What Is Contact Dermatitis? Everything You Need To Know

Mar 14, 2024 By Madison Evans

Are you still suffering from redness, or has a new detergent or skin care product become your woe? There is a possibility that you ended up with the contact dermatitis condition. This is due to a primary reactant resulting from substances. Contact dermatitis can be an allergic reaction to contact or when someone comes into direct contact with an allergen. Although it's non-infectious, having a rash is not always comfy. Cosmetics, fragrances, jewels, and other products are some things that may be responsible for this. It normally takes a while before the rash appears, usually a few days after the exposure.

Causes of Contact Dermatitis

Sometimes, airborne contact dermatitis may evolve into a type I (or allergic) reaction, and other times, into a type II (or irritant type).

Allergic Type

Allergic contact dermatitis may be caused by allergies to certain foreign substances. The immune system creates inflammatory substances that can worsen skin problems, resulting in more acne. Common allergens that cause allergic contact dermatitis include: Common allergens that cause allergic silicone contact dermatitis include:

  • Devices equipped with nickel and gold, like these watches, and wearable and decorative stuff, including the Apple watch.
  • Cosmetics are used in makeup, skincare products, latex materials, dyes, and chemicals.

Irritant Type

Irritant contact dermatitis, the most common form of skin rash among workers because of rubbing against or coming in contact with harmful substances, is also one of the reasons for the development of occupational skin diseases. Toxic substances may induce contact dermatitis: Some toxic substances may induce contact dermatitis:

  • Acid from a battery
  • Bleaching products
  • The pool water, which is chlorinated, gets mixed and diluted with the non-treated drain runoff water.
  • Chemicals that clear drains
  • Kerosene
  • Cleaning and washing products

Very benign substances, even soap, may cause irritating contact dermatitis when applied too frequently. On the other hand, frequently washing hands, irrespective of professional contexts, leads to irritating airborne contact dermatitis of the hands, even if you work in a healthcare setting, as a hairdresser, or as a bartender.

Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis

What causes contact dermatitis and how sensitive you are to substances determine the symptoms. Allergic silicone contact dermatitis symptoms include:

  • Scaly, dry, flaky skin
  • A rash that is both irritating and bumpy
  • Oozing blisters
  • Skin that seems darkened
  • Painful, blistering skin
  • Avoid direct sunlight
  • Redness and swelling, most noticeably around the eyes, cheeks, and groin

Skin discoloration is another typical sign of allergic silicone contact dermatitis. Dark skin may become a deep purple, brown, or even gray, while lighter skin might turn a bright red. On the other hand, a distinct set of symptoms may be associated with irritant contact dermatitis, including:

  • Blistering
  • Swelling
  • Skin becomes very dry and cracks
  • Lesions on the skin that are feeling tight or stiff
  • Piecrusts form on open wounds

The following may aggravate the symptoms of irritant airborne contact dermatitis:

  • Hot and humid conditions
  • Rubbing against an irritant is an example of friction
  • Dryness of air

Contact dermatitis may interrupt sleep, impair concentration, and make it difficult to accomplish your job or schoolwork.

Treatment Options For Contact Dermatitis

Due to its similarity to other skin disorders, dermatologists often prescribe hydrocortisone and other steroids to alleviate the symptoms of contact dermatitis. To rule out other illnesses like psoriasis, it's necessary to contact a dermatologist who is board-certified. While topical steroids may alleviate itching and other symptoms of contact dermatitis, doctors may recommend a brief course of topical, oral, injectable corticosteroids for more extensive rashes.

Finding and avoiding the allergy or irritant that causes flare-ups is the key to preventing further outbreaks. Further prevention of flare-ups is possible with an effective skin care regimen that includes appropriate lotions, moisturizers, and other skincare products. Because stinging, pain, or discomfort often occurs within minutes of contact, the trigger is typically straightforward to detect with irritant contact dermatitis.

It is common to need allergy testing in order to know what to avoid while dealing with allergic airborne contact dermatitis. Patch testing is the best method to use in the workplace. In this procedure, the patient's skin is tested around 48 hours after the doctor administers patches containing tiny amounts of different allergens to their arm or back. Possible allergy treatments include antihistamines.

Precautions To Avoid Contact Dermatitis

Following an episode of itchy skin, the best action to prevent allergic silicone contact dermatitis is to see a dermatologist or immunologist to determine what environmental factors may have exposed you to the allergen. You can devise a plan to locate and recognize the possible triggers in your environment. Additionally, you may reduce contact dermatitis risk by:

  • Avoid allergens and irritants. If possible, seek out the source of your rash and avoid it. For piercings in your ears or torso, use hypoallergenic jewelry, such as surgical steel or gold.
  • Washing your skin immediately after touching it with poison ivy, oak, or poison sumac may help remove most rash-causing chemicals. A mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water are plenty. Give it a good rinsing. Clothing and other objects that could have come into touch with poison ivy or other plant allergens should also be washed.
  • Goggles or other protection are required. Face masks, goggles, gloves, and other safety gear may protect you from unpleasant chemicals like household cleaners.
  • Use an iron-on patch to protect yourself against skin-piercing metal fasteners. Thus, you won't have an allergic response when your jeans are ripped.
  • Put on some barrier lotion or gel. These items can shield your skin from environmental aggressors. Bentoquatam-containing Ivy Block, a nonprescription skin treatment, may relieve poison ivy symptoms.
  • Regularly moisturizing lotion may regenerate the skin's outer layer and preserve suppleness.
  • Dogs and other animals need special caution. Poison ivy and other plant allergens may cling to animals and eventually infect humans. If your pet has gotten poison ivy or any comparable infection, it's important to bathe it immediately.

Final Thoughts

Skin reaction to contact with irritants or allergens may lead to contact dermatitis. Although symptoms often resolve independently, they may still be uncomfortable. Avoiding the offending allergen or irritant and employing over-the-counter medications may alleviate the symptoms of contact dermatitis in most instances.

A visit to the doctor may be necessary in more serious instances or if an infection develops on your rash. An allergist or dermatologist can help you learn more about your skin's sensitivities and the steps to prevent problems.

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