Skin Health

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Skin Health Overview

Hives, eczema, psoriasis, acne, rashes, and other irritating skin conditions can have an adverse effect on more than just your skin. These conditions can greatly affect the way you live your life, how you feel about yourself and may even stop you from doing the things you love.

Eczema

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes repeated episodes of itchy, red rashes and dry, sensitive skin. Eczema may be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and immune system factors, and is often accompanied by asthma, and/or hay fever also known as “the allergic march”, comprising Eczema, Asthma, Allergies.

CAUSES

Skin Irritants Such as Soap, Detergent, Etc.
Microbes Such as Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi
Hot and Cold Temperatures
Foods Such as Dairy, Eggs, Nuts Etc.
Allergens Such as Pollen, Dust Mite & Pet Dander

SYMPTOMS

Itchy Skin
Red Rashes
Dry, Thickened, Scaly Skin
Fluid-Filled Bumps
Cracks in the Skin
Infections of Skin

Hives

Hives are raised red bumps or welts on the skin, triggered by an allergic reaction. They can be as small as a pencil tip, or as large as a dinner plate and can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days to weeks. Hives may often begin in one area, like the abdomen, before fading and appearing in another area of the body such as hands or chest.

CAUSES

Foods, Especially Milk
Food Additives
Fish or Nuts
Drugs Such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Penicillin, Sulfa Agents
Bug Bites
Auto-Immune Conditions
Eg: Thyroid Problems, Lupus or Others
Hormonal Fluctuations or Stress

SYMPTOMS

Itchy, Red or Skin-Colored Welts
Dizziness
Wheezing
Swelling of the Tongue, Lips
Chest Tightness

Angioedema

Angioedema is swelling that develops underneath the skin of the face, hands, feet and genitalia, as well as the lining of the throat and bowel, often accompanied by hives, as a result of an allergic reaction. It may take several minutes or hours to develop and may affect only one side of the body.

Another type of Angioedema has a hereditary component that is seen in certain families caused by decreased C1 esterase protein or decreased complement protein. There are very effective medications available now for treatment of the Hereditary form of this illness such as C1-INH concentrate replacement, kallikrein inhibitor or selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist to treat acute Hereditary Angioedema attacks as well as for prevention of these attacks (C1-INH concentrate as well as recent monoclonal antibodies).

CAUSES

Insect Bites
Pollen
Hereditary Genetic Etiology
Poison Oak or Ivy
Latex
Animal Dander
Medications Such As ACE Inhibitors for Blood Pressure
Foods (for Example, Shrimp Allergy)

SYMPTOMS

Swelling for up to Three Days
Red, Irritated Eyes
Recurring Abdominal Pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Fainting

Skin Health Testing and Treatment

Testing

Skin Testing

Whether you suffer from a reaction to foods, chemicals or the environment, we can often diagnose the allergy with scratch or patch testing. Scratch tests assess allergies to foods, stinging insects and airborne allergens by pricking the surface of the skin with a few drops of purified allergen. Patch tests can identify allergies to skin irritants like cosmetics and chemicals by applying the allergen directly to a patch of skin. If a reaction occurs, we can recommend the best course of treatment for your allergies.

Treatment

Oral Drops For Allergies

Oral drops, also known as sublingual immunotherapy, work like injections, building up immune tolerance in the body. Unlike injections, oral drops are an at-home treatment, ingested under the tongue – no weekly visits, and no waiting! However, they are not covered by health care policies; you must pay for oral drops directly on a three- to six-month payment plan.
Shots For Allergies

For any allergies caused by animals, dust, mold, pollen or stinging insects, we typically administer allergy shots, injecting a minor amount of allergen under the skin, which develops antibodies to prevent allergic reactions over time. We determine the best shots for you based on your skin test results. With weekly treatments, allergies and asthma are typically under control within a few months with a 90% success rate.
Shots For Swelling

Typically hereditary, angioedema-related swelling is generally caused by an allergic reaction and can be treated with one of four treatments to prevent symptoms: Firazyr®, Cinryze®, Berinert® and Kalbitor®.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hereditary angioedema and its different types?

