Contact Dermatitis
In this article, we’ll be focusing in on contact dermatitis. While it is not the most wide spread type of eczema, it is still one of the more common types, along with others such as seborrhoeic dermatitis. Much like the article on atopic eczema, this article will be spent going into details about what makes contact dermatitis different from other types of eczema, along with the characteristics and causes.
Before we begin, I’d like to try something a bit different. Below is a video on contact dermatitis, specifically from poison ivy, that you can use as a supplement to the rest of the article.
What is Contact Dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis (can be referred to as contact eczema) is an inflammation of the skin that is caused by either allergens, irritants, or in specific circumstances, a sensitivity to sunlight. Specifically, these three types of contact dermatitis are referred to as allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and photocontact dermatitis respectively. While the symptoms of each are similar, each type of contact dermatitis has its own causes.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is the most prevalent form of immunotoxicity in humans, but between other types of contact dermatitis, it is less common than irritant contact dermatitis. People with a history of allergies are more susceptible to this type of contact dermatitis, and it is caused by having the skin come in contact with an allergen. Well known examples include the oils found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Unlikely allergens include metals such as gold, nickel, and chromium.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis, usually due to the abundant factors found in everyday products that aggravate sensitive skin. Products high in alkaline, such as harsh cleansers and detergents, drain cleaners, and any soap with lye residue are common irritants. Certain types of plants may also be a factor. Other products and chemicals that can cause ICD are latex, kerosene, acetone, turpentine and alcohol. Topical medications and cosmetics may also irritate the skin.
Photocontact Dermatitis
Photocontact dermatitis is quite unusual, as it needs both sunlight and an activator to occur. When this activator (typically a harmless or less harmful substance) makes contact with the skin, only through exposure to ultraviolet light will this trigger a reaction on the skin. Therefore, photocontact eczema only appears in areas that have been exposed to sunlight, and can be effectively cured by avoiding exposure to the sun.
Contact Dermatitis Symptoms
Despite there being three types if contact dermatitis, all the symptoms are similar. You may experience an itching, red rash, blisters, welts, or even hives. Typically speaking, irritant contact dermatitis may have a painful, burning sensation. Allergic contact dermatitis tends to be itchier, but not painful. When an agent of ICD makes contact with the skin, the rash usually appears immediately, but with an allergen, ACD may not appear for up to three days after exposure. Unlike atopic eczema, only the surface of the skin is affected. The skin may take days, if not weeks to heal, but is easily treated by avoiding exposure to the irritant or allergen that began the inflammation.
Prevention of Contact Dermatitis
Unlike other forms of eczema, contact dermatitis is curable, but the difficultly is in knowing what your particular triggers are. Medically speaking, there are multiple factors involved that make distinguishing the differences between each form of contact dermatitis difficult at best. In order to prevent contact dermatitis effectively, you may have to undergo allergy testing. This is not a required procedure, but is available to those who may want more conclusive information. It is advised regardless to seek a dermatologist to test for the type of contact dermatitis you may have at a minimum. From there, you may be able to deduce what the causes are based on products you may have, or the objects you have touched.
If you plan on doing this on your own, we suggest using a journal or a diary to keep a log of daily events. You may be able to narrow down whether you have made contact with a specific plant, chemical, or metal. If you know the name of the product that you have used that may contain an agent, be sure to log that into your journal or dairy, as multiple products that produce similar results may not contain the same agents. Also, note that chemicals sometimes have several other names.
References:
MedicineNet.com for additional general information on contact dermatitis.
Tags: contact dermatitis causes, contact dermatits, eczema, eczema prevention
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