Contact dermatitis: photos, symptoms and treatment
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that occurs as a result of contact of the skin with an allergen or irritant.
Such allergens and irritants can be some food products, metals, household chemicals, cosmetics, synthetic substances and much more.
Contact dermatitis develops rapidly if a person initially has a sensitivity to the allergen. Otherwise, dermatitis can develop several weeks, during which a person must be systematically exposed to the stimulus.
The disease can occur as an independent syndrome, and in conjunction with allergic conjunctivitis or rhinitis.
Contact dermatitis is a type of cellular immune response, the appearance of which is not instantaneous. A person interacts with a certain substance for a long time, during which the human immune forces can stop "determining" this substance as safe.
A response immune response occurs, and in the case of contact dermatitis, the reaction occurs at the site of contact with the stimulus, for example, on the palms or wrists. If a person previously had an allergy to a certain substance, then in the case of the appearance of contact dermatitis it does not take much time.
It's usually only a few hours or days. In addition, a factor that increases the likelihood of developing dermatitis is damage to the skin. In this case, dermatitis may appear in a few days after the contact of a person with a substance for which he had not previously had an allergy.
To substances and objects, which most often develops an allergy and, as a consequence, contact dermatitis, include:
Symptoms of contact dermatitis depend on the stimulus, on the time and frequency of human contact with it, as well as on the immune response of the body.
In most cases, redness of the skin and swelling at the site of contact with the irritant, possibly the appearance of vesicles that eventually dry out, as well as rashes and erosion. Very often the affected area itches, which brings some inconvenience to a person. In addition, an itchy place a person can unintentionally comb, which will increase the likelihood of infection with the infection.
The rash is most often localized at the sites of contact with the allergen, but it can become longer with time. In acute contact dermatitis with severe symptoms, fever, chills, weakness and general deterioration of the person's well-being are possible, especially if a secondary infection has joined.
The location of dermatitis can help determine an allergen or irritant.
Diagnosis of contact dermatitis begins primarily with the collection of an anamnesis of the disease and the analysis of patient complaints. In the formulation of the correct diagnosis, information such as the place of redness, the presence of itching, burning, the time of the onset of the first symptoms, the presence of contacts with new cosmetic or chemical agents, as well as with other possible allergens helps in the formulation of the correct diagnosis. The presence of bad habits, poor working conditions, work in hazardous production, the presence of allergies can also help in diagnosis.
Next, you need an external examination, with which the doctor will make sure that skin manifestations do not belong to another disease. You may need a general blood test, which will show the state of human health, as well as an important indicator of eosinophils, which indicate the presence of an allergic reaction in the human body. If the eosinophil count exceeds the normal value, then it speaks in favor of having an allergy.
If, based on the results of the initial examination, as well as information received about the person's lifestyle and complaints, it is impossible to establish the cause of contact dermatitis, then special tests are conducted. These tests include an application skin test. Its essence lies in applying possible allergens to the human skin to establish a positive response.
The application skin test should be performed by a specialist to reduce the likelihood of false positive or false negative reactions. Usually it takes two days to determine the allergen.
Read also, the treatment of atopic dermatitis, as well as the symptoms of allergic dermatitis.
After a correct diagnosis, an effective treatment is needed. Treatment of contact dermatitis is reduced to the elimination of human interaction with the allergen, after which the manifestations of dermatitis pass fairly quickly.
The affected area requires the application of an aseptic dressing. If necessary, you can use local anti-inflammatory or antihistamine. In case of a strong allergic reaction of the body, when allergic conjunctivitis or rhinitis is attached to contact dermatitis, oral administration of antihistamines is necessary.
Since the affected areas often itch, a person can, by carelessness, comb them and infect the wound. In this case, it is mandatory to treat the affected area with local wide-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, to ease the condition, it is possible to use herbal decoctions in the form of lotions applied to the affected area.
Simple chamomile has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect that will help healing the affected area and even relieve itching for a while.
Complications of contact dermatitis in most cases are associated with attachment to the affected area of secondary infection and its further development. So, ulcers, purulent skin lesions, abscesses and phlegmon can appear, which are much more difficult to treat than simple manifestations of contact dermatitis.
In addition, contact dermatitis can go into a chronic form. This is due to the fact that a person can not, for example, work, refuse to interact with an allergen. The constant appearance of dermatitis translates the disease into a chronic form, which is harder to cope with.
Specific prevention, which will allow a person to avoid contact dermatitis, does not exist. It is only possible to reduce the likelihood of dermatitis due to the following preventive actions:
Such allergens and irritants can be some food products, metals, household chemicals, cosmetics, synthetic substances and much more.
Contact dermatitis develops rapidly if a person initially has a sensitivity to the allergen. Otherwise, dermatitis can develop several weeks, during which a person must be systematically exposed to the stimulus.
