Laser Allergist

Seasonal Allergies Attacking Early
Seasonal allergies seem to be hitting people even earlier this year.

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Dr.Paul Donohue: Asthma usually can be controlled
Dear Dr. Donohue: I am a 50-year-old female, and I have asthma that seems to be getting worse. In October, I got the H1N1 flu and had to go to the hospital twice because of breathing problems. I saw an allergist, who tested me and wanted to put me on allergy shots. He said they may or may not work, but they don’t cure asthma. Then what’s the point? Does oxygen help? Are there natural ways to …

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An allergy is an abnormally high sensitivity reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance. The immune system of an allergic person reacts when an allergen is absorbed into their body, treating the substance as a harmful invader, causing the white blood cells to begin producing IgE antibodies which attach themselves to mast cells. When this occurs it causes the body to release histamine, which can cause allergy symptoms — watery eyes, itching, sneezing or a runny nose.

Contact dermatitis, eczema, and hives can be types of skin allergies.

Chemicals in cosmetics or lotions may also cause skin problems. The symptoms may occur right away, or take a few days to develop. These symptoms include swelling, burning, stinging, itching, and redness. Most of these reactions are caused by skin care products that are used on the face, hands, and body. Other causes include hair care products, including hair dye and permanent solution, and face makeup products.

Eczema may occur for unknown reasons or as a result of exposure to certain plants, foods, animals, nickel, rubber, soap products or dyes. This can produce itchy rashes and weeping blisters. This is a common problem with all jewelry made with nickel as a base metal.

Hives are another kind of skin response. They may occur as a result of changes in body temperature or stress. Hives are small, red, itchy swellings on the skin. They arise quickly and can last up to 48 hours. They appear in clusters which disappear as another cluster develops. Foods like chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, and berries are common causes of hives. Certain drugs such as aspirin, penicillin, and sulfa may cause hives, as well. Some people get hives simply by rubbing or scratching their skin.

No permanent cure exists for skin reactions. It is best to try and avoid the causes. It may help to change to hypoallergenic and fragrance free products. If contact dermatitis, eczema or hives do occur, they can often be treated with over the counter antihistamines such as Benadryl.

Bee wise! Don’t swat the bee that stings! Recent research is creating quite a buzz revealing three naturally-produced products by bees gifted with healing benefits for many of today’s health concerns. Bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis have been used by the ancient Chinese and in the Middle East for about 3,000 years.

What is Bee Pollen?

Bee pollen is a flower’s male reproductive element. As bees fly from blossom to blossom, retrieving nectar and pollen, bee pollen gets collected on their legs. “Pollen traps” set by beekeepers collect the tiny balls of pollen from the bees’ legs.

Bee pollen consists of approximately 55 percent carbohydrate, 35 percent protein, 2 percent fatty acids and 3 percent minerals and vitamins—in variable amounts depending on the plant source.

Bee Pollen – Packed with Antioxidant Power!

Bee pollen is packed with antioxidants called flavonoids—myricetin, quercetin, rutin, and trans-cinnamic acid.

Myricetin helps white blood cells remove the “bad” LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. Quercetin is a natural antihistamine, beneficial for allergies. Rutin helps as a remedy for varicose veins. Rutin helps protects veins throughout the body and studies have supported the theory that it may help prevent other health problems as well. The body uses trans-cinnamic acid to make its own antibiotics, and this trans-cinnamic acid also powers the detoxifying processes of the liver.

Bee Pollen May Help to Improve Skin

Studies have indicated that Bee pollen may rejuvenate unhealthy or aging skin. Dr. Lars-Erik Essen, a dermatologist in Halsinborg, Sweden, says: “Through transcutaneous nutrition, bee pollen exerts a profound biological effect. It seems to prevent premature aging of the cells and stimulates growth of new human tissues. It offers protection against dehydration and injects new life into dry cells. The skin becomes younger looking, less vulnerable to wrinkles, smoother, and healthier with the use of honeybee pollen.”

