Hi, I'm Jackie Gibon. I still struggle with acne that started in my teen years despite sitting firmly in mid-adulthood. Complicating medical conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome, make it difficult to overcome acne outbreaks that occur as hormones flare. Thanks to my strong interest in skincare routines, I have gleaned information that helps keep my skin in good shape otherwise. I just need help when my hormone levels run amok. Thankfully, I can rely on my dermatologist to provide adequate acne treatments that bring my skin back into line. I hope to share my experiences with these treatments with you through this site. I will talk about acne treatments, skincare routines and products you can use to control outbreaks. Please feel free to drop by anytime. Thanks for visiting.
Are you experiencing respiratory symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose? One of the first things you may wonder is whether what you're experiencing is due to allergies or a cold. This is a good question to ask since the treatments for each ailment are quite different. For a cold, you essentially take medicine to ease the symptoms, and you wait for your body to fight off the virus. For allergies, you can take antihistamines to ease the symptoms. So how can you tell if it's a cold or allergies? Here are some clues to consider.
Do your symptoms seem to get worse in certain locations?
Try keeping a diary of how you feel throughout the day. Are your symptoms pretty consistent hour to hour, or do they seem to change as you go from place to place? For example, do your symptoms get worse when you go outside or when you spend time in the office? If your symptoms are pretty consistent, then you probably have a cold. If they change based on location, then you're likely allergic to something in the places where your symptoms are worse.
Are your eyes itchy or red?
Most colds do not cause itchy, red eyes. Not everyone who experiences allergies finds that their eyes become irritated, but if your eyes are irritated, this definitely points towards allergies. Eye symptoms do vary from person to person. Some people find that their eyes feel really dry and scratchy; others feel like their eyes won't stop running.
How do you feel when you take an antihistamine?
It does not hurt to try taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, like diphenhydramine. Take one dose, and see how you feel. If you feel markedly better, then you are likely suffering from allergies. If there's no major change in your symptoms, then you probably have a cold; colds don't really respond to antihistamines.
Do you have a family history of allergies?
Allergies can appear at any time in life, so just because you have not had them before does not mean you don't have them now. However, you are more likely to suffer from allergies if you have a family history of them. If your parents or siblings have allergies, this makes it more likely that your symptoms are also due to allergies — although it does not rule out a cold.
Once you've determined whether you have allergies or a cold, you can more effectively treat your condition. Talk to a doctor to learn more.
Share7 May 2020