The disease can occur as an independent syndrome, and in conjunction with allergic conjunctivitis or rhinitis.
Causes of contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a type of cellular immune response, the appearance of which is not instantaneous. A person interacts with a certain substance for a long time, during which the human immune forces can stop "determining" this substance as safe.
A response immune response occurs, and in the case of contact dermatitis, the reaction occurs at the site of contact with the stimulus, for example, on the palms or wrists. If a person previously had an allergy to a certain substance, then in the case of the appearance of contact dermatitis it does not take much time.
It's usually only a few hours or days. In addition, a factor that increases the likelihood of developing dermatitis is damage to the skin. In this case, dermatitis may appear in a few days after the contact of a person with a substance for which he had not previously had an allergy.
To substances and objects, which most often develops an allergy and, as a consequence, contact dermatitis, include:
- some food products( honey, citrus fruits, fish, peanuts, etc.);
- cosmetic products( shampoos, toothpaste, soap, cosmetics, etc.);
- household chemicals( dishwashing detergents, windows, washing powders, etc.);
- various substances( dyes, glue, ink);
- metals( gold, silver, nickel, etc.);
- medicines and much more.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis
Symptoms of contact dermatitis depend on the stimulus, on the time and frequency of human contact with it, as well as on the immune response of the body.
In most cases, redness of the skin and swelling at the site of contact with the irritant, possibly the appearance of vesicles that eventually dry out, as well as rashes and erosion. Very often the affected area itches, which brings some inconvenience to a person. In addition, an itchy place a person can unintentionally comb, which will increase the likelihood of infection with the infection.
The rash is most often localized at the sites of contact with the allergen, but it can become longer with time. In acute contact dermatitis with severe symptoms, fever, chills, weakness and general deterioration of the person's well-being are possible, especially if a secondary infection has joined.
The location of dermatitis can help determine an allergen or irritant.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of contact dermatitis begins primarily with the collection of an anamnesis of the disease and the analysis of patient complaints. In the formulation of the correct diagnosis, information such as the place of redness, the presence of itching, burning, the time of the onset of the first symptoms, the presence of contacts with new cosmetic or chemical agents, as well as with other possible allergens helps in the formulation of the correct diagnosis. The presence of bad habits, poor working conditions, work in hazardous production, the presence of allergies can also help in diagnosis.
Next, you need an external examination, with which the doctor will make sure that skin manifestations do not belong to another disease. You may need a general blood test, which will show the state of human health, as well as an important indicator of eosinophils, which indicate the presence of an allergic reaction in the human body. If the eosinophil count exceeds the normal value, then it speaks in favor of having an allergy.
If, based on the results of the initial examination, as well as information received about the person's lifestyle and complaints, it is impossible to establish the cause of contact dermatitis, then special tests are conducted. These tests include an application skin test. Its essence lies in applying possible allergens to the human skin to establish a positive response.
The application skin test should be performed by a specialist to reduce the likelihood of false positive or false negative reactions. Usually it takes two days to determine the allergen.
Read also, the treatment of atopic dermatitis, as well as the symptoms of allergic dermatitis.
Treatment of contact dermatitis
After a correct diagnosis, an effective treatment is needed. Treatment of contact dermatitis is reduced to the elimination of human interaction with the allergen, after which the manifestations of dermatitis pass fairly quickly.
The affected area requires the application of an aseptic dressing. If necessary, you can use local anti-inflammatory or antihistamine. In case of a strong allergic reaction of the body, when allergic conjunctivitis or rhinitis is attached to contact dermatitis, oral administration of antihistamines is necessary.
Since the affected areas often itch, a person can, by carelessness, comb them and infect the wound. In this case, it is mandatory to treat the affected area with local wide-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, to ease the condition, it is possible to use herbal decoctions in the form of lotions applied to the affected area.
Simple chamomile has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect that will help healing the affected area and even relieve itching for a while.
Complications of
Complications of contact dermatitis in most cases are associated with attachment to the affected area of secondary infection and its further development. So, ulcers, purulent skin lesions, abscesses and phlegmon can appear, which are much more difficult to treat than simple manifestations of contact dermatitis.
In addition, contact dermatitis can go into a chronic form. This is due to the fact that a person can not, for example, work, refuse to interact with an allergen. The constant appearance of dermatitis translates the disease into a chronic form, which is harder to cope with.
Prevention of contact dermatitis
Specific prevention, which will allow a person to avoid contact dermatitis, does not exist. It is only possible to reduce the likelihood of dermatitis due to the following preventive actions:
- 1) Avoid accidental contact with allergens or irritants.
- 2) In case of contact with the skin, immediately wash skin with soap and water.
- 3) In case of contact with an allergen or irritant, it is necessary to protect the skin with gloves or tight clothing.