Description

Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. The rash is not contagious, but it can be very uncomfortable.

Many substances can cause this reaction, such as cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry and plants. The rash usually occurs within days of exposure.

To treat contact dermatitis successfully, you need to identify and avoid the cause of your reaction. If you avoid the substance that causes the reaction, the rash often goes away in 2 to 4 weeks. You can try to calm your skin with a cool, wet cloth and other measures of self-care.

Symptoms

Contact dermatitis is shown in the skin that has been directly exposed to the substance that causes the reaction. For example, the rash may appear over a leg brushed against poison ivy. The rash can develop within minutes to hours after exposure, and can last 2 to 4 weeks.

The signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis vary widely and may include:

  • A skin rash with itching
  • Leather patches that are darker than usual (the), usually brown or Black skin
  • Dry, cracked, peeling of the skin, usually on the white skin
  • Bumps and blisters sometimes with oozing and crusting
  • Swelling, burning, or tenderness

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care provider if:

  • The eruption is so itchy that you can't sleep or go about your day
  • The rash is severe or widespread
  • You are concerned about how your rash is seen
  • The rash is not better within three weeks
  • The rash consists of the eyes, the mouth, the face or genitals

Seek immediate medical attention in the following situations:

  • You think that your skin is infected. Tracks include fever and pus from the blisters.
  • It is difficult to breathe after the inhalation of the burning of the weeds.
  • Your eyes or nostrils hurt after the inhalation of the smoke of burning poison ivy.
  • You think that an ingested substance that has damaged the lining of the mouth or the digestive tract.

Causes

Contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to a substance that irritates the skin or triggers an allergic reaction. The substance could be one of the thousands of known allergens and irritants. Often people have irritation and allergic reactions at the same time.

Irritant contact Dermatitis is the most common type. This non-allergic reaction of the skin occurs when an irritant damages the outer skin of the protective layer.

Some people react to strong irritants after a single exposure. Others may develop a rash develops after repeated exposure to even mild irritants, such as soap and water. And some people develop a tolerance to the substance over time.

Common irritants include:

  • Solvents
  • Rubber gloves
  • Bleach and detergents
  • Hair products
  • Soap
  • The substances in the air
  • Plants
  • Fertilizers and pesticides

Allergic contact Dermatitis occurs when a substance to which it is sensitive (allergens) that triggers an immune reaction in the skin. Often affects only the area that came into contact with the allergen. But it can be caused by something that comes into your body through the foods, spices, medicines, or medical or dental procedures, systemic (allergic contact dermatitis).

Often people are sensitized to allergens after many contacts with him over the years. Once you develop an allergy to a substance, even a small amount can cause a reaction.

Common allergens include:

  • The nickel, which is used in the jewelry, belt buckles and many other items
  • Medications, such as antibiotic creams
  • Balsam of Peru, which is used in many products, such as perfumes, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and flavorings
  • Formaldehyde, which is in preservatives, cosmetics, and other products
  • Personal care products, such as soaps for the body, hair dyes and cosmetics
  • Plants such as poison ivy and mango, which contain a highly allergenic substance called urushiol
  • Airborne allergens, such as ragweed pollen and spray insecticides
  • The products that cause a reaction when you're in the sun (photoallergic contact dermatitis), as some sunscreens and cosmetics

Children develop allergic contact dermatitis of the usual offenders, and also exposure to diapers, baby wipes, jewelry worn in the ear piercing, clothing with snaps or dyes, and so on.

Risk factors

The risk of contact dermatitis may be greater in people who have certain jobs and hobbies. Examples include:

  • Agricultural workers
  • Cleaners
  • Construction workers
  • The cooks and others who work with food
  • Florists
  • Stylists and cosmetologists
  • The care of the health of workers, including workers
  • Machinists
  • Mechanical
  • The divers or swimmers, due to that the rubber masks, or goggles

Complications

Contact dermatitis can cause an infection if you repeatedly scratching the affected area, causing it to become wet and oozing. This creates a good place for bacteria or fungi to grow and can cause an infection.

