Is your allergy medicine drying out your skin?

Ah, spring! The weather is changing, the clocks have sprung forward, and the bees are buzzing around newly blossomed flowers. Sounds heavenly, right? Well, perhaps not if you suffer from seasonal allergies, a common ailment this time of year.

Often miserable allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes will motivate us to take an over-the-counter medication, like Benedryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin. These medications can do wonders for helping you to rid yourself of the annoying sneezes and runny nose*, but while they are drying out your nose, they may also be drying out your skin. Some mild acne sufferers have claimed that their allergy medicine helped clear their skin, but more often than not, dryness will actually make acne or other skin issues much worse.

 So, before you head to the allergy aisle at your local drug store, make sure that while you are taking an allergy medicine, that you are also drinking a LOT of water and staying very well hydrated. Of course, I always suggest water as the number one go-to beverage, but coconut water and beverages like Gatorade can also be nice supplements. (Not only will staying hydrated help keep your skin supple, it will help to loosen any yucky yuck in your nose and chest. Seriously, ask any Mom you know!)

Lastly, and this is important, what most people don't know is that while pollen, grass, and dust can certainly cause nasal allergies, they can just as easily cause rashes, hives, and skin allergies as well. 

Anytime that you begin to notice these symptoms, it's crucial to make an appointment with an allergist or dermatologist, ASAP! These may be simple allergies, or they may be a symptom of something more serious, like a food allergy. Don't try to self treat at home, see a professional!

1. Rashing around your eyes or mouth.
2. Hives, wheels, or other raised itchy patches anywhere on your skin.
3. Itchy, red, or irritated skin anywhere on your body that lasts over 12 hours.

*As I am most certainly not a doctor, do consult a physician or pharmacists before taking these medications in conjunction with other medications you may already be taking. Certainly make sure to double check the labels, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.