Hereditary Angioedema is an autosomal dominant disorder in which patients are deficient in C1 inhibitor [C1INH] and angioedema in the absence of urticaria. There are 2 types of C1–INH deficiency, type I and type II. Both types have reduced C1–INH functions.

Type I has reduced levels of C1–INH whereas Type II has normal levels of C1–INH.
Therefore, it is important to distinguish between both by ordering C1–INH functional assay to determine which type is causing the angioedema.

During the asymptomatic period C2 Level is normal and C4 is reduced.
During the symptomatic period C2 is reduced and C4 is further reduced

There is also an acquired form of the disorder in which C1 is reduced.
What is the basic workup of hereditary angioedema?

Recommended tests for workup should include C1, C2, C4, C1–INH and C1–INH functional assay.
What is the mechanism of angioedema?

The mechanism of angioedema involves degranulation of mast cells. Induction and release of mediators may be a result of IgE mediated phenomenon when antigen specific IgE binds to high affinity IgE receptor, and FC epsilon R1, on the mast cell surface, such as most antibiotics causing activation and degranulation of mast cells.

Mast cell degranulation may also be a result of non-IgE mediated phenomenon such as with vancomycin or polymyxin B, which causes direct mast cell degranulation or agents such as opiates and ionic contrast dyes.

Another mechanism of mast cell degranulation is complement mediated as in acquired angioedema and serum sickness.

Regardless of the inciting event, the induction pathway once initiated results in histamine release as a major mediator.

Histamine release causes 3 major event pathways which includes erythema [capillary dilatation] an induction pathway resulting in flare [arteriolar dilatation] and induction pathway 3 resulting in the formation of wheal [exudation of fluid because of increased vascular permeability hence resulting in edema].
What are the latest advances in treatment of Hereditary angioedema?

Significant advances have been made over the past 2 decades for the treatment, prevention and management of Hereditary form of angioedema. These new medications are used to prevent recurrent symptoms such as pain and edema events especially in the throat area that may be life threatening.

Press & News

Press, Videos

May 4, 2023

Sniffing Out the Cause and Treatments for a Rough Allergy Season

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Skin Health
Allergies
Asthma
Immune Health
COVID-19

Our Expertise

Skin Health

Hives, eczema, psoriasis, acne, angioedema (acute skin swelling), drug rashes, fungal rashes, dry irritated skin and other frustrating skin conditions can have an adverse effect on more than just your skin. These conditions can greatly affect the way you live your life, how you feel about yourself, and confidence in doing the things you love both indoors as well as outdoors.

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Our Expertise

Allergies

Allergies can be seasonal, environmental, or a reaction to something you or your child has ingested. When an allergen has entered the body, the body defends itself by releasing a chemical called a histamine, that can result in common reactions like sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, or in more severe cases, breathing problems and anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions).

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Our Expertise

Asthma

Asthma is mostly an allergic lung condition that inflames and narrows the airways, making breathing difficult. Asthma is episodic with acute flare-ups followed by symptom-free periods. Most asthma attacks are short-term, lasting minutes to hours and may be fatal if not controlled in a timely manner. Dr. Buddiga’s goal is to help you achieve optimal control of your asthma.

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Our Expertise

Immune Health

Chronic infections that last or consistently flare up can be an indication that your immunity needs some attention. Intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin supports the body when it can’t make enough antibodies to fight infection. Dr. Buddiga treats patients through strengthening their immunity by building them a personal IMMUNE FIREWALL®️ of T-cell Immune-regulation and Immunoglobulin G4 antibody protection through immunomodulation (allergy desensitization shots or home-use customized oral Allergy drops).

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Our Expertise

COVID-19

We at BUDDIGA Family Allergy Skin Immunology have taken an active role in educating both domestic and international physicians and patients on diagnosis / testing / vaccines & care for this contagion. This was accomplished by having educational segments on television nationally, webinars internationally as well as locally. We also were a major vaccine delivery, counseling & reporting site for the CDC, FDA , California Department of Public Health and testing site for COVID-19 in Central California serving nearly a 2 million population base.

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