Do you have contact dermatitis? Allergic or irritant? Learn more about this type of Eczema here and some tips for managing and preventing it.
What Is Contact Dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis is what happens when the skin becomes irritated or inflamed after coming into contact with certain substances that trigger an allergic reaction. It shows a lot of similar symptoms to other types of eczema, but this is not one that runs in families or is linked to other allergic conditions like asthma or hay fever.
There are two main types of contact dermatitis which are 1) Irritant and 2) Allergic.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
This type of eczema accounts for 80% of all contact dermatitis and it is the one that doesn’t come from an allergic reaction caused by the immune system. Instead, it is when the skin is broken or damaged, and there is an introduction of an irritating substance like soaps, bleach or solvents. Other substances that can cause irritation to damaged skin are:
- Make up
- Hair dye
- Detergents
- Jewelry containing nickel
- Belt buckles
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is essentially a delayed reaction that appears on the skin after a couple of days from initial contact. The most common example of poison ivy. When the skin is exposed to an allergen like poison ivy the body generates a robust inflammatory reaction to the oils within the plant.
This causes the skin to become irritated and produce a rash within a day or two. Fragrances, nickel and the preservative thimerosal, which is found in some topical antibiotics, are also common causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
The most common people to get this type of dermatitis are usually professionals that are required to use irritating substances in their day to day lives, such as mechanics, healthcare workers, hairstylists and custodians.
Other symptoms that can occur, other than a simple itch, can be the following:
- Burning of the skin
- Blistering of the skin
- Sleep disturbances
- Concentration issues
Treating Contact Dermatitis
Dermatologists usually will prescribe some sort of steroid to treat the symptoms as it can mimic several other skin conditions. So ensure that you go and get checked to correctly determine if you possibly have a different skin condition.
Topical steroids may resolve itching and other contact dermatitis symptoms, but if the rash is widespread, dermatologists may prescribe a short-term course of oral or injectable corticosteroids.
To prevent the issue from arising again, it’s advised that you identify what triggers the rash or symptom and remove that from your environment; like certain laundry detergent.
Doctors or a dermatologist may want to patch test a patient to see where the cause of the irritation is stemming from. It may be simple to remove that particular allergen from the individual’s life to allow them to not have to consistently manage the effects and symptoms of contact dermatitis.
Find Relief With Our Honey Eczema Soap
Many of our customers purchase our Honey & Oatmeal soap bars because they have some type of skin concern, whether it be Eczema, Rosacea, Psoriasis, Dry skin, Sensitive skin, Itchy skin, and so on. This soap works great for contact dermatitis.
Our very own female business owner has used our natural soap after such an occurrence. (see photo) Even without having a skin reaction, you can rely on our bar soap to gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin, leaving it refreshed and happy. No harsh chemicals. No harsh fragrance or additives. If you’re not happy, just let us know and we will make it right! Try a bar today, risk-free.
