Does grass rash go away

Grass Pollen Allergy

Allergy Medicine Guide

Nasal rinse: Using a saline (saltwater) nose rinse can help cut down mucus and rinse allergens out of your nose. Remember to use these as directed.

Nose sprays:Corticosteroid nose sprays are effective and have few side effects. They treat the swelling and inflammation in your nose. (Examples include Nasacort, FLONASE, and RHINOCORT.) Antihistamine nasal sprays such as Astelin and Patanase are also effective options.

Eye drops:Allergy eye drops can be very helpful in managing eye allergy symptoms. They can relieve burning sensation, itchiness, redness, increased tearing, and swelling. Common eye drops include SYSTANE ZADITOR, Optivar, and Pataday. In addition, artificial tears can be helpful.

Antihistamines:Antihistamines come in pill, liquid, or nasal spray form. They can relieve sneezing and itching in the nose and eyes. They also reduce a runny nose and, to a lesser extent, nasal stuffiness. Look for a long-acting, non-drowsy antihistamine. (Examples include ZYRTEC, Claritin, Allegra, CLARINEX.)

Decongestants: Decongestants are available as pills, liquids, nasal sprays, or drops. They help shrink the lining of the nasal passages and relieve stuffiness. They generally are only used for a short time (usually three days or less examples include SUDAFED, Vicks Sinex, Afrin). Check with your doctor before using decongestants if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyroid disease, or trouble urinating.

Leukotriene modifiers (such as montelukast):This medicine can help by blocking chemicals your body releases when you have an allergic reaction. (Examples include SINGULAIR, Zyflo CR, ACCOLATE.)

Note:Montelukast (brand name SINGULAIR) has a black box warning. This is a safety warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means you need to be aware of a drugs side effects or important instructions for safe use of the drug. We encourage you to speak with your health care provider before, during, and after the start of any new medicine. If your doctor recommends montelukast, talk with them about possible risks and concerns.

Cromolyn sodium:This is a nasal spray that blocks the release of chemicals that cause allergy symptoms, including histamine and leukotrienes. This medicine has few side effects, but you must take it four times a day. (Examples include NasalCrom)

Mowing Down Your Grass Allergies

Mowing Down Your Grass Allergies

Allergy to grasses is very common. Grass allergies can present in a variety of ways, including nasal symptoms (runny nose, stuffiness, sneezing), asthma, and eye symptoms (itchy, watery/red eyes). People can also have skin rashes (hives or skin welts) after exposure to grasses, but this is much less common. Grass allergies are prevalent because grass pollen scatters in the wind, which is different from pollen that gets moved around by insects, so you are more likely to breathe it in and thus develop symptoms. In most regions of the United States, grass usually pollinates in the late spring season (April through early June).There are two large classes of grasses: northern and southern. Common northern grasses include Timothy, Kentucky Blue, Johnson, Rye and Fescue. Common southern grasses include Bermuda and Bahia. Many regions of the United States have a predominance of one or more types of these grasses.

Grass Allergy Symptoms & Diagnosis

Allergic rhinitis includes nasal symptoms (hay fever) consisting of sneezing, nasal drainage (runny nose), nasal congestion (stuffy nose) and itchy nose. Facial pressure can also occur. Asthma symptoms include cough, wheezing, chest congestion, chest tightness and shortness of breath.Allergic conjunctivitis (eye allergy) includes eye symptoms of itchy, irritated, red and watery eyes. Rashes after exposure to grass usually are hives or welts. They are red, itchy and raised. Usually, actual contact with grass causes them. However, hives can also be caused by many other things, so it is important to talk with your allergist about your rash.Diagnosis of grass allergy usually involves allergy testing. There are generally two types of allergy testing: skin prick testing and specific IgE testing (blood test). Allergy skin prick testing involves pricking grass extracts in a liquid form on the arms or back and waiting 10 to 15 minutes for an itchy bump to occur, indicating an allergy to grass. These tests should be ordered and performed by an allergist. A blood test involves a drawing blood and sending it to a laboratory to determine if you are specifically allergic to grass.

