Allergies

I have recently developed a skin allergic reaction to a sunscreen - banana boat SPF 50 to be exact. What triggered the allergy, well I'm still trying to find out. Perhaps its the content of zinc or other trace metals found in the lotion that has caused me to have spots like a leopard. Papulorash which only turns red when scratched, plus the itchiness is driving me crazy. Unfortunately, I was quite careless with the product. I should have been wary. Initially I tried a bit on my skin and nothing happened. So last Friday I decided to put more over my face, neck and both arms. Within minutes, papular eruptions was noted over my arms and later my ears began to itch. After 2 days, I'm still bumpy and my face still itch to the point that I had to void myself from much make-up. My face texture looks bumpy and I feel so spotted.
Allergies are a major hassle in life. A lot of people only have mild allergies (like myself) where you tend to have some skin reactions such as itchiness, redness, rashes, urticaria. Some get sneezes, itching nose and eyes, we call allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis. Since allergies are so common, some people regard them lightly.
But some people do get very bad allergic reactions. They have very prominent swellings over eyes, mouth, nose, skin, extreme itchiness and sometimes break out into ulcers. Some get multiple forms of erythema and in worst cases, Stevens Johnson Syndrome which can be life threatening. SJS is an immune-complex–mediated hypersensitivity complex that is a severe expression of erythema multiforme. Some people suffer from anaphylaxis, which is usually characterized by swelling of lips, eyes, mucosa and shortness of breath after being exposed to the allergen. Treatment modalities would encompass antihistamines, steroids, and symptomatic treatment.
My skin allergy is improving, though I still feel my ears are as large as Dumbo's. I'm still scratching, and there are still spots on my arms and face. Yikes. And I'm going to the beach this weekend. Sigh!