How can contact dermatitis be treated

This condition occurs when chemicals you come into contact with cause a reaction. Symptoms associated with allergic contact dermatitis include:.

Photocontact dermatitis is less common. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the skin develops an allergic reaction after being exposed to a foreign substance. This causes the body to release inflammatory chemicals that can make the skin feel itchy and irritated.

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis. It happens when the skin comes in contact with a toxic material. Irritant contact dermatitis can also occur when the skin comes in contact with less irritating materials — like soap or even water — too often.

People whose hands are frequently exposed to water, such as hairdressers, bartenders, and healthcare workers, often experience irritant contact dermatitis of the hands, for example. Most cases of contact dermatitis go away on their own once the substance is no longer in contact with the skin.

Here are some tips you can try at home:. Your doctor will take a thorough medical history and examine your skin. Questions they may ask you include:. Your doctor may refer you to an allergy specialist or dermatologist to pinpoint the cause of your contact dermatitis. This specialist can perform allergy testing called a patch test.

If you think you have contact dermatitis, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist skin specialist or immunologist allergy specialist. It can be difficult to diagnose the cause of allergic contact dermatitis because the rash often appears days after you come into contact with the allergen.

The specialist may do a skin prick test, blood test or patch testing when patches are applied to your skin for several days to see what you are allergic to. Treatment involves working out what allergen or irritant is causing the contact dermatitis and then avoiding it.

The rash should clear slowly once you avoid the trigger. It is possible to have different types of contact dermatitis at the same time. You may need to avoid several different allergens or irritants. Your doctor may recommend a moisturiser, steroid creams or tablets, or therapy such as ultraviolet light. In severe cases, immunosuppressant medication may be needed.

Your pharmacist or doctor may be able to recommend some products which can help with dry, sore or itchy skin. If you have allergic contact dermatitis, you will be allergic to the allergen for life. Preventing the rash depends on how easy it is to avoid the trigger.

Contact dermatitis can become infected. See your doctor if you have a fever or there is pus inside the blisters on your skin. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Contact dermatitis is the result of of direct contact with a trigger substance, such as a chemical or produce such as a detergent. Read more on myDr website.

Dermatitis is a very common, itchy red skin rash with a variety of types and causes some types are also called eczema. You can continue to apply emollient moisturizers after your rash has cleared up. Regular application of moisturizers can help heal and strengthen the skin's barrier and may help minimize the chance of repeated bouts of contact dermatitis. Keeping the rash covered by clothing can act as a physical barrier to prevent scratching.

This is an especially good tip for children, who can't help themselves when faced with an annoyingly itchy rash. Many people discover the cause of their contact dermatitis is a substance they're exposed to at work.

Hairdressers, estheticians , healthcare workers, housekeepers, janitors, cooks, florists, and those who work in manufacturing jobs are especially at risk. There are things you can do to limit your exposure:.

Latex can be an irritant , so consider using non-latex or nitrile gloves. If you need further help, ask your healthcare provider for tips on avoiding irritating substances at work. Nickel is a common cause of contact dermatitis. Many snaps and buttons on jeans and other pants contain nickel.

This can cause a rash where the back of the snap rests on your stomach. There are several over-the-counter treatments that you can get at your local pharmacy to help reduce symptoms and make you more comfortable until the rash heals. You can ask your pharmacist for advice in choosing an appropriate OTC treatment. Take special care in choosing anti-itch remedies for children and don't hesitate to call the pediatrician for advice.

Hydrocortisone creams help relieve itching, irritation, and inflammation. A typical application involves applying a thin layer to affected skin two to four times daily for a few days.

Ask your pediatrician before using hydrocortisone on a young child. Hydrocortisone shouldn't be used long-term, because it can cause thinning of the skin. Calamine lotion is usually good for relieving itch. It also can help dry weeping rashes. Calamine lotion is generally applied up to four times daily. The drawback is that it's bubblegum pink, so you'll likely not want to wear it out in public on areas that are obvious. Anti-itch lotions relieve itching and soothe dryness. Apply up to four times daily.

Monitor your skin for increased irritation, though, since sensitivities to ingredients found in these lotions are not unheard of. Although they won't do anything to soothe or heal the rash, oral antihistamines may help reduce itching. If you aren't getting relief from any of the topical therapies, you may want to give them a try. For children, talk to their pediatrician before giving them an antihistamine.

For severe contact dermatitis, widespread rash, or contact dermatitis that isn't improving with home treatment, you might need a prescription medication. Topical corticosteroids also known as steroid creams are typically the first-line treatment for contact dermatitis. Hydrocortisone in stronger formulation than OTC options , triamcinolone, and clobetasol are commonly prescribed.

These can help reduce itching and irritation, and they work rather quickly. Topical corticosteroids are applied one to two times daily. It's important that you use your medication exactly as your healthcare provider directed. Even if the rash has cleared, you'll need to continue using the full course of treatment.

Topical corticosteroids may burn or sting when first applied, especially if your skin is cracked, broken, or very irritated. They can also cause thinning of the skin when used long-term, but for short courses of treatment, they are safe when used as directed. An oral corticosteroid likely prednisone may be prescribed if the contact dermatitis is very severe or widespread, covering large areas of your body.

Prednisone helps quickly relieve inflammation, and typically only a short course is needed. Oral corticosteroids are most often used for acute cases, like severe poison ivy rash, and are not very often prescribed for chronic cases of contact dermatitis. It's important to follow usage directions exactly and continue the entire course of treatment, even if your rash has cleared.

Oral antibiotics don't improve contact dermatitis, but your healthcare provider may prescribe them if your rash shows signs of infection. If you have contact dermatitis, your skin will be sensitive and can sometimes react to certain ingredients, such as perfume in over-the-counter emollients. If your skin reacts to the emollient, stop using it and speak to your pharmacist, who may be able to recommend an alternative product. Be aware that some emollients contain paraffin and can be a fire hazard, so should not be used near a naked flame.

Emollients added to bath water can make your bath very slippery, so take care getting in and out of the bath. Contact dermatitis can cause lighter skin to become red, and darker skin to become dark brown, purple or grey.

If your skin is also sore and inflamed, a GP may prescribe a topical corticosteroid a cream or ointment applied directly to your skin that can quickly reduce the inflammation. When used as instructed by a pharmacist or doctor, corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment for contact dermatitis.

Different strengths of topical corticosteroids can be prescribed, depending on the severity of your contact dermatitis and where the affected skin is. When using corticosteroids, apply the treatment in a thin layer to all the affected areas. Unless instructed otherwise by your doctor, follow the directions on the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. This will give details of how much to apply. During an episode of severe contact dermatitis, do not apply the corticosteroid more than twice a day.

Most people only have to apply it once a day. You should apply your emollient first and wait around 30 minutes before applying the topical corticosteroid. The medicine will usually start to have an effect within a few days. Speak to a GP if you've been using a topical corticosteroid and your symptoms have not improved.

Topical corticosteroids may cause a mild, short-lived burning or stinging sensation as you apply them.