Some of the most common types of medicine for allergies are classified as antihistamine.
An antihistamine works to counteract the effects of histamine. This is a common chemical messenger in our body that is usually released when your body detects something harmful, like an infection. Antihistamines counteract the effects of too much histamine by competing with it for binding sites in the body.
People often think of an histamine as something that they need to block because their body is producing too much of it and this is making them miserable by giving them allergy symptoms. There is not enough emphasis on this fact: "There are histamine receptors on cells of the skin that stimulate them to release sebum, or oil, onto the skin."
So, when you take antihistamines, this receptor is blocked. As a result, the production of sebum is reduced or blocked, and skin can become very dry.
My story
Sometime during the summer of 2020, I started to experience allergies. I started to have dark circles every day. I found out from online research that allergies can cause dark circles and puffiness under your eyes. I was so focused on trying to fix one skincare issue that I neglected to research the side effects of allergy medicine. Normally I would have done in depth research and I regret that I did not.
After using an antihistamine off on for about three months my skin became immensely dry. It did not matter how much water I drank or how great my skincare products and supplements were. That’s when I realized it could be the allergy medicine. I did research and found out it was.
How did I fix it?
Surprisingly, it’s a lot easier to find how to stop sebum production then it is to revamp it.
Some websites did offer advice along the lines of consistently drinking water, using a humidifier, using Vaseline to seal in moisture as well as a long list of recommended moisturizers, serums and oils.
Note that in can take 3 months- 1 year to get your skin to produce sebum again after taking antihistamines.
I spent months just drinking a lot of water, avoiding alcohol, testing out different face hydrators/moisturizers/oils/serums, using a humidifier even in Florida, taking could showers and getting HydraFacial’s. I even used humectants and occlusives like Vaseline and glycerin.
I can say that my skin finally got back to normal after putting it in an intense 4-month care program. Honestly, I am still in that program the only difference is my skin is finally starting to get its natural moisture levels back.
What do I do about allergies?
I am not authorized to give you medical advice, but I can share with you what I do about my allergies now.
I noticed that I do not have those random intense allergies anymore. I now experience sporadic allergies, but I am not sure what is causing it because I did not take a test. I learned that I personally rather put up with random allergy symptoms then dry my skin out again.
Some allergy medicine alternatives that I researched and tried and that I think helped lesson my allergy symptoms are:
Elderberry tea
Elderberry gummy supplement
Raw honey
Zarbee’s Soothing Saline Nasal Mist with Vitamin C
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