Contact Dermatitis (CD) is a skin condition caused by exposure to irritating substances or allergens, usually in areas where contact was made between skin and substance. Symptoms include red rash, blisters or itching in those regions where this substance touched skin.

Irritant CD is the most prevalent form. Symptoms for this form include blisters and rashes that appear immediately.

Allergic

If you touch an allergenic substance, your immune system goes into overdrive to combat it and release chemicals such as histamine that cause an itchy rash on the affected area of skin. Unlike irritant contact dermatitis, an allergic rash usually appears within hours after exposure to an allergen.

Your rash may appear as red, streaky or patchy areas; in more serious instances it could develop into cracking and peeling skin as well as cuts (fissures). Contact dermatitis is caused by touching things such as poison ivy, fragrances and chemical preservatives found in skin products; photoallergic contact dermatitis occurs if sunscreen products contain chemical preservatives that react with sunlight, known as photoallergic contact dermatitis. Your doctor can identify your trigger by looking at your rash while asking questions; they might take samples of skin from you to conduct a patch test; they might prescribe hydrocortisone cream and/oral allergy medicines such as antihistamine or corticosteroid medication from their pharmacy to determine your specific trigger.

Irritant

Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when chemical irritants damage the skin barrier and trigger inflammation. This type of contact dermatitis tends to be milder than allergic contact dermatitis; common household sources that act as skin irritants include water, soaps, hand sanitizers and hand sanitizers, acids detergents solvents metalworking fluids acid detergents detergent solvents solvents acid detergent detergent solvent solvent acid detergent solvent solvent acid detergent acid detergent solvent solvent solvents acid detergent detergent detergent solvent solvent acids detergents detergents solvents solvents metalworking fluids acids detergents detergents solvents acid while other sources include clothing friction from washing washing or heat/humidity or medications such as retinoids.

Irritation can sensitize skin to allergens, making the next time an irritant comes into contact with it more likely to result in an allergic reaction which may take up to 24 hours to surface. For this reason, it’s crucial that we discover the source of any irritation so we can remove or minimize its exposure as quickly as possible.

Irritation is a frequent condition among outdoor enthusiasts and may also be caused by perfumes, hair products, cosmetics and jewelry as well as some plants such as poison ivy, oak and sumac. People with history of eczema or other skin conditions with compromised barrier function are at increased risk for developing irritant contact dermatitis.

Contagious

When developing allergic contact dermatitis, your immune system detects something foreign to it (an allergen) and attacks it, leading to the release of chemicals like histamine which cause an itchy rash. While often caused by just one substance or group, allergic contact dermatitis may also arise as the result of multiple factors working together.

Common allergens for people include metals such as nickel used in costume jewelry, belt buckles and bra hooks; dyes or tints found on fabrics and cosmetics; dyes or tints from nuts, fruits or plants that produce oils such as lanolin, shea butter or oils from nuts to preservatives used in lotions shampoos soaps including preservatives fragrances emulsifiers in lotions shampoos soaps (like acetone nail polish removers); latex rubber gloves/shoes as well as medications such as Neomycin.

Doctors can diagnose irritant and allergic contact dermatitis by conducting an in-depth medical history review, skin examination and performing a patch test. Your physician applies small amounts of various allergens or irritants directly onto the skin during this test to see which ones cause reactions in you; sometimes enough people stop buying particular products due to reactions prompted by certain ingredients, forcing the manufacturer to alter them.

Prevention

Avoiding contact dermatitis requires avoiding substances or objects that aggravate it; that means avoiding allergens that trigger allergies and wearing gloves when using cleaning products; in addition, protect skin from plants like poison ivy with an abrasion barrier cream for added defense.

Allergic contact dermatitis typically presents as a red patch where an allergen contacted the skin, although it can spread to other parts of the body. Pinpointing the source can help doctors better diagnose and prescribe treatment solutions.

Contact dermatitis caused by irritation is less easily prevented. Proper hygiene practices include regularly cleansing hands and arms with warm water and fragrance-free cleansers (preferably), including hand emollients that moisturizer and strengthen the protective barrier can also aid. Keeping skin hydrated also helps reduce dryness that often triggers episodes; using prescription creams such as 1% hydrocortisone or prednisone may help decrease itching and swelling symptoms.