Eczema Treatment With Antihistamines May Cause Other Problems

Eczema Treatment With Antihistamines May Cause Other Problems
By Gloria MacTaggart

Antihistamines are commonly used to treat - the
rationale being that is sometimes the result of the
body's overproduction or release of histamine as a natural
response to allergens. However, antihistamines interfere with
the vital role of histamine in the body and also cause side
effects that may be worse than the skin condition you're trying
to treat. Your best bet is to try an effective, topical eczema
treatment that will not alter natural function and will not
exacerbate the condition, and to find out the consequences of
antihistamines before you choose them as an option.

Histamine is present in almost every cell of the body. Its
highest concentrations are in the lungs, skin and
gastrointestinal tract. It performs a number of basic functions
including the secretion of stomach acids during digestion and
regulation of sexual response. It is also a neurotransmitter - a
chemical that enables messages to travel from one nerve cell to
another.

Histamine's function in the immune system is to increase the
blood supply to an area of injury or invasion by a foreign
substance so that the body may heal or combat damage with the
nutrients and other healing elements in the blood. This action
often causes redness, swelling, itchiness, rashes and hives-like
skin reactions - which is why antihistamines are often
prescribed as treatment.

However, antihistamines are not always safe. Doctors advise
that you check with them before taking antihistamines if you
have asthma

or chronic bronchitis, high blood pressure,
glaucoma, problems with your liver, kidney, prostrate or
stomach, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have any
other chronic illness or are on any medications including herbal
supplements - not exactly an treatment you can just whip
out of the medicine cabinet at a moment's notice.

Additionally, taking antihistamines can cause histamine
deficiency, the symptoms of which include mouth ulcers,
headaches, excessive growth of body hair, ringing in the ears
and visual and aural abnormalities. Histamine deficiency is also
associated with a number of mental and emotional conditions:
studies have found that about half the people diagnosed with
schizophrenia have low blood histamine levels. In fact, their
condition improved when histamine levels were increased.

If your is accompanied by life-threatening symptoms such
as difficulty breathing, you should check with your doctor
regarding taking antihistamines. However, if you are simply
trying to handle itchy, dry skin, or eczema, use a topical
eczema treatment that will not cause further problems.

About the Author: Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance
writer who contributes articles on skin care for Gloves In A
Bottle, Inc. For more information, visit
http://www.glovesinabottle.com.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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