Contact Dermatitis
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
What is it? Contact dermatitis (der-ma-TI-tus) is a skin rash. It develops when your skin touches something that irritates it or causes an allergic reaction. Contact dermatitis is most commonly seen on the head and neck, arms, or skin fold areas. It can appear anywhere on your body where your skin has touched something that irritates it.
What causes contact dermatitis? Contact dermatitis can be caused by "irritants" (irritating substances) or "allergens" (substances that cause an allergic skin reaction). These include hair sprays, gels, and dyes. They include clothing and tanning products. Contact dermatitis may be caused by wearing certain metals. Jewelry made of nickel or chromium often causes a rash. You may get a rash from certain make-ups, cleaning products, latex gloves, and medicines. Your skin may break out if you touch certain plants such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.
What are the signs and symptoms? Contact dermatitis can appear on your skin at any time. It may break out immediately, but more commonly appears on your skin within hours or days. The way your rash looks may depend upon what your skin has touched or rubbed against. Your skin may be:
- Red, swollen or painful.
- Itchy, stinging, or burning.
- Dry, scaly, and crusty.
- Moist (wet) and oozing (leaking fluid).
- Bumpy. The bumps may be solid or fluid-filled (blisters). They may be large or small.
How is contact dermatitis diagnosed?
- If your rash is very mild, you may be able to treat it at home. Ask your caregiver about creams or ointments that you can buy from the grocery or drug store. If your rash is getting worse or is not going away, you will need to see your caregiver. Your caregiver will examine your rash. He will ask you questions about your work, home, and everyday life. Answers to these questions may help you learn what caused your rash.
- Sometimes caregivers do a test called "patch testing". This test helps caregivers learn if you have a skin allergy. During the test, caregivers attach 20 or more patches to your skin, usually on your upper back. Each patch contains a different allergen. You will wear the patches for about 2 days. The patches are then removed from your skin. Your caregiver will check the skin areas underneath each patch. If the skin under the patch is red, you may be allergic to the substance on that patch. Your caregiver may check your skin the day he removes the patches and then a few days later.
How is it treated?
- Identify (find out) the substance that is causing your rash. Work with your caregiver to learn what substance has caused your contact dermatitis.
- Avoid skin contact with the substance. You may need to avoid certain makeup, hair products, soaps, and cleansers. You may need to stop using products that have fragrances (perfumes) or preservatives (chemicals added to keep the product fresh). You may need to wear protective clothing such as gloves or long sleeves. Ask your caregiver about ways to avoid touching substances that cause your skin rash.
- Take good care of your skin. Good skin care will help heal your skin and keep it healthy when the rash is gone. Your caregiver may give you medicines to rub onto your skin or to take by mouth. These medicines may help pain, redness, or itching to go away. Cool, wet compresses or baths may also help soothe your skin. Once your rash is gone, use "fragrance-free" or "unscented" creams and lotions often. These will keep your skin from becoming too dry. Use them right after a bath and after washing your hands during the day. Ask your caregiver which creams and lotions you should use.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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