Dr. Lipson - Allergy and Asthma Consultants

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. treats Sinusitis

Do you experience nasal congestion or stuffiness,tenderness of the face, persistent post nasal drip, headaches or teeth pain?

Then you may have sinusitis or a sinus infection.

It is often confused with a bad cold that never seems to go away. Sinuses are air filled cavities within the skull. As a result of allergies and hay fever, people often get infections in their sinuses caused by bacteria leading to the symptoms described above.

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If you suffer from these symptoms, we can help. A board certified allergist is the most appropriate doctor to take care of these problems. Once the diagnosis is made, the proper antibiotic can clear up this problem and we can help you keep it from recurring.
By diagnosing what the cause of your allergies are, we can treat these symptoms and prevent ongoing and recurrent sinus infections.

Contact our office now and see what we can do to help you rid yourself of sinus infections once and for all.

Call us today: 650-216-6111

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. treats Poison Oak Dermatitis

It’s all over California, especially the Bay Area! It is insidious, creeping up on you when you least suspect it. And it’s miserable to deal with. The diabolical skin rash we call poison oak can affect anyone at anytime of the year. In California, the rash is caused by poison oak, in the Midwest and East coast it’s caused by poison ivy, and in the South it’s caused by poison sumac. But whatever the cause, the reaction is generally the same. It is triggered by an oil on the plant we call Rhus. And the reaction of this oil to your skin will lead to the typical rash we see. This rash can occur on any skin that has contact with the oil. The rash can occur within two days of exposure to the oil, or as long as two weeks if this is your first exposure.

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Initial symptoms are skin irritation followed by itching and blister formation. The rash can be pretty extensive and may be spread by touching the initial exposure site and spreading the oil to other parts of the skin. Often the rash is seen in a linear deposition due to the patient scratching the skin in a line.

The best thing to do if you know you have been exposed to poison oak is to immediately wash all exposed skin with rubbing alcohol in which the resin in soluble. Soap works also but not as well. And rinse with cold water that will not open the skin pores to the oil.

Once the rash appears, the horse is out of the barn and no washing will help. However, contrary to popular belief, the fluid from the blisters and skin vesicles cannot spread the rash. But you must be careful not to touch any clothes that may still have the oil and be ure to wash the clothes thoroughly to get rid of the oil

Treatment of poison oak consists of cool compresses to sooth the rash. Antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec can be helpful to minimize the itching. And these antihistamines should not cause drowsiness like the older ones do such as Benadryl

However if the poison ivy or poison oak is moderate, severe or more extensive, a visit to your doctor may be warranted. They can prescribe potent topical steroids to the affected areas or if the rash is extensive enough than oral steroids. These medications will suppress the allergic reaction caused by the oil on the skin. In two or three days, the itching should subside and the rash should start to recede. However it is crucial to take these meds in tapering doses over two to three weeks to prevent a recurrence of the rash.

Some researchers have tried to desensitize patients to poison ivy and poison oak by giving them increasing dosing of the oil over a period of time. This has been less than successful and complicated with intolerable side effects such as outbreaks in the GI tract. They are usually reserved for those highly sensitive or people who cannot avoid contact such as forest rangers.

A better approach would be learning to recognize the plant and avoiding contact with it. Staying on a well marked trail wearing long pants and shoes have helped. If accidental contact occurs then wiping the oil with alcohol or alcohol based beverages can help. Using barrier creams such as Ivy Shield or Ivy Block may help prevent outbreaks of the rash. But old fashion vigilance in identifying the plants and avoiding it is the best approach to preventing contracting this annoying and intolerable skin rash.

Contact our office now and see what we can do to help you rid yourself of Poison Oak Dermatitis.

Call us today: 650-216-6111

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. treats Food Allergies

There are approximately 12 million people with food allergies in the US. A food allergy is an over-response of the immune system to a food that the person eats. It usually manifests as a rash such as hives, stuffy or itchy nose and eyes, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea. It can also cause more serious conditions such as angioedema or swelling, chest tightness, throat closure or even anaphylaxis!

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There have even been a number of deaths attributed to food allergies.

Most reactions occur within minutes after eating the food, but some can take hours to manifest.