Bee Pollen Helps to Increase Energy, Vitality and Stamina.

Bee pollen increases athletic performance. James Higgins, owner of the Hillsboro, Ohio-based Higgins’ Apiary and treasurer of the American Apitherapy Society says, “Bee pollen is used by Olympic athletes all over the world. Many say it gives them more energy and better performance.”

Other Benefits
Bee pollen has shown benefits to health in a number of ways including supporting the immune system, endurance, helping to fortify intestinal strength, and assisting to desensitize the body to certain pollen allergies. Because of its high antioxidant content it helps support the body and combat free radical driven health issues.

What is Royal Jelly?

Royal Jelly is a thick, milky secretion produced by worker bees to feed bees during the first three days of life as larvae. Only the Queen Bee continues to receive the jelly throughout her life. As a result, she grows to be 50 percent larger than other female bees and lives two to five years, as opposed to the ordinary bee’s lifespan of six weeks.Royal Jelly contains a powerful antibacterial protein called royalisin. Rich in amino acids, royalisin is effective against “Gram-positive” bacteria, which include staph and strep species (Fujiwara S, Journal of Biological Chemistry, July 5,1990;265:11333-7).

What is Propolis?Propolis is a waxy, resinous sap which bees collect from the buds of trees and plants to use as a sterile sealant for their hives. It contains more than 150 compounds, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and flavonoids. Propolis helps to fight bacteria, viruses and fungi and recent research shows it may be responsible for making the beehive the most sterile place in the animal kingdom.

Many of the benefits of propolis come from its components, flavonoids and ethanols, which function as antioxidant free-radical scavengers. Phenols (antioxidants) in propolis function similarly to vitamin E, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Jan. 1994;21:9-13). Other research also describes propolis to show anti-inflammatory properties and that it could also prevent blood clots (Drugs Under Experimental & Clinical Research, 1993; 19:197-203).

In the light of today’s nutrient-deficient diets, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis are being popularly used to close the nutritional gap. Since these substances are not found in any other food we need to take this as a supplement. You should check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Bee products are not recommended for people with asthma.Notice:Any bee product can provoke an allergic reaction in a susceptible individual. If you experience any type of reaction we recommend you discontinue use of this product and consult a physician.

Disclaimer

Despite the confidence and optimism expressed bythe researchers, and the weight of evidence gathered from numerous studies, according to FDA standards, the findings expressed here should still be considered as inconclusive and further studies must be done before a positive health claim can be made. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I love going to the farm but i am VERY allergic to most of the animals there (horses, cows, dogs, cats, etc.) I also am allergic to the plants like flowers and pollen. I want to spend a few months on a farm through wwoof, but i cant right now due to my allergies. my question is to know if there is any type of allergy shot that will last a while or will I have to take pills? Will these methods work on ALL of my allergies?

a year back i suffered from acne n had pimples now in winter season( acne n allergies started from last winter) i dont have pimples n acne problems but yet there are some red marks on my cheeks which look quite worse, small closely visible opened pores n scars. however i use retin-a for last two months or three but to no effect. plz suggest me some treatments except microdermabrasion n other laser resurfacing coz these r expensive. n i have been using acne wash soap for couple of months.
i am from pakistan so do suggest products available in pakistan n in india..

I have really bad allergies. I am allergic to latex, and most metals to be exact but every since I was small I wanted to get a tattoo. Now that I am grown I am really considering getting one but some people close to me are telling me maybe I shouldnt because my allergies are so bad. I just want to know can reactions to tattoos be fatal?? Please feel free to share any experiences!!
Thank You

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Allergist Dr. Arthur Lubitz on WNYW’s The McReary Report talking about asthma and allergies.

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I have, in my third and fourth decades of living, discovered some of the most unusual of allergic reactions and have learned the most interesting of realities about allergies.

The education began when I was teaching my second semester of college English. As one up to that point who rarely missed a day of work, I was appalled to find one very early summer morning that I had an enflamed face and that every pore on my face had filled with a blister—a tiny pustule that was, as if the redness wasn’t enough, itchy.

When I went to the clinic (not yet having medical coverage of any kind), the clinician seemed nonplussed. She told me with a shrug that 1) I would have to experiment by isolating foods in my most recent diet until I found the culprit (since I ha not changed laundry or body soaps didn’t add any chemicals or perfumes to my repertoire, etc.); and 2) I had developed these allergic reactions—or allergic symptoms—all of a sudden…that my perfect health record of many years had nothing to do with the fact that as we get older, she said, we can pathogenically change: we can develop allergies to foods we have eaten our whole lives.

Allergic reactions as I describe are no big deal, really; and a tube of Benadryl cream and a Benadryl capsule (which makes you sleep, so watch out) are all that were needed. But other allergic reactions are hideous, drastic, and emergent. Many require immediate medical attention, as they are deadly…or, the allergens causing the allergic reactions are.

When we were teens working our first jobs, waiting tables at a private school in the summer, when scientists would come from the world over to have conferences, study, and get fed three times a day, we witnessed the more extreme cases of allergic reactions when a scientist asked if there were any shellfish in the fare we were serving. The stuffing of the meat, it turned out, had shredded something—crab or lobster—and the man swelled, turned red, and had to be rushed to the hospital. What is most frightening, I think, is that such allergic reactions can include the tongue swelling. Think about it. If your tongue swells too far, it will block your breathing passages. You’re done.

In my case, many years after my fear that we had killed an important person—who showed up unshaken the next morning, by the way—it turns out I had allergic reactions to soy products: I loved to (and was so lazy about cooking that I would) eat raw hot dogs. At the same time, I was experimenting with health food store items and had drunk a big glass of soy milk. Imagine: an innocuous little thing like a bean….

Bee pollen is one of nature’s healthiest and almost strong “superfoods. ” Bee Pollen contains digestive enzymes from the bees. It’s been used as a dietary supplementation for thousands of years. Bee pollen is frequently called nature’s ideal nutrient. Bee pollen combines 22 amino acids, vitamin C, B-complex and folic acid, polyunsaturated oily acids, enzymes, and carotene – all of the leading antioxidants that have then far been discovered. It is produced by flowering plants, which clings to bees as they assemble nectar. Bee pollen benefits are wonderful and chances are that you could better your health considerably with the respective bee pollen benefits.

Bee pollen is believed to rejuvenate the body, stimulate organs and glands, enhance vitality, and bring about a longer life span. Bee Pollen is known to relieve brain fatigue and improving alertness in individuals with stressful mental work. It increases the capacity for intense concentration and being able to work longer hours without quickly tiring. Bee pollen replaces essential nutrients in the body thereby relieving stress, which uses up vitamins quickly. Bee pollen is also an excellent immune system builder. It has been shown to have the ability of throw off poisons and toxic materials from the body.

Bee pollen benefits too include aiding the system after drill by returning the eye pace to natural and improving survival. Bee pollen tends to be a really secure supplementation, with no severe position effects. Bee pollen should not be taken if you are hypersensitive to bee stings as you could get a hypersensitive response to this too. Bee pollen benefits too stretch to the region of weight departure. Bee pollen has shown to get a power to assist in plump departure by rectifying a chemical instability that many folk with weight problems lean to get. Bee pollen should be avoided by those that have an allergy or sensibility to bee venom.

Other than a worsening of allergic symptoms in those who are already allergic, there are few bee pollen side effects. Cold and flu prevention is a huge bee pollen benefit to anyone who is on this type of supplemental therapy. Bee pollen benefits relating to your sexual health are well documented as well. There have been many studies proving that bee pollen is very helpful in restoring the health of womens reproductive system. Bee pollen is one of the most popular energy supplements on the market. Bee pollen is not recommended for women who are or who may become pregnant.

