Contact dermatitis is the skin’s reaction to an irritant or some chemical agent. Treatment of ailments is based, inter alia, on avoiding contact with unfavorable factors causing inflammation. Can you be allergic to money? Find out what contact eczema is and what are the treatment methods are.

Whose skin is prone to contact inflammation?

Contact dermatitis (also known as contact eczema) is a skin hypersensitivity reaction to a chemical or irritant.Inflammation occurs when:

1. your skin is hypersensitive to a certain chemical and even a small amount and a tiny molecule will cause changes in your skin. This is due to an inadequate reaction of the immune system, which reacts to a substance once it meets a foreign body that must be fought inadequately to its harmfulness. This is an allergic type of reaction that can occur a day or two after skin contact with substances such as:

1. your skin comes into contact with a concentrated irritant or has very frequent contact with a specific substance, which will damage your epidermis and its further penetration into the deeper layers of the skin (which further leads to inflammation). Symptoms may appear late, even weeks or months after exposure to:

a) soaps and detergents,

b) alcohol and disinfectants,

c) acids (batteries, cosmetics),

d) organic solvents,

e) paints,

f) cement, concrete, plaster,

g) insecticides,

h) with artificial fertilizers.

The occupations most likely to come into contact with irritants are listed below:

1. car mechanic,
2. farmer, gardener,
3. painter, bricklayer, construction worker,
4. cleaners, housewives,
5. electrical industry workers,
6. baker,
7. cook, kitchen helper
8. confectioner,
9. toiletry bag,
10. hairdresser,
11. doctor, nurse,
12. dentist,
13. vet,
14. machine operator employed in the metal and machine industry,
15. plastic producers,
16. carpenter, lumberjack,
17. florist,
18. printer.

Types of contact dermatitis

Typically, contact dermatitis is divided into:

–acute contact dermatitis due to irritation– in the course of the disease there are lesions in the form of edema, erythema and vesicles with serous content; it happens that the acute form of the disease corresponds to a 2nd degree chemical burn;

–chronic contact dermatitis– occurs as a result of regular skin contact with weak sensitizing factors; cracking, exfoliation, erythema, dryness and roughness of the skin as well as its hyperkeratosis are characteristic;

–skin contact with caustic substances (3rd degree chemical burn)– necrotic foci and numerous ulcerations appear on the skin, which, despite healing, leave unsightly scars.

What does contact dermatitis manifest?

If you have contact dermatitis:

1. Your skin itches due to contact with a sensitizing substance (e.g. cosmetics, plants),
2. it is dry, cracked (the greatest severity of inflammation on the dorsal side of the hands),
3. easily reddened,
4. it forms blisters, pustules, cracks and even ulcers.

These changes can only occur at the point of contact with a given substance. However, their extent depends on the degree of skin hypersensitivity, and the most common location of eruptions are the hands, arms, face and genitals. In the case of localization of lesions on the backs of the hands and around the wrists, rubber gloves may be an allergen; when skin lesions are located on the feet – shoes, and on the neck – perfume. The involvement of the eye sockets is most often associated with volatile allergens.

Diagnosis of contact dermatitis by trial and error

At the beginning of the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a medical interview with the patient, during which it is important to establish some information:

1. does the patient suffer from allergic contact dermatitis?
2. or maybe the patient’s inflammation is due to irritation by a specific substance?

Contact dermatitis is diagnosedwhen symptoms are proven on the skin after contact with a substance. For example, if after using a day face cream, our skin becomes eczema and the changes decrease after its discontinuation – we can assume that our skin is hypersensitive to the ingredients of this cosmetic.

However, if these types of methods do not answer what causes a given skin reaction, aso-called patch testsexaminingthe effects of the most common substances leading to contact dermatitis. This method is also known as the contact test, during which metal discs containing allergens in appropriate concentrations are glued to the skin of the patient’s back. If an inflammatory reaction appears after removing such a patch (after about 24-48 hours) – this indicates an allergy to one of the substances. After two days, the patient’s skin should be checked again to ensure that there has not been a delayed allergic reaction.

If the above-mentioned skin tests turn out to be inconclusive – a blood test is needed to determine the level of IgE antibodies.

How to Treat Contact Dermatitis?

The primary treatment of contact dermatitis is to remove the causative agent of the disease. If you know that a given substance ‘sensitizes’ you, do not use it. Do not wear jewelry that causes a rash, do not wash with powder, after which you are ashamed to give someone a hand. The choice of topical preparation and its formulation depends on the clinical stage of eczema.

Anti-inflammatory drugsare used in the treatment of contact dermatitis . For vesicular lesions accompanied by exudation, you can usecompresses with astringent properties(water only) with 0.9% saline solution – they help dry the skin and sootheitching.Lubricating creams, including petroleum jelly, are used especially in skin irritation lesions .

In the event of persistent itching, the doctor may prescribeantihistamines(stopping an allergic reaction) andanti-itching drugs . If sensitization affects a larger body surface area, administration of anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictorcorticosteroids is considered.However, they are a potential allergen and, instead of helping, they can exacerbate the allergic reaction.

In addition, in some cases,desensitizationis performed . It is a method that involves the patient taking small amounts of the allergen so that the body does not show an allergic reaction, but gets used to the substance and thus becomes immune. Untreated and neglected lesions may become bacterial and fungal, then it may be necessary to use an antibiotic in an ointment, or even orally.

Can the disease be prevented?

Yes, there are a number of preventive measures to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis infection. Above all:

– avoid things that contain substances to which your skin is hypersensitive,

– wear gloves when you are going to wash clothes or wash dishes with agents that previously caused skin changes,

– use special brushes for washing up or, if possible, use a dishwasher,

– avoid working with the previously mentioned substances with your bare hands,

– use products free of smell and color,

– avoid sharp-edged brushes and washers, which can additionally damage the epidermis,

– use barrier creams.