Getting Irritated? It May be Contact Dermatitis
By Natalie Jewell
What's this on my face? Most of us are all too familiar with having issues with skin conditions such as rashes and acne as tiny tots and teens, but we are pretty well spared having such issues as adults. So when we suddenly see something abnormal happening with our skin, it can be alarming.
While you should be on the lookout for changes in your skin, in particular signs of melanoma, most skin rashes and breakouts are not contagious or life-threatening. They can be pretty irritating though (pun intended). In addition to developing a rash, your skin may blister, become dry and cracked, become swollen, or become itchy and burn. In short, they can make you pretty uncomfortable.
The Dermatitis Dilemma
While the symptoms are very similar, there are actually two types of contact dermatitis: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
Irritant contact dermatitis stems from something coming in contact with your skin that causes the outermost protective layer to be compromised. In a sense, it gets burned or damaged by something. Some examples of common irritants are household cleaners such as bleach, hair dyes, harsh soaps, solvents, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Allergic contact dermatitis is a result of something you're allergic to coming in contact with your skin. Your body thinks it's under attack, which triggers an immune response. You may not even know that you're allergic to it until you experience a reaction. Some examples of things that may cause allergic contact dermatitis are nickel or other metals often found in jewelry; poison ivy, rubber ingredients such as latex, antibiotics, and sunscreens.
Treatment for Contact Dermatitis
Treatment for both types of contact dermatitis is similar, and may include one or more of the following:
- Wash your skin with mild soap and cool water, ideally right after touching the substance that caused the reaction
- Apply cold moist compresses to blisters
- Use hypoallergenic moisturizer to help restore the protective layer of your skin
- Apply a hydrocortisone cream
- Try oral antihistamines to reduce itching
- And it may seem obvious, but if you know what caused the rash don't touch it again
If your rash isn't better after a few days, you feel that your skin may have become infected, or if your condition is so uncomfortable that it's affecting your sleep and daily routine, contact your doctor. Or if your eyes, nasal passages, or lungs are sore and inflamed, you think the mucous lining of your mouth and digestive tract has been damaged, or your rash is sudden, severe, and spreading rapidly, you should see a doctor immediately.
In either case, if an allergy is suspected, a specialist can perform patch testing to help determine what substances you're allergic to. This involves exposing your skin to small amounts of substances, that commonly cause allergies, to see which ones cause a reaction.
Contact dermatitis can be a pain, but don't despair. There are solutions.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Denton.