Allergic Contact Dermatitis - Info on Allergic Contact Dermatitis Symptom, Causes & Treatment

What is Allergic Contact Dermatitis ?

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is a very common type of skin disorders but is very dangerous also. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs more commonly in adults.

In other words Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by your body's reaction to something that directly contacts the skin. Many different substances can cause allergic contact dermatitis, which are called 'allergens'. like fragrances, small molecule preservatives, etc. Usually these substances cause no trouble for most people, and may not even be noticed the first time the person is exposed. But once the skin becomes sensitive or allergic to the substance, any exposure will produce a rash. The rash usually doesn't start until a day or two later, but can start a soon as hours or as late as a week. Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction that involves interaction of allergens and antibodies, which occurs in phases.

Here you find all terms related to Allergic Contact Dermatitis, like symptoms, causes and effective treatment.

What are the symptoms of Allergic Contact Dermatitis ?

Here are the list of some of the common symptoms of Allergic Contact Dermatitis :

• swelling
• blistering
• itching
• weeping
• redness

What are the causes of Allergic Contact Dermatitis ?

The cause of the Allergic Contact Dermatitis is genes. Some other common factors or causes are :

• Genetical causes or Hereditary factors
• Any time your skin can become allergic to one of the specific substances in the product, even though you have used it for a long time.
• Often, a rash may break out on your face even though an allergen did not directly come in contact with your face. If you get something on your hands that you are allergic to and then touch your face, the allergen can cause a reaction on the face even though there is no reaction on your hands. This is because the skin on our hands is thicker than that of the face, especially around the eyelids.
• pre-existing skin conditions such as irritant contact dermatitis (see CCOHS publication Irritant Contact Dermatitis)
• The chemical nature of the substance is important (for example, whether it is an acid, an alkali, or a salt)
• Cuts or scratches, into which allergenic substances can enter, also contribute to the development of allergic contact dermatitis
• Environmental factors play a significant role

Treatment of Allergic Contact Dermatitis - With Home Remedies

Different Types of Treatment For Allergic Contact Dermatitis are available, some are :

• Firstly find out what you are allergic to by having comprehensive patch tests
• Identify where the allergen is found.
• Carefully study your environment to locate the allergen.
• You have to discontinue all products that you have been using on the exposed area, and only use the treatment the dermatologist has prescribed for you. The most common treatment for allergic contact dermatitis is a cortisone ointment preparation. Many people opt for the more effective natural treatments such as Epitrex , which can eliminate flare-ups.
• It is important that you return to your dermatologist at the end of your one to two week treatment. The treatment used is strong and you should not use it for more than one to two weeks without being under the supervision of your doctor. If overused, the medication can cause permanent thinning of the skin. When you come for the second visit, if all is going well, your doctor will then taper down to a weaker medication.
• Two weeks after your symptoms have cleared, you can begin the search for the chemical that you are allergic to. You do this by re-introducing the products you were using prior to your reaction, one at a time, one week apart. It is often best to do a small test area first.
• If you have a good idea what you are allergic to, you simply try to avoid it in the future and you should not have any further problems.

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