Prevention

You can take the following steps to help prevent contact dermatitis:

  • Avoid irritants and allergens. Try to identify and avoid the cause of your rash. To the ear and body piercings, wearing jewelry is made from hypoallergenic materials, such as surgical steel or gold.
  • Wash your skin. For poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, you may be able to eliminate the majority of the eruption of the substance that cause if you wash the skin immediately after coming in contact with it. Use a mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Also wash any clothing or other items that may have come in contact with a plant allergen, such as poison ivy.
  • Use protective clothing or gloves. Masks, goggles, gloves and other items of protection can protect you from irritating substances, including cleaning supplies.
  • To apply a iron on the patch to cover the fasteners of metal to the side of your skin. This can help you avoid a reaction to jean lace, for example.
  • Apply a barrier cream or gel. These products can provide a protective layer to the skin. For example, a non-prescription skin cream containing bentoquatam (Ivy Block) can prevent or lessen the skin's reaction to poison ivy.
  • The use of the moisturizing cream. Regular application of moisturizing lotions can help to restore your outer most layer of the skin and keep the skin smooth and soft.
  • Take care of pets. Allergens from plants, such as poison ivy, it can cling to the pets and then spread to people. Bathe your pet if you think he got into some poison ivy or something similar.

Diagnosis

Your health care provider can diagnose contact dermatitis to talk with you about your signs and symptoms. You could be questions to help identify the cause of your condition and discover clues about the trigger of the substance. And is likely to undergo a skin test to assess the eruption.

Your doctor may suggest a patch test to identify the cause of your rash. In this test, small amounts of potential allergens are put in sticky patches. Then, the patches are placed on the skin. To stay in the skin for 2 to 3 days. During this time, you need to keep your back dry. Then, the doctor checks reactions of the skin under the patches and determines if further testing is needed.

This test can be useful if the cause of the rash is not evident, or if the rash is often repeated. But the redness of the skin which indicates a reaction can be difficult to see in color brown or Black skin, which can lead to the loss of a diagnosis.

Treatment

If the measures of care at home the ease of their signs and symptoms, your doctor may prescribe medication. Examples include:

  • Steroid creams or ointments. These are applied to the skin to help calm the rash. You could apply the prescription of topical steroids, such as clobetasol 0.05% or triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%. Talk with your health care provider about how many times a day to apply, and for how many weeks.
  • The pills. In severe cases, the doctor may prescribe pills that you take by mouth (oral medication) to reduce the inflammation, soothe the itch, or to fight a bacterial infection.

Lifestyle and home remedies

To help reduce itching and soothe inflamed skin, try these self-care approaches:

  • Avoid the irritant or allergen. The key is to identify what is causing your rash, and stay away from her. Your health care provider can give you a list of products that normally contain the substance that affects you. Also ask for a list of products that are free of the substance affects you.
  • Apply an anti-itch cream or ointment. Put on the itchy area of hydrocortisone 1% cream or ointment (Cortizone 10, other). This is an over the counter product you can buy at a pharmacy. Use 1 to 2 times a day for a couple of days. Or try the calamine lotion. Whatever product you use, try cooling in the refrigerator before applying.
  • Take an anti-itching of the drug. An oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Advil PM, Benadryl, others), which may also help you sleep better. An antihistamine for sale without a prescription that does not make you so sleepy is loratadine (Alavert, Claritin, and others).
  • Apply cool, wet compresses. Place cool, wet washcloth on the rash of 15 to 30 minutes several times a day.
  • Protect your skin. To avoid scratching. Trim your nails. If you can't keep scratching an itch in the area, is covered with a dressing. Leave blisters alone. While your skin heals, stay out of the sun or the use of other sun protection measures.
  • Immerse yourself in a relaxing bath of cold water. Soak the affected area in cold water for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the water to the oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno).
  • Protect your hands. Wash and dry hands thoroughly and gently after washing. Use moisturizers throughout the day — at the top of any medicated cream that you are using. And select gloves based on what you're protecting your hands. For example, the plastic gloves lined with cotton are good if the hands are often wet.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider, who may then refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment.

What you can do

  • The list of signs and symptoms, including when they started and how long they have lasted.
  • To avoid any kind of substances that you think may have caused the eruption.
  • Take notes about the new products that I started using it and any kind of substances that regularly come into contact with their affected areas of the skin.
  • Make a list of all the medications and supplements you are taking. Better yet, take along one of the bottles, and a list of the dose and directions. Include creams or lotions that you are using.
  • List of questions to ask your health care provider.

For contact dermatitis, some basic questions you can ask include:

  • What could be causing my symptoms and signs?
  • The tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • Is this condition temporary or chronic?
  • Can't wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
  • You are going to scratch the spread of the rash?
  • You are going to pop the blisters spread of the rash?
  • What skin care routines do you recommend to improve my condition?
  • How can I avoid this in the future?

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask questions such as the following:

  • When did you start noticing the symptoms?
  • How often do you have symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional? Do you get better at the weekend or during the holidays?
  • Nothing seems to make your symptoms better or worse?
  • Have you started using any new soaps, lotions, cosmetics or household products?
  • Does your job or a hobby involving the use of products that often come into contact with your skin?
Symptoms and treatment of Contact dermatitis