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Skin of an individual is exposed to a large variety of biological and chemical substances. Some of the biological substances enter the individual through the respiratory system, others through the gastro-intestinal tract in the form of eatables.
A large number of the chemical substances come in contact with the skin surface as clothes, cosmetics and industrial chemicals.
Occasionally, the body forms antibodies against some such substance. Such an individual is said to have become allergic to that substance.
The substance to which individual is allergic is called an antigen.
Subsequently, whenever this individual is exposed to the same antigen, he will manifest the clinical signs and symptoms of some allergic disorder.
Some facts about allergy
1. More frequent the exposures the greater the chance of developing an allergy,
2. Some substances are more potent antigens as compared to others
3. Some individuals are more prone to develop allergic reactions than others.
4. Once an individual develops allergy to a substance, every subsequent exposure to the same substance wold lead to recurrence of the allergic reaction..
5. If further exposures to the causative agent or its chemically related analogues are prevented, the allergic symptoms subside.
Allergic diseases most amenable to treatment because once the cause of the allergic reaction has been discovered, all that is required is to improvise means of preventing further exposures to the agent.
The clinical manifestations of allergic disorders vary and depend upon the nature of the antigen.
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