Are you allergic to dog hair or fur?
Are you getting bumps on arms hands skin after petting a dog?
We’ve broken down some of the most commonly asked questions about allergies to dog dander: how they work and what causes them.
Does Dog Hair Cause Allergies
Dogs produce a number of allergens found in their urine, saliva, and dander. Every breed of dog produces some form of allergen; there’s no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog.
In addition, pollen, dust, and other allergens in a dog’s coat might cause allergy symptoms even if a person isn’t allergic to dogs.
Dog Hair Allergy Symptoms
There are two main types of signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction to dogs hair you might observe after coming into contact with dog hair or fur.
Contact Dermatitis: Itchy skin after petting dog
Does dog hair make your skin itchy?
Contact dermatitis encompasses the first type of symptoms you might experience. This reaction occurs when your skin comes into direct contact with an allergen or another irritant.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis are typically an itchy or burning rash.
If your contact dermatitis is caused by a dog, you’ll likely experience the rash on parts of your skin that came into contact with the dog.
Areas the dog licked may be particularly sensitive, since the most powerful dog allergens are found in the saliva.
You might also have a rash on your hands and arms after petting the dog, or on your face if it came into contact with the dog.
Hives: Bumps on arms and skin after petting dog
Hives are a sign of an allergic reaction. They won’t necessarily appear on parts of the skin that came into contact with the dog.
When your immune system comes into contact with an allergen, it releases a flood of histamine into your bloodstream.
Histamine can leak into your skin and cause irritation. This tends to present as raised red bumps, blotches, or patches of skin that itch and burn.
Hives aren’t always caused by allergies. They may also be caused by stress.
Resources:
https://acaai.org/allergies/types/pet-allergy
https://www.webmd.com/allergies/dog-allergies#1
