Unusual reactions to commonly used chemicals

October 1, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: This is for the people who write in with itchy, burning eyelids. I don’t know if it will helpful, but I thought I’d try.

I worked in cosmetics and heard many horror stories about allergic reactions. One lady had a terrible time with itchy, cracking eyelids. After seeing nearly every dermatologist and allergist in the Chicago area, she found a dermatologist who specialized in cosmetic allergy. As it turned out, she was reacting to the chemicals added to shampoo that make it pearly and opaque. Using clear shampoo was all it took to achieve full recovery.
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Is anaphylaxis a possibility?

June 6, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 42-year-old female with no known issues. I take OTC vitamins. When I get a bug bite, it seems that my body’s reaction is severe. After about 12 hours, the bite has swollen to several inches (4-5 around), is very hard, hot, red and tender. I am very careful not to scratch it as this just makes it worse. This will last a few days before it subsides. This week I was bitten near the hairline on my temple. A day later, it looks like I have a black eye.

I don’t remember having had this response as a child. It just seems to be getting worse over time. Short of going to the doctor every time I get a bug bite, what can I do to mitigate the symptoms? Thank you for your time.
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New onset allergy

May 29, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: What makes a person suddenly experience a severe reaction to penicillin? I was recently prescribed Augmentin (which I had been prescribed successfully six months earlier) and had a severe reaction within 20 minutes of taking it. My hands started itching and became red, my lips swelled and I kept blacking out. That was following by diarrhea and vomiting. I was home alone and so weak that I could not get to the phone to call 911. Luckily I could reach my Benadryl and was able to take two pills. I immediately began to feel better. I know that I am fortunate to be alive to write this letter. What I don’t understand is why I suddenly experienced an allergic reaction. And, a warning to everyone – do not take any medication if you are home alone!

DEAR READER: Before I get into your question, I would like to say given the description of your reaction, I believe you are extremely lucky to be alive. You were [Read more…]

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What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome

September 18, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: In April 2010, I had partial shoulder replacement surgery. While in the hospital, I had an allergic reaction to one or more of the medications I was given. It started out with my head itching really badly and then spread to a rash on my back. At that time I was given Benadryl.

After I came home, it got worse and spread from my neck to my ankles. My knees and shoulders were covered in a solid red mass. It hurt to walk because my joints were stiff and painful. I went to my family doctor, and she diagnosed it as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). She told me that she had seen only one case worse than mine, and while I was in the doctor’s office four different doctors came in to check out the reaction.
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Sorbitol can cause hives

March 15, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing in regards to your column about the woman with activity-induced hives. I, too, had a problem similar to that of the reader.

I had gone to have a facial and bought some of the products they offered. About a week or 10 days later, I started getting hives. They would appear out of nowhere. If I bumped my arm, a few minutes later I would have hives in that area.

As it progressed, my feet and hands would swell up. My lips would swell even with pressure. Sometimes the hives would appear like a thousand mosquito bites, and within 10 minutes would disappear. Some days all I could do was sit on the couch because I didn’t want to cause the hives to appear.
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Medication caused potentially deadly reaction

May 8, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing about something I have never seen addressed in your column before.

My daughter, who lives alone, took the first pill of a new prescription while at work. She went into anaphylactic shock. He co-workers immediately called an ambulance, and she got to the hospital with only minutes to spare. If she had waited and taken the pill at home, there would have been no one to help her. Please caution your readers to not take any new medication when they are alone just in case they have an allergic reaction.

DEAR READER: Allergies to medications are fairly common, but to be severe enough to cause anaphylactic shock is rare.
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Spongiotic dermatitis a type of allergic reaction

February 23, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Thank you for all your interesting questions and answers. I have questions about a condition I have never heard of — “spongiotic dermatitis eosinophils consistent with allergic contact dermatitis.” What is it? And what can be done for it?

DEAR READER: Spongiotic dermatitis (SD) is primarily an allergic reaction that causes swelling rather than a rash. It can sometimes be associated with the formation of microvesicles, which are small fluid-filled sacs. Eosinophils are a component of the blood, often found in elevated numbers when an allergic reaction is present, and can generally be used to determine how severe the reaction is. [Read more…]

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Allergies, nosebleeds and honey?

February 11, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I suffered from nosebleeds for years. I underwent cauterization nine times. I then found out I was allergic to cats and that my nosebleeds were how my body was reacting. I was told that nosebleeds are a rare sign of an allergic reaction.
Allergy pills helped, but I then heard that eating local honey could help. I haven’t had to take any allergy medication for several years now.
DEAR READER: Nosebleeds are most commonly due to dry air, so most often the advice from physicians is to keep the nasal passages moist by using saline sprays and using humidifiers. When these measures fail to provide relief, it is then time to look at other causes. [Read more…]

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Niacin causes severe itching

March 2, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column often and notice that you mention taking niacin for many things. I started taking one tablet of 250 mg time released niacin to see if it would help lower my blood pressure and my cholesterol levels. After taking it for about 30 days, I was feeling great. However, one day I began having little pricks throughout my body. Thinking something was terribly wrong with me, I looked on the internet and discovered some diseases with that symptom. I was just about to make an appointment with my doctor when I looked for information on niacin and discovered that one of the side effects is itching. I discontinued it and my prickly sensations stopped very quickly.

Does this mean I will not ever be able to take niacin again? Are there other forms that might work better? I had renewed energy and really felt great while taking it.
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