A Family Doctor's Tale -CONTACT DERMATITIS

DOC I HAVE CONTACT DERMATITIS


Contact Dermatitis is a common skin condition which presents as a erythematous or vesicular rash on face, neck, hands and other areas in contact with external environmental substances.

The cause of Contact Dermatitis is related to the exposure of the skin to the external environmental substances, chemicals or plants.

There may be a latent interval of days or years between first exposure and development of sensitization.

Virtually any substance can cause sensitivity of the epidermis of the skin.

Some possible triggers are:
1.Metals especially nickel from bracelet, pendants, neck chains, or chrome from watches, etc

2.Dyes from comestics,lipstick, clothes, hair dyes

3.Chemicals from perfumes, soaps, shaving cream, antiseptic creams

4.drugs such as penicillin, sulphonamides, tetracycline, neomycin, aspirin, NSAIDs, ointment bases,

5.Plants such as poison ivy, flowers, pollens, primrose just to name a few can cause skin allergy

6.Animals - the fur from animals can cause contact dermatitis

Contact Dermatitis affects both sexes equally.

Symptoms and signs of Contact Dermatitis are:
Typical features of Contact Dermatitis are:

1.vesicular or bubbles in areas most exposed to the external environmental substance

2.erythrematous or red rashes in areas most exposed to direct contact

3.hives or urticaria from direct contact such as pollens

4.weeping eczema in severe cases

Diagnosis:

skin patch tests

Treatment of an Contact Dermatitis treatment routine is:

1. Avoid exposure to causative substance

2.application of nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments to reduce inflammation
if the condition persists, worsens, or does not improve satisfactorily.

Hydrocotisone cream and ointment are preferred to prevent side effects such as skin thinning.

3.For severe flare-ups, your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids (this treatment is not recommended for long-term use).

4.sedative antihistamines are sometimes used to reduce the itch

Prognosis of Contact Dermatitis:

good to excellent in most cases with avoidance of contact substance

Recurrence is always possible due to recontact or new substance allergy

Prevention of Contact Dermatitis is by:
Contact Dermatitis can usually be avoided with some simple precautions.

1.Avoid contact with the causative environmental substance which has been identified

2.Avoid contact with drugs or cosmetics which can trigger off Contact dermatitis

3.Avoid contact with foods having dyes and preservatives