Page 18 - The Autoimmune Protocol

The Autoimmune Protocol

Symptoms of an asthmatic episode include coughing, chest-tightness, shortness of breath,
and wheezing. These symptoms may become worse in the evenings or early morning.
They may be brought on by exposure to an allergen, or by an unknown trigger. In the
event of an asthmatic episode, most people will need to seek help from a medication that
helps to dilate the bronchi and bronchioles, or a corticosteroid.

For those suffering with asthma, avoiding possible triggers is the first step to managing
their asthma. For others who are not able to pinpoint triggers, making sure they always
have quick access to life-saving medications is a must.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the skin resulting in swollen, itchy, red skin.
This common reaction is usually triggered by contact with a substance that incites a
histamine reaction in the skin. Substances that trigger contact dermatitis may be allergens
or irritants like chemicals. Although contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the skin,
it is not the same as hives. Those with contact dermatitis will exhibit symptoms that last
longer than hives, which usually go away within a day or two. A contact dermatitis rash
often looks differently than hives as well.

The itchy and persistent nature of a contact dermatitis rash can result in more unwelcome
issues. A person with this rash may want to scratch it continuously (due to the histamine
reaction), but this usually results in more skin irritation, wounds, scabs, and damage.

Some common causes of contact dermatitis include metals like nickel. Nickel allergies
may be noticed in those who wear jewelry made with nickel. They might notice that the
areas where they wore the jewelry become itchy, red, and irritated. Another very common
cause of contact dermatitis is toxic plants like poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak.
The majority of people who come into contact with these plants suffer from extremely
painful, red, itchy rashes that ooze and weep. This is because these plants excrete an oil
called urushiol. The best way to avoid a rash when you know you have come into contact
with one of these plants is to immediately shower and scrub the area with soap (dish soap
works amazing) and a wash cloth to remove traces of this potent oil from the skin. This
will greatly lessen the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction of the skin. The long the
dangerous oil is allowed to sit on your skin, the higher the likelihood it will result in a
rash.

If you discover a rash you believe to be contact dermatitis, take a moment to think about
what you may have been exposed to. Did you recently change laundry detergents? Perhaps
you wore jewelry that was made of nickel or another metal you may be allergic to. Did you
come into contact with a chemical or substance that might cause irritation to the skin?
Oftentimes, synthetic fragrances and perfumes can cause an allergic rash. This is because
they contain chemicals that are bad for our bodies. Cleaners like bleach and drain cleaners

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