Contact Dermatitis
Midwest Allergy Sinus Asthma, SC
Are you plagued by skin that turns dry, red, and itchy after you do something simple, like wash your hair or work on the dishes? If so, find relief by reaching out to Midwest Allergy Sinus Asthma, SC, located in Normal and Springfield, Illinois, about contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a common ailment that’s easy to manage with the right treatment. Stop suffering. Book your appointment online or over the phone today.
Contact Dermatitis Q & A
What is contact dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis is an itchy, red rash caused by contact with an irritant or allergen. Anyone can be bothered by contact dermatitis, but people with co-existing atopic dermatitis, or eczema, are more likely to get contact dermatitis than others.
Other symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
- Dry, scaly, cracked skin
- Blistering rash and bumps that may be oozing or crusted
- Tenderness, burning, or swelling
Contact dermatitis can also lead to foot eczema, hand eczema, and skin infections. Contact dermatitis ranges in severity and gets worse when you scratch your skin.
What types of contact dermatitis are there?
Irritant contact dermatitis
The most common type of contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis occurs when irritants contact the outer layer of your skin. You can get irritant contact dermatitis from substances like:
- Plants
- Poison ivy/poison oak
- Soaps
- Jewelry
- Bleaches, detergents, and solvents
- Rubbing alcohol
Allergic contact dermatitis
This type of dermatitis comes from contact with substances you’re allergic to. This includes allergies such as:
- Cosmetic allergy
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) allergy
Occupational contact dermatitis
Occupational contact dermatitis and occupational eczema result from exposure to irritants and allergens in the workplace. This is a common complaint of stylists, who sometimes have a reaction to the hairdressing products they use on clients.
How do doctors find the cause of contact dermatitis?
To find out why you have contact dermatitis, your health care provider at Midwest Allergy Sinus Asthma can perform patch testing, including chemical patch testing.
To begin a patch test, your allergist applies several adhesive patches to your back. These patches are each covered in different allergens.
For two to three days, you leave these patches on, being careful not to get them wet, and then you return to the doctor. When you come back, they remove the patches and look for delayed hypersensitivity reactions on your skin.
How can I treat contact dermatitis?
To control the symptoms of contact dermatitis, you can use:
- Steroid creams or ointments to soothe rashing
- Prescription corticosteroids to alleviate inflammation
- Antihistamines to stop itching
- Antibiotics to fight infection
Which treatment is right for you depends on the cause of your contact dermatitis and your medical history.
Are you itching for a solution to your contact dermatitis? If so, reach out to Midwest Allergy Sinus Asthma today. Schedule your appointment online or over the phone.