What to do in case of an allergy?

Allergic skin rashes are not uncommon. They often occur in connection with a drug or food allergy. A distinction must be made between such rashes and allergic contact eczema, which is caused by direct contact of the skin with the allergen, often nickel or fragrances.

In the case of an allergic skin rash, avoiding the allergen is the first thing you can do yourself. Especially in the case of allergic contact eczema, the alleged allergen, for example new earrings or a new perfume, should be removed immediately. In order to effectively help in finding the cause, one should consider which substances come into question as allergens.

If, for example, new medication has been administered, this could be the cause of an allergic skin rash. Of course, allergy tests and medical examinations are necessary to determine which allergy is present. Cooling compresses can help against the itching that often accompanies such allergies. Household remedies should not be used, as these can, in the worst case, aggravate the skin reaction.

What to do if I have a rash after taking medication?

Skin rashes caused by amoxicillin are among the most common drug-induced rashes. Amoxicillin is an antibiotic. A rash is particularly common if the person concerned has what is known as whistling glandular fever (see: Amoxicillin rash in whistling glandular fever).If you develop a rash under the administration of amoxicillin, you should see a doctor and show him the rash.

This doctor can judge whether the amoxicillin is a possible trigger and should be discontinued or not. Amoxicillin does not always have to be discontinued. If only a mild rash is present without other accompanying symptoms, the medication often does not have to be discontinued.

However, if there are other accompanying symptoms or if the rash appears very suddenly, Amoxicillin should be stopped immediately. Antihistamines for itching and light cortisone ointments for local treatment may be prescribed by your doctor. Similar to amoxicillin, penicillin may also cause a rash.

As with other drug rashes, the measures you can take yourself are limited. You should first see a doctor and show him the rash so that he can get an idea of the situation. Stopping the penicillin after consulting the doctor is a possible consequence of a rash, especially if there are other accompanying symptoms.

Antihistamines and cortisone ointments can be used as medication against the symptoms. Cooling compresses are recommended to alleviate itching and soothe the skin somewhat. Penicillin allergies can also be accompanied by severe accompanying symptoms such as shortness of breath and circulatory failure. Therefore, the use of penicillin may be contraindicated after the first occurrence of an allergic reaction.