Hi Doctor.. I am a 28 year old female and weight 65 kg. I have had a skin allergy for over 20-25 days..i had some medication earlier but didnt get relief and have now been advised Omnicortel 60 mg dose for 5 days and then 40 mg for 4 days and 30 mg for 3 days.. along with Alaspran for all 15 days in the morning and Atarax 25 mg at night. I am a bit worried that since Omnicortel is a steroid will it have a side effect on this short term use... plus will leaving it have the allergy come back since it suppresses the immune system . I am also trying to take neem daily so as to cure it naturally too.. looking forwad to your reply. Many thanks in advance
Dear Art, Your question is not very clear when you mention skin allergy over 20-25 years. If what you are referring is itchy red weals all over the body with or without swelling of lips/tongue for so many years, it is quite a common condition called urticaria. If there are no obvious triggers, like commonly used painkillers (ibuprofen, codeine-based analgesics) or allergy to pollen etc. then the condition is idiopathic (meaning all known causes excluded) and responds to long-term high-dose non-sedating antihistamines. Occasionally thyroid or hormone abnormalities or stress can prolong the symptoms, but infection triggers are also common. So infections need to treated, and high-dose antihistamines must be used at the same time. Your doctor has rightly given you a short course of steroids which is sometimes the last option. Cetirizine 10 mg twice daily or Allegra 180 mg (morning) and 90 mg (at night) plus or minus Atari 25-50 mg at night are the usual treatment options. Must be used for 3 months at least without any attacks.Also, rarely, patch skin tests are done to exclude chemical triggers. I hope this will be useful.