The filaggrin gene seems to be important in helping the skin function correctly. The skin is one of the bodies first defenses against fighting disease and bacteria. The universities Co-author Aziz Sheikh explained, “Restoring skin barrier function in filaggrin deficient people in early life may help prevent the development of sensitization and halt the development and progression of allergic disease.” The research also found that those with both asthma and atopic eczema were twice as likely to have the gene mutation while those with just asthma alone did not have significantly higher rates of the mutation.

The study may help explain why allergies seem to run in families and the importance of knowing ones family history, and while genetic background a lone may not be the only factor in determining if a person will suffer from allergies it definitely does play a factor. The study also makes us realize just how important the bodies skin is, something we for the most part take for granted.

Theory of EAV Testing

EAV Testing requires use of a special instrument to measure galvanic skin response and is based on the theory of Chinese acupuncture in that the body contains meridians that energy flows throw. The theory is that food and chemical insensitivity’s will change the level of energy flow. A probe is held in one hand while another probe is place on a acupuncture point, making a circuit. Various vials of allergens like foods and chemicals can be placed in the measuring device as well as controls. The Tester records any changes and interprets the results. Some practitioners make very wild claim about EAV testing and what it is capable of diagnosing.

Cost of EAV testing is usually $100-$200 depending on whats being tested and it can take up to 2 hours to complete.

I would advise anyone thinking of EAV testing to visit quackwatch and research EAV testing as there are many concerns over whether it is accurate.

http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/electro.

Birds That May Cause A Feather Allergy

• Goose
• Chicken
• Duck
• Canaries
• Parrots
• Turkeys

When buying or shopping for items with feathers usually you will encounter the word ‘down’,which refers to a type of feather used. Downs feathers are very fine interior feathers and many species of birds have them but down from geese is probably the most popular.

Feather Allergy Tips

• Avoid using or storing any items with feathers like comforters,sleeping bags or other feather related items, especially in the bedroom.

• Do not buy any type of bird as a pet.

• Feathers that have been treated or washed are less likely to cause allergy symptoms.

• Regardless of feather allergies or not you should not pick up any loose feathers you may find on the ground and of course never touch a dead bird due to the risk of possible disease transfer and other health hazards.

If you are experiencing allergy symptoms after being exposed to bird feathers its best to consult a allergist to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

Exercise Induced Asthma Tips

• Possible Medications: beta agonist, corticosteroids and mast cell stabilizers. There are a variety of medications available your doctor will help select one that best fits your needs.
• Be sure you have your medications with you.
• Warm up in cycles,  some people experience some exercise induced allergy symptoms after warming up but will be symptom free initially after exercising. Warming up may prevent the lungs from being overwhelmed from temperature changes in the air.
• Avoid weather extremes, both extreme cold and heat can be problems.
• Swimming seems to cause fewer asthma attacks.
• Sports that require long periods of strenuous exercise may need to be modified.
• One study at the University of Indiana found that caffeine reduced exercise induced asthma.
• Under no circumstances should you resume exercise while experiencing asthma symptoms.
• Its a good idea to wear a asthma-allergy alert bracelet and have a emergency plan in place if medication fails to relieve asthma symptoms.

Other Exercise Induced Allergies

Diagnosing exercise induced asthma is done with a breathing test, where breathing is measured at rest and following vigorous exercise. If there is a noticeable difference in air speed when breathing out after exercising than you may be experiencing exercise induced asthma.

If you experience any symptoms during or after exercise its very important to consult a doctor. Not only could they be symptoms of a serious illness but ignoring them may derail your exercise program. Many athletes have suffered from exercise induced asthma but with the help of medication they are still able to compete at a professional level.

Poison Ivy Symptoms

Poison ivy which happens to belong to the cashew and mango family contains a oil known as urushiol that is responsible for causing poison ivy symptoms. The symptoms can also occur from secondary contact with a object that has touched urushiol oil and then your skin. So for example if that errant golf shot you hit goes into the rough and takes a good bounce back onto the fairway, and it happened to go through some poison ivy along the way your golf ball may be contaminated. Pets can also carry the urushiol oil in their fur and infect you with it if they were in contact with poison ivy.

Poison Ivy Contact Dermatitis

• The skin may start off with just a little redness which blisters and becomes very itchy before a poison ivy rash appears.

• Swelling may also occur.

• Scratching the infected area could lead to a bacteria infection and related fever.

• After a short time skin may become dry with  scales. Normally poison ivy symptoms will disappear after a few weeks on its own.

Treating Poison Ivy Symptoms

• If you think you may have come in contact with poison ivy wash the area with soap but do not spread it around. Poison ivy symptoms will occur where the plant made contact with the skin or where contaminated clothes or hands have touched the skin.

• Remove any clothing that may have touched the poison ivy plant. Do not touch other parts of your body until your hands have been washed as they may infect other areas of the body.

• Washing the area in vinegar is also worth trying if caught early.

• Soaking the area with a cool compress may help.

• Soaking in oatmeal is also sometimes recommended.

• Calamine oil may help or a moisturizer may be used when skin becomes dry, though some may be irritating.

• You may want to cover up any open areas of skin to prevent infection.

• Severe reactions require the care of a doctor.

Preventing Poison Ivy

The old saying “leaves of three let it be” still holds true as one of the
easiest ways to recognize or avoid poison ivy. The leaves of poison ivy change color with the season just like leaves on a tree.

Obviously covering up exposed skin and avoiding wooded and over grown areas is the best way to prevent poison ivy, but you can also buy cream like ivy block that you put on your skin to act as a barrier between it and the poison ivy urushiol oil.