The most common foods causing allergy include:

• Eggs
• Cow’s Milk
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Wheat
• Tree Nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish

Some people know exactly what foods cause their allergy. Others need the help of a doctor to narrow down and locate the cause. Typically the allergist will begin with a complete medical history to narrow down the causative food. This will include questions about your diet and the time relation of ingesting the food to the reactions. They may also recommend allergy skin tests to confirm the diagnosis. With skin tests, the skin is pricked with a plastic prong through the food extract on the skin. Within 20 minute a raised wheal may occur indicating a food allergen.

Once the offending food is determined, the allergist can help you avoid those foods to minimize ongoing reactions and will often give the patient inject able adrenaline to counteract any serious reactions occurring from the accidental ingestion of the offending food.

Allergies to certain foods such as cow’s milk and eggs may disappear overtime; however reactions to foods such as peanuts and tree nuts tend to be life-long and must be avoided indefinitely

Please contact our office if you feel you suffer from food allergies so we can help you determine the cause and better understand what foods to avoid and how to treat potential reactions.

Call us today: 650-216-6111

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. treats Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis

Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis is a common allergic reaction often affecting the face, neck, front of the elbows and back of the knees, the so called flexure surfaces. It is estimated to affect 15 million people in the US. About 10-20% of infants have eczema.

Although it can look different from person to person, it typically is dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin. It has been described as an “itch that rashes” because it first manifest as an itch, with appearance of the rash when the itch is scratched. Chronic scratching causes the skin to take on a thickened texture and appear like leather.

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Many triggers have been identified with atopic eczema. It is most commonly associated with dry skin and will get worse with agents that dry out the skin, such as soap, detergents and disinfectants.

Foods allergies are a common trigger to atopic eczema. Approximately 30% of patients with eczema have one or more foods that can trigger their symptoms. That is why it is crucial to skin test patients with eczema with food allergens to identify potential triggers.
Then avoidance of that food can help improve the symptoms.

One of the most important components of eczema treatment is to prevent itching. This can be done with moisturizers on the skin, topical cortisone creams and antihistamine pills. If the itch can be stopped then scratching will stop and the rash should clear up.
Because eczema is characterized by dry skin, then moisturizers become crucial in relieving the symptoms. A good moisturizers needs to be applied daily, especially right after bathing .This combined with a good steroid cream as well as Elidel or Protopic ointment can clear up most cases of atopic dermatitis.

An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat eczema/atopic dermatitis. Please contact our office for an appointment to evaluate and treat your eczema.

Call us today: 650-216-6111

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. treats Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects over 20 million Americans. It is a condition characterized by narrowing of the airways, mucous production within the airways and inflammation of the airways.

These symptoms can be persistent, occurring on a daily basis or episodic occurring only with specific triggers.

The so called “allergic asthma” is triggered by specific allergens such as dust mites, molds, animal dander, airborne pollens and cockroaches. Patients with allergic asthma will experience symptoms after exposure to these allergic triggers.

Other triggers include infections such as colds, flu, or bronchitis, exercise or even pregnancy can worsen asthma.

The typical symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. But even a chronic cough, especially after a cold may be a sign of bronchial asthma.

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Although asthma typically begins in childhood, it can begin at any age and symptoms that begin after the age of 50 can sometimes be quite severe, though rarely triggered by allergens.

There is much that can be done to control asthma and minimize its symptoms. Medications such as bronchodilators can control the wheezing and chest tightness.
If symptoms persist, some patients need controller medication such as inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, or even steroid pills such as prednisone.
The controller medications are taken every day regardless of patient symptoms.

And of course avoidance of the allergic triggers such as dust, cats, dogs and molds can be extremely helpful to minimize asthma symptoms, often without needing ongoing medications.

If you cannot avoid asthma triggers and your symptoms are persistent despite using medications, you should consider Allergy immunotherapy or allergy shots. These treatments have been proven effective in controlling some forms of asthma.

See an Allergist and Asthma Specialist today!

An allergist is best qualified to diagnose and treat asthma in both children and adults. They can help you develop a treatment plan to deal with your asthma, minimize your symptoms and allow you to live a normal life free of debilitating asthma symptoms.

Contact our office now and see what we can do to help you.

CALL US TODAY: 650-216-6111

Brian S. Lipson, M.D. – Allergy Testing

More than 50 million people have allergies in the United States. When people with allergies have persistent symptoms, it becomes imperative to find out what their allergies are to better treat their symptoms. It is the first step to an effective treatment for their allergies.

