Unknown allergic reaction now hypersensitivity to scents

1.5 wks ago I had an unknown allergic reaction. I entered a restaurant and within 5 mins I was extremely congested and tried blowing my nose I relieve the pressure...unsuccessful! I had yet to eat or drink anything and hve not used new soaps/detergents...nothing new or out of the ordinary. After 2 hrs I was sneezing constantly and my nose wouldn't stop running. I noticed the following day that my torso was covered in hives.

The hives are red, itchy and 0.5-2 cm in diameter. A few days later they spread to my neck and have since spread to my arms, pelvic area and upper thighs. From what I read online hives can take anywhere between days-several wks to clear up. Mine seem to be spreading.

The itching of the hives I can deal with. What I can't deal with is the hypersensitivity to everything! I've since become extremely sensitive to everything...perfumes, cigarette smoke, dust and any scents. This weekend I seem to be caught a cold. Non stop sneezing, congestion, runny nose, headache, fatigue. This is so draining and I'm tired of being sick and oversensitive.

I am allergic to cats, dogs, anything with fur and all those lovely seasonal allergens. I'm sensitive to dust, mold and cigarette smoke. But my recent sensitivity is way beyond my usual.

I have a history of weird skin things, like skin fungus and halo moles, mild rosacea so I guess my skin is also kind of sensitive. I've once got hive like this before and attributated it to some food. But my thoughts are it wasn't the food. They took weeks to go away.

I'm really sensitive to cold and allergy meds. I can take 12-24 hr allergy meds but everything else makes me really drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, sleepy, anxious...so much so I get nauseous and feel outside of my body. I'm using a saline solution and started using my Avamys today.

Any suggestions...I'm annoyed and frustrated! Should I see an allergist? I'm already waiting to see a dermtologist in Jan for a difficult wart under my fingernail. It's not really the kind of specialist I can go see right away. And by Jan the hives will be gone and hopefully so will the hypersensitivity!

Help?

Female - age 25

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Continue with your antihistamines, they will help to control your symptoms. Antihistamines block the histamine receptors and prevent histamine from acting and thus help in preventing rashes. Local measures like ice packs and antipruritic lotions are helpful.

But the aim of the therapy is identification and removal of trigger factors. It is the most important and the only effective long-term therapy. Since you are already aware of the triggering factors, avoid them or desensitize yourself with the help of an allergy specialist.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.