An allergic skin reaction is the body’s way of trying to fight off unwanted viruses or pathogens. The system in the body that has the responsibility of doing this called the immune system. When any foreign matter is detected, the immune system goes into action trying to ward it off as quickly and efficiently. The immune system protects the body from harmful bacteria and toxins. Almost anything can be an allergen such as pollen, dust, plants, foods, insects, pet dander and many more. Allergic skin reactions can take place in one spot like a skin rash, or it can appear all over the entire body. With any allergic reaction there may be one more symptoms. In some cases, an allergic reaction can be potentially life threatening.

Most of the allergic skin reactions can be a lot less serious. These can include the skin rash that is received from the poison ivy plant. Everyone will have a different reaction to different allergens. Some may be more seriously allergic to poison ivy plant, and therefore they will have a much harsher allergic skin reaction. Allergic skin reactions are very common through out the entire world. Over seven million people receive doctor’s treatment due to allergic skin reactions that they have received.

Allergic skin reactions as like all allergies are very common which have several different causes. For the most part, allergic skin rashes do pose any life threatening danger. Although life threatening skin rashes are very rare, they do occur and must be identified and treated at once. Some of the potentially life threatening skin rashes are; pemphigus vulgaris (PV), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSS). These types of skin rashes have some unique and distinct features which sets them apart from other non life threatening rashes. Some of the features are that the rash will tend to affect the entire body. The allergic skin reactions can also cause the rash to be present in the mucous membranes, which are the moist inner linings of the eyes, mouth, nose, rectum, and the urethra.

The rashes are also accompanied by blisters on top of the rash itself. Anytime that a blister is present on top of a rash, they sometimes have the following features; The blisters can be found to be several small ones as well as larger ones. If scratching on or around the blister takes place, it will cause the blister to become enlarged. They any or all of the mucous membranes as previously mentioned. Any blisters found in these areas may not be easily spotted as they tend to rupture rather quickly. They are tend to be very painful when they rupture in any of the mucous membrane areas.

These serious rashes are caused by allergic skin reactions, improper functioning immune system or by poisonous byproducts of an infection. The blisters that are associated with these reactions are caused when the proteins connecting the layers of skin are attacked. The proteins that hold the skin together do not function causing the layers of skin to come apart. When this happens, fluid will fill the gap between them, and this is what makes the blister to appear.