Lastly poison ivy is not contagious,  poison ivy rashes or the fluid in them can not be spread to others or to other parts of the body

If you think of your body as a war field, T helper cells are the 4 star generals and when the body is attacked they organize the forces, and decide how much defense is needed to fend off the attacks. In doing so it decides what cells should get involved, When the threat has been over come they let other cells know that they can stop as they declare victory

T helper cells are unique in this way in that they do not kill infections or pathogens but rather organize other cells to react against them. Because T helper cells are the command and control center for the immune system many deadly viruses like HIV  and other immune diseases often strike at them causing a collapse of the entire immune system. With allergies these T helper cells may be responsible for over estimating the threat and send to great of a response thus causing painful allergy symptoms. The T helper cells direct B cells to differentiate into IgE-producing plasma cells. The end result is a large amount of histamine and other allergic mediators being produced that may not be needed.

The 2 year trial found a depigmented tree pollen extract to be more effective than a placebo at relieving rhinitis.

Rhinitis often involves irritation and inflammation of the interior of the nose. It can lead to excess mucus being generated resulting in a runny nose or nasal drip. Its estimated that as many as 50 million people in the United States may suffer  from rhinitis, usually allergies or histamines are to blame for rhinitis  conditions.
Angelika Sager, German MD explained, “We could nicely demonstrate a significant and clinically relevant reduction in the combined symptom and medication score of 36% over placebo,”during his presentation.

The study was done over two seasons where immunotherapy was done with depigment  tree pollen. It was conducted in 3 countries ( Germany, Lithuania, and Poland) and involved a total of 184 participants.

While I must admit that I will occasionally use hair dye a few times a year. In recent years I will dye my hair on my birthday and at Christmas. I have been a little troubled by reports of hair dye and possible cancer links. You can google it for yourself (hair dye+cancer) and decide but I think the hair dye companies are doing a good job on the hair dye allergy front as far warning people about them.

On a recent package of hair dye that I purchased I found allergy warnings in no less than 4 different spots on the package and contents. Ironically it took me about 10 minutes to find a list of ingredients that the hair dye contained, unfortunately most of the ingredients where chemicals which I  had never heard of. They were printed on a small part on the bottom of the box and far more concealed than the multiple hair dye allergy warnings. The instructions also advised that a 48 hour patch test be done every time before using hair dye.

Hair Dye Allergy Patch Test

• Wash a area on fold of elbow

• Applying color base to a spot about the size of a quarter

• Examine the area for any allergy symptoms and only apply the dye if there is no reaction

The instructions also advised not to use hair dye if there is skin damage where the hair dye is to be used and warned that those who have tattoos could be at a higher risk to suffering hair dye  allergy  symptoms.

Hair Dye Allergy Symptoms

• A stinging or burning feeling  shortly after being applied

• Skin rash, hives, blisters and itchy scalp

• Shortness of breath, tight chest and dizziness

• Swelling of face

One thing I was guilty of is not reading the instructions fully before using hair dye products in the past. After reading about hair dye allergies and seeing just how much information is provided in the instructions I can see how important it really is. If you do experience any hair dye allergy symptoms you should seek medical attention and of course discontinue the use of the product.

There are some natural hair dye products on the market that I plan on looking into but the other alternative is to just live with the salt and pepper look.

There are varying degrees of egg allergies and some people with them will be able to tolerate eggs in different states. The reason for this is because cooking the eggs changes it molecular structure, and the longer it is cooked the more the structure is changed and this will eliminate some of the proteins. For this reason some people may find that they are able to tolerate hard boiled eggs but not soft boiled. If you are allergic to eggs you should however not test if you are allergic to eggs in various cooked states with out proper medical supervision. Both the yolk and egg white contain different proteins so most people will be allergic to either egg whites or yolks but not both. Unfortunately separating the egg yolk from the egg white is not really possible as small amounts will be  left on the yolk so in many cases even people allergic to only egg whites will need to avoid egg yolks as well

Avoiding Eggs

Eliminating eggs from the diet is not as easy as skipping them at breakfast as eggs are found in everything from pastas to dessert toppings. Baking is a little easier as egg replacers can be found in most local grocery stores and depending on the eggs purpose (liquid,binder or agent) in a recipe substitution can be made in recipes with a little experimentation. Many grocery stores now care specialty line for allergy sufferers making it more easy to buy egg free goods that typically contain eggs.

Egg Allergy Symptoms

Egg Allergy Symptoms can occur minutes after eating them or may take several hours to occur.

• Stomach problem like gas or upset stomach are common as well as diarrhea.

• Skin problems like eczema are one of the more noticeable problems in small children. Hives and other rashes may also appear.

• Asthma attacks and breathing problems may also result from egg allergies.

• Anaphylactic shock is the most serious and requires immediate medical attention. During anaphylactic shock mouth and throat swell and breathing becomes very difficult.

Bubble Bees

Bubble bee stings can of course be dangerous to those allergic but luckily the bubble bee is not aggressive and most likely won’t attack unless it feels the need to defend itself. Bubble bees and honey bees are attracted to bright flower like colors, food (specially scents) and water. They will leave behind their stinger after stinging and can only sting once as they die after stinging.

Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets

These speices tend to be more aggressive than the bubble bee and can sting multiple times leaving no stinger behind. You can find them nesting in and around wooded structures as well as eaves of houses. They are attracted more to sweet things like sugar or your can of soda pop on the picnic table.

Fire Ants

Fire ants were accidentally imported from South America and are quickly becoming a problem as they have spread through much of the United States. The ants live in mounds and can be very aggressive attacking and stinging 6-8 times even if not provoked. The sting can be very painful so shoes are a good idea even if you are not allergic to their bites.