Allergic Contact Dermatitis 1. What does dermatitis look like?
Allergic contact dermatitis can be difficult to distinguish from other rashes. The rash often takes several days to appear after the exposure. This makes it difficult to find the culprit. The skin swells and blisters appear. Blisters may break, forming crusts and scales. Untreated, the skin may darken and become leathery and cracked. 2. What is the difference between irritant dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis?
Allergic contact dermatitis is not usually caused by things like acid, alkali, solvent, strong soap or detergent. These harsh compounds, which can produce a reaction on anyone's skin, are known as irritants. Although some chemicals are both irritants and allergens, allergic contact dermatitis results from brief contact with substances that don't usually provoke a reaction in most people. 3. What is the cause of allergic contact dermatitis?
Allergic contact dermatitis results from brief contact with substances that don't usually provoke an irritant reaction in most people. The dermatologist and patient will discuss the materials that touch the person's skin at work and home to identify the allergen. The most common allergens are fragrance, nickel, neomycin, and formaldehyde. The dermatologist may perform skin patch tests. Patch testing is a safe and quick way to diagnose contact allergies. A small amount of the suspected allergen is applied to the skin for a fixed time, usually two days. 4. How is allergic contact dermatitis treated?
People with allergic contact dermatitis should: - Avoid the allergen that causes the reaction and materials that cross-react with it. Your dermatologist can help you identify items to avoid.
- Substitute a product made of materials that do not cause reactions.
Patch testing by a dermatologist can alert patients to which substances to avoid. Content courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology |
