Allergy to the face: what to do, how to properly diagnose and choose treatment

Scientists are still struggling with the causes of allergies. Researchers from Australia have identified a connection between food allergies and a lack of vitamin D, and their colleagues from England argue that “sterility” is to blame - it is better to introduce a child to new foods as early as possible, so that in the future the body does not mistake, for example, peanut butter for an allergen.

Ekaterina Tabatchikova

doesn't sneeze

Unfortunately, allergies cannot be cured, but you can fight the symptoms that appear due to the “switching on” of histamine. This substance is active and causes familiar allergic reactions: cough, runny nose and itching.

Pharmacists divide allergy pills into two generations, taking into account the duration of action, effectiveness and effect on the central nervous system. Glucocorticosteroids are distinguished separately - products in this group are usually produced in the form of gels, ointments and lotions.

The “third generation” of allergy pills is still reserved for fundamentally new medications, the effect of which will be different from the second generation pills. The Russian Association of Allergists in its clinical recommendations also does not mention any generations other than the first and second.

From each group, we took the most popular allergy pills and selected cheap analogues. We calculate the benefits like in a grocery store: we compare prices per mass of active ingredient.

Analogues or synonyms?

In colloquial speech, people call drugs from different manufacturers, but with the same active substance, analogues.
Pharmacists and pharmacologists object: analogues are drugs with different active ingredients, but used to treat the same diseases. And medicines from different manufacturers with the same active substance are synonyms. In this article, we use the word “analog” in a general sense - as a medicine with the same substance, but cheaper. Pharmacists and pharmacologists, forgive us.

Analogues of expensive drugs

In order not to spend a lot of money on buying medicines, you need to pay attention to effective analogues:

Price is not always an indicator of quality and efficiency. Cheap allergy pills are no less effective. Special attention should be paid to absorbable, chewable tablets. They are considered less fast-acting than the drugs presented above, but effective.

Buying medicines at a pharmacy

Suprastin

One of the most inexpensive and effective remedies for allergies. Suprastin acts for 4-6 hours, but long-term use causes tolerance to the drug - that is, over time it may not be as effective at the same dosage.

"Suprastin"

The active ingredient in Suprastin tablets is chloropyramine.

Tablets with the active ingredient chloropyramine

Price

65 R for 20 tablets of 25 mg

Price

222 RUR for 40 tablets of 25 mg

Classification of antihistamines

When choosing antihistamine tablets, you need to take into account that there are 4 generations of medications. Modern medicines effectively, quickly suppress unpleasant symptoms, and promote rapid relief of well-being.

First generation

The first medical drugs were developed many years ago. However, they have not lost their relevance. Names of drugs:

The main feature of the first generation tablets is a quick but short-term antiallergic effect.

Side effect of allergy pills

Second generation

The effectiveness of second-generation drugs is determined by the fact that they contain medicinal components that are perceived by histamines as similar to themselves. They do not affect the central nervous system as strongly as first-generation medications. Medicines:

Most of the drugs presented above should not be taken by people with kidney disease.

Allergic runny nose

Third generation

Due to the fact that 1st and 2nd generation medications had many side effects, scientists began to develop their harmless analogues, which became part of the 3rd generation:

The disadvantages of third-generation drugs are their high price.

Itching

Last generation

They are the most effective medications for allergies of the latest generation:

The latest generation of drugs have a powerful antiallergic effect that lasts for a long time.

Weakness

Diphenhydramine

If you try, the sedative effect of Diphenhydramine can be used as a narcotic - that’s why pharmacists sell tablets only with a prescription.

It is unlikely that you will be able to find an analogue of Diphenhydramine in tablets: only gels and eye drops are produced with the same active ingredient. Therefore, the table of analogues will be useful to you if you need to get rid of allergy symptoms and you know for sure that diphenhydramine will cope with this.

"Diphenhydramine"

The active ingredient in Diphenhydramine tablets is diphenhydramine. 10 tablets of 50 mg cost 4 rubles - or 8 R per gram.

Analogues of "Diphenhydramine"

Effect of allergy pills

To date, scientists have not been able to determine the main cause of allergic reactions. What is known is that upon contact with an irritant, a biologically active substance found in the human body - histamine - goes into an active state, causing a fairly extensive list of symptoms:

• Runny nose;
• Edema;
• Itching;
• Redness;
• Skin rashes;
• Strangulation;
• Tearing.

The effect of allergens on humans
When these signs appear, treatment with tablets and ointments begins, which is symptomatic, that is, aimed at eliminating unpleasant symptoms. Allergy medications come in the following forms:

• Pills;
• Dragee;
• Sprays;
• Syrups;
• Injections;
• Ointments and creams;

The list can be supplemented by such complex forms of allergies as angioedema, anaphylactic shock, and swelling of the respiratory tract. Once in the human body, pills and other drugs block the histamine that causes such reactions, helping to eliminate symptoms. In this case, it is desirable to detect and eliminate the allergen, which may be:

• Plant pollen;
• Animal fur - cats, dogs and others;
• Sweets, honey;
• Cold;
• Dust;
• Sun rays;
• Medicines – tablets, drops, ointments;
• Household chemicals.

This list is not complete; allergies can appear to alcoholic beverages and many other surrounding and seemingly safe objects.

Pollen allergies are the most common; they appear in the spring and may not go away until the end of October. Most often, it is characterized by symptoms such as severe nasal discharge, bronchial asthma, nasal congestion, swelling of the respiratory tract, lacrimation, and less often - redness of the skin, rashes on the face.

Typically, most of this extensive list is treated with pills. Ointments and sprays are used to eliminate skin rashes and relieve swelling.

Quincke's edema

To relieve allergy symptoms, oral administration of antihistamines in tablet form is practiced.

They may have different compositions, but have a similar mechanism of action, which is as follows:

• Reducing the activity or completely stopping the activity of histamine receptors, which leads to a rapid decrease in symptoms;
• Elimination of connections between histamine and tissues, which does not allow having a significant effect on them.
• Certain types of tablets have an antiemetic effect and a calming effect on certain areas of the central nervous system.

Fenistil

The drug "Fenistil" is produced in the form of a gel, ointment, emulsion and drops. Drops are allowed to be given to children, but in a diluted state. "Fenistil" is prescribed for itchy skin - hives, eczema or insect bites, as well as for the prevention of allergic reactions.

"Fenistil"

The active ingredient in Fenistil is dimethindene.

Drops with the active ingredient dimethindene

Price

340 RUR for 20 ml 1 mg/ml

Price

390 RUR for 20 ml 1 mg/ml

How to choose a medicine?

To choose the best allergy pills, you need to accurately determine which allergen causes unpleasant symptoms and worsening general condition:

To avoid allergies to medications, you must consult with your doctor in advance so that a specialist can select an effective, harmless treatment.

Cat

What to give to children?

Allergy pills for children should be selected strictly according to age. It is important to understand that some medications can harm a baby. Popular drugs:

1. For infants from two months - Pipolfen.
2. From 1 year - Diazolin.
3. From 2 years - Peritol, Loratadine, Claritin.
4. From 3 years - Terfenadine, Diphenhydramine, Astemizole.

For children over 12 years of age, other types of skin allergies can be treated with medications for adults, but with a reduced dosage.

When breastfeeding

Anti-allergy tablets for breastfeeding can be selected and prescribed only by the attending physician. Acceptable drugs include:

1. Levocytirizine.
2. Desloratadine (it is recommended to stop breastfeeding during treatment).
3. Fexofenadine (safe for use after the first three months of an infant's life).

The medical products presented above belong to the third generation and are less dangerous for the baby.

Nursing mother

During pregnancy

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is recommended to exclude any drug treatment. Next, the attending physician selects the safest allergy pills without side effects. Popular medicines:

1. Zodak.
2. Allertek.
3. Zyrtec.
4. Diazolin.

Loratadine, Fenistil, Claritin should be taken with caution.

Fexadine

Fexadin copes well with allergic rhinitis and urticaria. It begins to act within an hour after administration and frees up breathing for at least 12 hours.

"Fexadin"

The active ingredient in Fexadin tablets is fexofenadine. 10 tablets of 180 mg cost 365 R - or 203 R per 1 g.

Analogues of "Fexadin"

Price

246 RUR for 10 tablets of 180 mg

Price

688 RUR for 20 tablets of 180 mg

Price

433 RUR for 10 tablets of 120 mg

Flixonase

Flixonase spray can be used in children from 4 years of age, but not longer than 2 months. The effect will appear within 2-4 hours after the first “spray”: pain in the paranasal sinuses, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy nose and lacrimation will go away.

"Flixonase"

The active ingredient in Flixonase spray is fluticasone.

Analogues of Flixonase

Price

308 R for 120 doses of 50 mcg

Price

660 R for 120 doses of 50 mcg

Price

705 R for 120 doses of 27.5 mcg

What is a facial allergy, its signs

Allergy is a disease associated with disruption of the immune system and is expressed by the increased sensitivity of histamine compounds to repeated exposure to the allergen.

The reaction may be manifested by the presence of the following signs:

• the appearance of spots of various characteristics (small rashes, the formation of papules, blisters with liquid contents);
• increased dryness of the skin with the presence of peeling;
• itching and burning at the site of the rash;
• redness of the epidermis;
• nasal congestion or drainage;
• increased dryness and sore throat;
• watery eyes and redness of the eyes;
• coarsening of the upper layer of the epidermis;
• disturbance of rhythm and quality of breathing;
• swelling (can appear not only on the skin, but also in organs, disrupting their functioning).

Prednisolone

The World Health Organization has included Prednisolone in its list of essential medicines. There it is listed as an emergency drug for anaphylaxis, allergies, as well as a medicine for Hodgkin and Burkitt lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

True, it is not easy to find these inexpensive tablets in pharmacies: the Ministry of Health was unable to agree on a price with the manufacturers, so tenders for the purchase of Prednisolone fell through. There are no closest analogues of Prednisolone with the same active ingredient in pharmacies - Medopred and Decortin have also disappeared from the shelves.

All that remains for us is to choose tablets that contain methylprednisolone: ​​this substance acts in the same way as prednisolone.

"Prednisolone"

The active ingredient in Prednisolone tablets is prednisolone.

Analogues of "Prednisolone"

Metypred, active ingredient - methylprednisolone

Price

183 RUR for 30 tablets of 4 mg

Price

332 RUR for 250 g of lyophilisate for preparing a solution

Cheap pills for allergies during pregnancy

During pregnancy, there is a ban on taking many medications to combat allergies.

Below are cheap tablets that can be used during this period:

• Claritin - also allowed only from the second trimester, the cost is from 150 rubles;
• Suprastin - can be used to treat allergies during the period 13-36 weeks of pregnancy; only a single dose of tablets is allowed or a short course under the supervision of a doctor. The cost is from 120 rubles;
• Cetirizine - at any stage of pregnancy is prescribed by a doctor only in cases of urgent need and low effectiveness of other antihistamines. Cost from 60 rubles.

Claritin Suprastin Cetirizine
At any stage of pregnancy, taking Diphenhydramine, Tavegil and Pipolfen tablets is strictly prohibited, since their use is accompanied by a risk of miscarriage or negative impact on the development of the fetus.