Identifying Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a general term
for a rash on the skin that is caused by a material that is toxic, irritating,
or causes an allergic reaction. The redness comes from an inflammation of the
outer layers of the skin, generally taking days to go away on its own. There is
more than one kind, however, but identifying contact dermatitis, as well as
preventing or treating it, is
definitely possible.
Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by
exposure to a universally toxic or irritating substance. An
irritant is defined as something that
can cause pain or swelling in biological tissue. Irritants are not always
avoidable, however many are labeled so that you can use caution in their
presence. Some common causes of irritant contact dermatitis are latex and
cosmetics.
Allergic contact dermatitis stems from
coming in contact with a material that your skin is allergic to. There are
common allergens, so knowledge and avoidance of these is suggested, however
knowing what you are allergic to personally can be of major assistance in
avoiding allergic contact dermatitis. Allergens well known to cause contact
dermatitis are gold and formaldehyde. Photocontact dermatitis is a specialized
form of irritant
contact dermatitis where the material
in question is not harmful, or less so, without exposure to ultraviolet light;
because of this, the
photocontact variety of contact
dermatitis usually appears on areas of the skin open to the sun.
Treatment for the symptoms of contact
dermatitis on your own starts with gently washing the area with cool water and
soap, so that you are rid of the irritant or allergen that caused the problem.
If soap and water are not sufficient to counteract the substance, vinegar or
lemon juice may help. Be sure not to scratch the effected areas, as this can
open your skin to further infections. Antihistamines and lotions can help to
reduce the
itching caused by contact dermatitis,
and if there is any blistering then apply a cold compress to the area for half
an hour in the morning, noon, and night. In more acute cases of
contact dermatitis, prescription
strength hydrocortisone cream may be administered, however over the counter
varieties can also be useful. If this proves ineffective, particularly if
symptoms last more than three days or becomes too painful, medical
treatment for contact dermatitis can
include more powerful lotions, such as corticosteroids.
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