain safety precautions and preventive measures which can steer you away from too much harm

This is that time of the year when we have allergies and infections to worry about. Allergies are a very common part of the summer. Suddenly all that you can talk about would be rashes, fungal infections, eczema, pigmentation, and inflammations.

The sudden rise in temperature increased humidity levels, and allergens typical of this season are the major culprits for this which translate to symptoms like itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, nasal blockages, breathing distress, rashes, inflammations, diarrhoea, and cold.

Eating the right kind of fruits and vegetables and ensuring you are hydrated well always, helps in preventing summer allergies. Let us look at some common summer allergens and the allergies they can cause. We will also delve into ways to prevent these allergic reactions and their possible symptoms and cures.

Heat allergies
Summer is all about heat and scorching sun. This season opens the doors to a whole assortment of skin allergies and rashes due to heat. Stay protected and wear appropriate clothing covering your body to protect from heat. Scorching sun not only tans the skin but also leads to heat rashes, sunburns, pigmentations, and reddening.

A condition commonly known as prickly heat (miliaria) is a common heat allergy one may come across during summer. This is due to the plugging of sweat glands by dead skin or bacterial build-up leading to reddish and painful blisters in the sweat prone regions of our body.

Taking cool showers eases the body and helps it to cool down. Wearing loose, light coloured and sweat absorbent clothing also helps a lot. Stay hydrated and keep replenishing your body with fluids and salts to compensate for all the sweat discharge.

For those of you with sensitive skin, the summer heat can lead to reddening and heat rashes, which can sometimes be very prickly and painful. So be very lenient with sun blocking creams, aloe vera gels, and Lacto calamine lotion. There are plenty of home remedies you can try to soothe your rashes and inflammations.

Mosquito and bug bite allergies
Mosquito repellents are necessary to stay away from mosquito bites and related allergies on the skin, which can result in itching and pain. Some people are very sensitive to mosquito and bug bites and display excessive allergic reactions like swelling and rashes throughout the body, redness, and occasional bleeding.

Mould allergies
With increased humidity levels during summer, households are prone to moulds, especially in the damp and dark corners which are away from sunlight. These moulds are generally not very visible and are hard to notice.

They mix with the air around us and cause respiratory distress, wheezing, runny and watery nose, and nasal blockages apart from skin irritation and itching. Look out for mould growth in the dishwashers and washing machines to avoid infection on the clothes and dishes.

Ensure that your carpets and heavy blankets are put under the sun once a while to kill germs and fungal infestation. Soaking clothes especially undergarments and putting out to dry under the sun prevents mould infection and related fungal allergies. Applying local antifungal ointments on the affected area helps to a great extent.

Allergies due to seasonal fruits
Certain summer fruits and vegetables cause an allergic reaction among people allergic to pollen. This is due to the fact that they contain a protein structure similar to that found in pollen and our body reacts to such fruits in the same way it reacts to the pollen.

The allergy symptoms range from a minor skin rash to burning, itching and also anaphylaxis or chest constriction and other respiratory distress in severe cases. Microwaving or cooking the fruit for two to five minutes helps to bring this allergic reaction down. Common summer fruits, which tend to cause allergy are berries, peaches, watermelons, and sometimes even mangoes.

Dust allergies
This is the most common type of allergy during summers. The extreme heat and pollution combine together to cause an onset of dust mites, which leads to asthma-like symptoms and respiratory distress among people.

Some of the common symptoms of dust allergy include a runny nose, wheezing, chest constriction, asthma, excessive cough, and nasal blockage among others. It can also cause redness and burning sensation in the eyes, itchiness in the cornea, and continuous sneezing. People with dust allergies must avoid wall carpets, use mite-resistant mattress and pillows, and use a protective cover on the nose to prevent dust inhalation.

Almost all these allergies are easily diagnosed and treated. It is very important that we stay protected and safe at all times to prevent their onset as it may hamper our daily routine to a great extent.

It is wise to visit a physician in case of any allergic reactions to prevent it from getting severe. Antihistamines are useful in controlling severe allergic reactions and are a must-have for allergy prone people. Staying fit and eating healthy will help in boosting your immune system and enable you to fight these allergies to a great extent.

By: Dr M Udaya Kumar Maiya
The writer is Medical Director, Portea Medical.