Food Allergy affects 10% of the US population. Allergic reactions to foods can be severe and life threating. Someone living with a food allergy must remain highly vigilant to all food ingredients and allergens, which has effects on nutrition and quality of life. However, there have been exciting developments recently for those living with food allergies. On February 23rd, the FDA approved a new treatment for food allergy which is a drug that allergists are very familiar. Xolair has been on the market for 2 decades for asthma, nasal polyps, and hives. The safety profile for the drug is well kno ..read more

Nickel is a common metal used in the production of jewelry, including earrings. Some people may be sensitive or allergic to nickel, and when they come into contact with it, it can cause an allergic reaction. This reaction is known as nickel dermatitis or nickel allergy. The symptoms of nickel allergy can include redness, itching, swelling, rash, and in severe cases, blistering. The skin around the ears is particularly sensitive, so earrings containing nickel can often lead to a reaction in that area. Here are some steps you can take if you experience a reaction to earrings containing nickel ..read more

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common skin rash that looks like eczema.  It occurs when a person becomes allergic to chemicals found in soaps, shampoos, lotions, hair dye, make up, sunscreens, aftershave, deodorant, laundry detergent, as well as certain materials such as metal, rubber products, acrylic materials (nail products), fabric dyes, and adhesives.  It is also possible to become allergic to topical medications such as topical antibiotics, topical steroids, and topical antifungal creams.  Often patients think they can’t have contact dermatitis because they have been usi ..read more

Answer – Earlier is Better Treating anaphylaxis early is best for a good outcome. Epinephrine is the best medication for treating anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is a very safe medication. Your body makes epinephrine in response to stress. Therefore, your body is used to seeing this and breaking it down. It is not like an antibiotic or other foreign drug. If you were to get frightened by a bear your body will release epinephrine. It is in and out of your body very quickly. If you or someone you know is having an allergic reaction it is like a door opens and histamine floods your system. If you take a ..read more

Food allergies are surrounded by various myths and misconceptions. It’s important to separate fact from fiction to better manage food allergies. Here are some common myths about food allergies: Myth: Food allergies and food intolerances are the same. Fact: Food allergies and food intolerances are two distinct conditions. Food allergies result from the immune system’s response to specific proteins in food whereas food intolerances are typically the body’s inability to digest certain substances. Food allergies can be life threatening while food intolerances are typically not severe. Myth: Food ..read more

Many people wonder, can I see pollen? Can I see what I’m allergic to? The simple answer is yes and no! Most pollen is microscopic and not visible to the human eye. Most pollen is so small that you may not realize that you are inhaling it. This can often make it hard to know if you are having allergies or even when allergy season may start for you. Sometimes pollen that settles on surfaces can create a fine yellow-like dust residue. People often think that allergy season only starts when they see blooming flowers but that is not true.  Tree pollen often starts early in the spring before w ..read more

Don’t let this Halloween FRIGHTEN you! The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT has got you and your GOULISH loved ones covered! What is the Teal Pumpkin Project? The Teal Pumpkin Project is a fun way to increase food allergy awareness and offers a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for those with food allergies! A teal pumpkin on the doorstep identifies a house as having not only candy treats but non-edible options available for the taking! I have food allergies; how can I find teal pumpkins? You can simply trick or treat with your friends and family and look for houses that have a ..read more

Back to School Edition School is back in full swing, and we are headed into the colder months of the year, referred as “flu season”. September is known as the “Asthma Peak Month” as there are more asthma exacerbations (flare of asthma symptoms) and emergency department visits for asthma this month over any other month. This can be attributed to ragweed pollen peaking, cold and flu season starting, and children going back to school. So, let’s talk about what can be done to help you and your child have an exacerbation-free season! My child has asthma, how can I prevent an exacerbation? Even thou ..read more

DRUG ALLERGIES: Penicillin, Amoxicillin, Ceclor. This is how my medical records have read since infancy. Each medicine caused horrible hives and led doctors to demand I NEVER use these medications.  Doctors grasped for alternatives during my many bouts of strep and ear infections as a child. I settled for third-tier drugs when I got bronchitis as an adult. My drug allergy even altered the birth of my second child. I tested positive for group B strep. One dose of penicillin as I went into labor would have been an acceptable solution. Due to my allergy, I had to schedule the birth, sleep i ..read more

Coughing is an important mechanism that helps to protect the lower airways and lungs from excessive secretions and foreign material. Chronic cough is defined as a cough that persists for more than eight weeks in adults, and more than 4 weeks in children. Chronic cough can be very frustrating and can greatly impact one’s quality of life. There are many potential causes for chronic cough, but the most common causes are postnasal drip, asthma, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Some people with chronic cough have one of these conditions, two, or even all three. Bacterial sinus infection ..read more