Grass Allergy Treatment & Management

The major goal of treatment is an improvement in your quality of life. You should be able to participate in your school, work, social and family activities. In addition, sleep should be restful and undisturbed.Avoidance of Grass PollenIt may help to monitor pollen counts regularly. During days of high pollen counts, staying indoors can be helpful. Closing windows can also decrease pollen exposure. Taking showers after coming home following outdoor exposure may decrease pollen exposure accumulated while outside.Saline Nasal Sprays and RinsesNasal saline sprays are available over-the-counter and involve spraying saline, or salt water, in your nostrils. Nasal saline rinses involve filling a bottle with water, putting a modified salt packet in the bottle, mixing it and rinsing out your nose.It is important to make sure the water you use is purified in some way. You can use bottled water or distilled water. When you do the rinse, usually the salt water goes in one nostril and out the other. Nasal saline therapies can moisten dry nasal passages and can help with nasal symptoms due to grass allergies.Nasal Steroid SpraysNasal steroid sprays are anti-inflammatory medications that are sprayed in the nostrils. The steroids used to treat allergies are different than other types of steroids, such as testosterone and estrogen. Even though some nasal steroid sprays are available over-the-counter, it would be advisable to see an allergist first. When used properly and in conjunction with an allergy physician, steroids are safe. Steroids have some potential side effects including irritating the nose, headaches and causing nasal bleeds. Using nasal saline a few minutes prior to the nasal steroid sprays can potentially prevent this nasal irritation and can also further help your nasal symptoms. It is recommended that you bring all nasal sprays you are using (they come in various forms) to your allergist.Nasal AntihistaminesNasal antihistamines are nasal sprays that have antihistamines. Antihistamines are different from steroids, and usually work quite quickly to bring relief of symptoms. Some people note a bitter taste with nasal antihistamines. As with any medications, they have other potential side effects so one must discuss them with an allergist prior to use.Oral AntihistaminesOral antihistamines are pills that can help with allergy symptoms. They can help the nasal drainage and sneezing symptoms. However, they usually do not help nasal congestion, as nasal steroid sprays can. It is better to use the newer non-sedating antihistamines, as these are better tolerated. There are potential side effects, including increased sleepiness or sedation during the day, increased dryness and difficulty urinating. Recently, there has been a potential association between older adult patients and dementia (decreasing memory) with these agents. Systemic Steroids: Oral Steroids and Steroid InjectionsSystemic steroids (steroid pills or injections) are used at times if allergy symptoms are very severe. Steroid pills and steroid injections (shots) are much stronger than topical steroids and can therefore cause more side effects (including weight gain, high blood pressure and bone problems). If used, they should only be used cautiously under the guidance of your allergist. Allergen Immunotherapy (Allergy Injections or Allergy Shots)Allergy shots (giving injections of small doses of what you are allergic to under the skin in the arms to desensitize your immune system to grass pollen effects) are currently approved for the treatment of asthma, hay fever and eye allergies due to grass pollen. Allergy shots are not the same as steroid shots or steroid injections. Allergy shots should be performed in the office under the supervision of an allergist as there is the potential of allergic reactions to them.Sublingual ImmunotherapySublingual immunotherapy has the same concept as allergy shots, but instead of shots, it involves placing a dissolving tablet, containing grass pollen, under the tongue on a daily basis. Generally, allergic reactions can occur to sublingual immunotherapy, but they are more rare than reactions to allergy shots. After initial doses in the allergists office, sublingual immunotherapy can be used at home, under the guidance of the allergist. Sublingual immunotherapy is currently approved for grass allergy treatment in the United States and Canada.Grass allergy is a very manageable condition, regardless of your age. There are many treatments currently available. Many over-the-counter products are also available, but it is recommended to see an allergist for guidance. With careful evaluation and follow up with your allergist, you can have a very high quality of life and enjoy all your activities.Find out more about hay fever here.The AAAAI's Find an Allergist / Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.12/27/2023

12 Signs Its Time to Worry About a Rash in Adults

In most adults, a rash can be mild and resolve on its own. But if you have other symptoms, such as fever, pain, or a rash that spreads, you may need urgent medical care.

Rashes can cause irritation and discomfort. Rashes in very visible places such as your hands or face might even cause embarrassment. Fortunately, most rashes are mild and not a cause for concern. You can generally treat a rash with over-the-counter (OTC) remedies.

However, there are rashes that a medical professional should look at. These rashes might be a sign of an infection, allergic reaction, or disease. You can read 12 common signs a rash might be a sign of something more serious below.

An area on your skin that is itchy, irritated, and swollen is called a rash. A rash can be raised, bumpy, blistered, or patchy.

Rashes can present differently depending on your skin tone. People with lighter skin often see rashes that are pink, red, or purple. People with darker skin might develop rashes that are white, gray, or darker than the surrounding skin.

Rashes can be caused by many things including:

• underlying health conditions
• stress
• sun exposure
• allergic reactions
• weather

Rashes are very common. Many types of rash are mild and can be treated with OTC medications. For example, contact dermatitis is a rash you get when your skin touches something that causes it to become itchy and irritated.

If youve ever gotten a rash from a new laundry detergent, lotion, or soap, your rash was likely contact dermatitis. A contact dermatitis rash will be inflamed and itchy. It will generally be contained to the part of your skin that touched the irritant.

Avoiding the item in the future and using an OTC anti-itch cream is normally enough to treat contact dermatitis.

Other common rashes in adults include:

• Hives. Often caused by an allergic reaction to medications, foods, or beverages, hives appear as raised, itchy, splotches and often spread rapidly.
• Shingles. Caused by the same virus that is responsible for chicken pox, shingles is often painful forming patches of skin with bumps that blister and itch. Anyone who has ever had chicken pox is at risk of developing shingles.
• Chronic rashes. Conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can cause chronic rashes that can flare when triggered. A dermatologist can help you manage these conditions.

Sometimes, a rash is a sign something serious is going on with your body. Its a good idea to keep an eye on any rash you develop and watch for these signs. Seek medical care if any of them develop.

1. You have a fever

A fever is a key sign that rash should be looked at by a doctor. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction. A fever along with your rash could also indicate an infection such as:

2. The rash is spreading

A rash that is spreading is another sign its time to seek medical care. A rash that is spreading quickly might be a medical emergency. Its best to go to an urgent care center or the emergency room if your rash is spreading rapidly.

If your rash is spreading slower but is spreading over your body, its still a good idea to get it looked at. It might be a warning that your rash is caused by an allergic reaction or an infection.

3. The rash area hurts

A painful rash should be looked at by a medical professional. It could be infected or a sign of conditions such as shingles.

Its best to also keep an eye on any rash that isnt painful but that is tender when you press on it. This could be a sign of infection, and youll want to have it checked out if it doesnt resolve after a day or so.

4. The rash came on suddenly

A rash that comes suddenly may be an allergic reaction to a medication. Sometimes, a rash can develop in the first few weeks after you start a new medication. Let a medical provider know about this side effect as soon as possible.

Its important to be careful when a rash is caused by an allergic reaction to mediation. This kind of reaction can lead to difficulty breathing and may become a medical emergency.

5. The rash is beginning to blister

Sometimes rashes caused by sun exposure or poison ivy can blister. These rashes generally heal on their own in most cases.

However, unless youre sure your rash was caused by the sun or poison ivy, any rash that blisters should be looked at by a doctor. It could be a sign that your rash is a severe allergic reaction to a medication or caused by an autoimmune condition called pemphigus vulgaris.

6. You see signs of infection in the rash

Rashes damage the surface of your skin. This can make it easy for infections to develop, especially if you scratch the rash area. An infected rash should be looked at by a medical professional. Signs a rash is infected:

• pain
• warmth
• swelling
• crusting over of rash bumps
• yellow discharge
• green discharge
• a bad smell

7. You have difficulty breathing

This is a medical emergency. Call 911 or seek care right away. A rash and difficulty breathing can be signs of a serious allergic reaction. This might happen when you eat or drink something youre allergic to.

8. The rash looks like large purple patches

A rash that looks like large purple patches or dark bruises can be a sign of a serious condition. It could be a warning sign of an infection spreading throughout your body or of a blood clotting problem. It could also indicate a condition called vasculitis that causes your blood vessels to become inflamed.

A medical professional can determine whats causing this rash and start treatment.

9. Bruises are forming in or around the rash

A rash with bruising or swelling around it might have been caused by an insect bite. Its a good idea to seek medical care if you notice this symptom. The bruises and swelling are a warning that that poison from the bite could be cutting off blood flow to the area.

10. The rash is in a circle shape

A circular-shaped rash could indicate Lyme disease. Caused by ticks, Lyme disease normally causes a rash that resembles a bulls-eye and symptoms similar to the flu. Antibiotics are the primary treatment for Lyme disease, so youll need to visit a medical provider for a diagnosis and prescription.

11. Youve had the rash for longer than a week

A rash that persists for more than a week is worth getting looked at by a medical professional. There might be a reason your body is having trouble healing the rash. Plus, even if your rash is mild, a medical professional can give you tips to treat it at home.

12. The rash is causing you discomfort or concern

Its a good idea to get any rash that is causing you to feel significant discomfort or concern checked out by a dermatologist or other healthcare professional. While it might be simple contact dermatitis, its still a good idea to consult a doctor.

Rashes are a common skin condition. Most rashes are temporary and clear up on their own. However, a rash can be a sign of something more serious.

Allergic reactions, infections, autoimmune conditions, and more can also cause rashes that need to be seen by a medical professional.

Rashes that occur along with trouble breathing, fever, lightheadedness, or nausea, are a medical emergency.