Once a thorough medical history and physical exam are conducted, it is imperative to proceed with allergy testing to identify the allergens triggering the patient’s symptoms.
Allergy testing can be done at any age and involve skin testing or blood testing (Allergy RAST Testing). Allergy testing should always be conducted under the supervision of a board certified allergist/immunologist to effectively interpret the results.

We can Help! Call us today: 650-216-6111

Allergy tests can detect allergies to pollen, mold, dust mite, animal dander, insect stings, foods and some medicines.

Skin testing is done by scratching or pricking the skin with a plastic prong device containing the suspected allergen. The tests can be performed on the back or forearm. Multiple allergens can be tested at the same time. The site is observed for 20 minutes and then red. If there is redness, swelling and itching, it means the patient is allergic to that particular allergen. The size of the reaction will determine how sensitive the patient is to the allergen tested.

Sometimes, a second set of testing called intradermal allergy testing is performed if the first testing is negative. This is done just under the skin and picks up reactions missed by the first set of testing. These results are also read within 20 minutes after applying.

Skin testing causes little or no pain except for the itching and redness associated with positive skin test reactions. These usually go down in a couple of hours and can be treated with antihistamine medication if necessary. However it is crucial to stop all antihistamine medication 3-4 days before allergy skin testing.

Any medical test involves some risk. Allergy skin tests may in rare occasion cause generalized allergic reactions such as rashes, shortness of breath, or anaphylaxis. Fortunately these reactions are easily treated in the allergist office.

Allergy blood tests, also called RAST testing can be an alternative to allergy skin testing. It is most often used if the patient is taking a medicine that will interfere with the skin testing and cannot stop this medicine, has a chronic skin condition that would prevent allergy skin testing or babies and very young children where a blood draw would be better than multiple skin tests.

However allergy blood tests are more expensive than skin testing, take several weeks to get the results, rather than 20 minutes, and are less sensitive than the allergy skin testing. For every 10 positive allergy skin tests, the blood test will pick up approximately only 8 positive tests

Each testing method has its pluses and minuses. The tests alone do not diagnose allergies. They must be interpreted by the allergist in context with the patient’s history and symptoms. So a complete allergy evaluation by a board certified allergist would be the best approach to diagnosing and treating one’s allergies.

Call us today: 650-216-6111

WHAT are the symptoms of allergies?

There are some symptoms that are commonly associated with allergies such as:

• Runny Nose
• Post Nasal Drip
• Sneezing
• Congestion
• Coughing
• Watery eyes

Less common allergy symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Loss of taste and smell
• Low productivity/Poor concentration
• Fatigue
• Sleep Disturbances
• Snoring

Allergy symptoms can be more than bothersome or irritating. They can interfere with your day to day activities and …Continue Reading

The majority of families in the United States enjoy sharing their home with a beloved pet. In fact, almost 70% of US households include a pet as part of the family. When you do the math, it shows there are close to 100 million pets nationwide. Some of these pet owners are defying the odds as they suffer from pet allergies, but still manage to find a way to keep a pet at home.

Pet allergies are extremely common. People who suffer from them are subject to allergic reaction from …Continue Reading

Have you ever started noticing a pattern to your illness? Each year like clockwork, you seem to get sick. It seems like it is always just at the beginning of spring. It’s easy to remember, as it always seems like such a shame because the weather is starting to get nicer, the flowers are in bloom and you’re ready to be outdoors. Just as you think this, the next thing you know you are stuck in bed sniffling, with burning, watery eyes and a scratchy throat. Hardly seems fair for you to get a cold now of all times. But, wait. Is it a cold?

Diagnosing Allergies and Colds Correctly

It is important we correctly diagnose what ails us in order to treat it properly. Colds and allergies share many of the same …Continue Reading

WHAT are allergy shots?

Allergy shots, also referred to as allergy injections or immunotherapy, are in essence, a series of injections to control allergy symptoms. Allergy shots are not a medication. Allergy shots desensitize allergy patients to their specific allergens and are the only way to “turn off” the immune system’s reactions to allergies. Allergy patients frequently choose to get rid of their allergies and become medication “free.” During immunotherapy, the patient will gradually develop a stronger tolerance to their allergens. With allergy shots, your allergy symptoms should be significantly minimized or even eliminated.

WHO should consider receiving allergy shots?

You should consider allergy shots if complete avoidance of your allergens is …Continue Reading