If your body is adversely reacting to certain objects that are normally harmless to most people, your hunch is most probably right—you could have one (or more) of these allergy types.
Be it the delicious seafood you had at an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant last night, the pollen in the park you jogged at this morning, or even the fur shed by your adorable pet, these potential allergens can cause watery eyes, itchy skin, recurring cough or sneezing, or even a sudden difficulty in breathing—all of which are symptoms you definitely should not ignore if you suspect that you are allergic to something.
From respiratory allergies to skin allergies, we round up some of the most common allergy types that you might actually have, too.
Respiratory Allergies
This type of allergy is triggered by tiny particles or substances in the air found both indoors and outdoors that are inhaled by humans, causing inflammation and swelling in the airway.
Allergic rhinitis—also known as hay fever—is a chronic respiratory condition that falls under this category and is often characterized by repetitive sneezing, the sniffles, itching in the nose, and watery eyes. It is usually set off by allergens that go with the seasons, including tree, weed or grass pollens, mold growing in humid areas, and other particles in the environment.
Allergic rhinitis can also be caused by various substances found in your home, especially during the colder months, when you tend to stay indoors. Among the most usual culprits you can blame for the allergies you get in your house are animal dander, house dust mites, and even chemicals such as detergents and cleaning solvents.
Food Allergies
It happens to the best of us—one moment you’re enjoying a delicious meal at a seafood restaurant, then the next thing you know, you’re feeling a tingling sensation in your mouth or experiencing an inexplicable itching on your skin. Allergies. And this time, caused by food.
As unfortunate as that sounds, food allergies are some of the most common types of allergies recorded that affect almost everyone at some point in their life. The symptoms of food allergies highly vary from one person to another, and can range from mild to life-threatening. Some of the warning signals you have to watch out for are itching in the mouth, hives, trouble breathing, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat—among many others.
Most of us know someone with a shrimp allergy, or some sort of seafood allergy. Shellfish is one of the most common food allergies. The other most common are eggs, tree nuts (like almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts and pine nuts), peanuts, wheat, soy, and fish.
Skin Allergies
Skin allergies such as contact dermatitis and urticaria or hives are a result of allergens coming in contact with your skin. Whether you touched the substance on purpose or accidentally brushed over it, you are sure to develop a reaction within minutes to about a few days after getting exposed to the irritant.
Some of the most typical causes of skin allergies are cosmetic products (yes, you might be allergic to certain ingredients found in your makeup, shampoo, and shaving cream), latex, jewelry, and even sunlight (photoallergy).
If you experience an allergic reaction on your skin, you will notice that it comes in the form of an itchy rash, bumps, patches, or welts.
Medicine Allergies
Ever wondered why doctors ask you if you’re allergic to some medications before they prescribe you something? Well, that’s because medicine allergies exist.
Contrary to the conventional definition of allergies, reactions to medicine are not your textbook allergic reactions but the negative side effects brought about by the properties and ingredients of the medicine you just took. If you experience an adverse reaction to a specific medicine (shortness of breath, itching, swelling), contact your doctor immediately for an evaluation and a change of prescription.
Others
There are just some types of allergies that don’t belong in the categories mentioned above. These include eye allergies caused by irritants that enter one’s eyes, allergic conjunctivitis or pinkeye, and insect allergies from stinging insects like bees, wasps, and fire ants.
While these types of allergies don’t fall under a specific category, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are any less common, serious, or treatable.
Fight the earliest signs of allergies by taking Allerta for fast-acting and long-lasting relief from allergic reactions, so you can breeze through your day-to-day activities allergy-free!
A single tablet of Allerta contains 10mg of Loratadine, which blocks histamine, a chemical that your body releases and causes allergic symptoms when you get in contact with triggers, whatever allergy type you might have.
Allerta works in as fast as 15 minutes, and unlike other antihistamines, it doesn't induce drowsiness. Allerta is available for as low as Php 22.50 SRP per tablet in drugstores near you.
ASC Ref. U033PO42320AS