I know there are tons of allergy medications, however, my mom has high blood pressure so she is restricted to most medications for allergies. Any suggestions?

I got a blood test, and want to discuss the results with a doctor, but the clinic’s website says we should only make an appointment if it’s for the following reasons:
Acne Clinic
Allergies
Children’s Aid Intake Assessment
Clinical Psychology and Counseling
Cosmetic/Aesthetic Medicine
Custom Fitted Orthotics
Eye Exams
Footcare
Hearing
Laser Hair Removal
Naturopathic &
Homeopathic Medicine
New Treatment for Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knees. (Referral required, please read)
Obstetrics (New pregnant patients only)
PAP Clinics
Physicals (Annual)
Physicals (MOT, Employment & 3rd Party Physicals)
Travel Medicine
Ultrasound Services
Varicose Veins
Wellbaby/ Routine Vaccinations

What am I supposed to do?

ok so i’ve been struggling with acne for about 3 or 4 years.. and i’m REALLY sick of it. it’s affecting every aspect of my life and i just really want to get rid of it

i have tried everything… EVERY type of face wash, cream, ect. (all brands as well such as neutrogena, clean and clear, clearasil, ect.)
none of those worked so i decided to start seeing a dermatologist… i’ve seen 5… nothing has worked so far…
i have been prescribed:
oral antibiotics
topical antibiotics
retin-A
all medications with benzyl peroxide or salicyilic acid
and as a last resort i’ve been on accutane (i had a severe allergy and had to stop after 10 days of being on it and it only made my skin worse)
not to mention i have tried proactive (twice and it only made my skin WAY worse), and murad acne complex (didn’t work either)…

i have also tried other alternatives to medication such as laser treatments, facials, and tanning (which i had a reaction to also)

SO basically i think i’ve tried everything under the sun (literally) that had even the remotest possibility of clearing my acne… i don’t want answers like “oh you’ll grow out of it” and “you don’t wash your face enough” or “you’re not eating the right things” ect.

has anyone tried ANYTHING (other than the things listed above) that has helped them A LOT because i am really looking for something that works..

i am 17 and i’m soo sick of this… i also have quite a few acne scars from previous acne and my face is just in bad shape overall… i also have some flat red marks leftover and my pimples take FOREVER to fade on their own… i honestly will have one in the same spot for 3 weeks! and then the bump gets smaller and the red mark stays!!! for like 2 months after!!!

i have very sensitive skin, it’s fair, and oily, and when i use anything that is meant to dry it out it gets VERY flaky and dry…

PLEASE help me i don’t know what else to do!!!!

thank you very much if you answer this…
also i just thought i should add in that i always
clean my face cloths, change my pillow cases (every night), keep my hair off my face when i can, wash 2 times daily, and i clean my make up sponges/ brushes every day

oh and i’ve been tested for food allergies as well… they said i was allergic to wheat, milk, and tomatoes… i stopped eating them for a good month and it did ABSOLOUTELY NOTHING for my skin… i mean nothing… so i started eating them again and i still haven’t noticed a difference (so it clearly wasn’t that)

ALSO i have tried taking various supplements to try to pinpoint a possible deficiency.. i’ve taken vitamin A, zinc, protein (shake), and a multivitamin all for about 2 months also and no improvement…

*sigh*
OH and i’ve tried birth control also sry i forgot to mention that… i tried it twice… i get very sick and am not able to take it and it also doesn’t help…
um… Jessie M… didn’t u read my question? i’ve tried proactive twice… lol it didn’t work at all and i used it religiously… made it much worse
toothpaste doesn’t work for me either
oh yeah “SleepySwimmer” i’ve tried changing detergents as well it makes no difference since i already use one that is fragrance free and supposed to be hypoallergenic