Contact Dermatitis

What causes contact dermatitis?

There are two forms of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic.

Irritant contact dermatitis causes a rash when you touch a substance that irritates your skin. Examples include:

• Chemicals in cleaning supplies
• Cosmetics like makeup, soap, and deodorants
• Perfumes, fragrances, and dyes
• Certain plants, such as poinsettias and peppers

Allergic contact dermatitis causes a rash when a substance you touch triggers your immune system. Common allergens include:

• Plants like poison ivy or poison oak
• Latex
• Metals like nickel and copper
• Antibiotics or topical medications
• Preservatives in food

What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis appears as a rash on the area of your body that has been directly exposed to the allergen or irritant. For instance, if you touched poison ivy while pulling weeds, you may have a rash on your hand. If your skin is sensitive to a certain chemical in laundry detergent and you wear a shirt after washing it, you might have a rash on your entire upper body. The rash usually develops within minutes to hours of exposure and can last two to four weeks.

Signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

• A red rash
• Itching, which may be severe
• Dry, cracked, scaly skin
• Bumps and blisters, sometimes with oozing and crusting
• Swelling, burning or tenderness

How is contact dermatitis diagnosed?
Your Forefront provider can often identify contact dermatitis just by looking at the rash. They will ask questions about your recent activities (have you been working in the yard?), your cosmetic products (have you recently switched body soaps?), and other things that might lead to what caused the reaction.

If you don’t know the cause of your rash, your doctor may perform tests to confirm a diagnosis, such as:

Skin biopsy. This involves removing a small piece of skin from the affected area and sending it to a lab for testing.
Allergy test. These tests include skin pricks or patch tests to look for allergens that trigger the rash. During the test, your skin is exposed to certain allergens to detect any potential reactions.
Blood test. Since the rash could be a symptom of a systemic disease, doctors look for antibodies in the blood that indicate specific infections or organ issues.

Once you identify the allergen or irritant, you will know to avoid or eliminate that substance.

What is the best treatment for contact dermatitis?
The rash from contact dermatitis usually clears up on its own in two to four weeks as long as you are avoiding what caused it, but there are treatments to soothe the itching and irritation.

A cool oatmeal bath
Placing a cool cloth over the rash several times a day
Corticosteroid creams to reduce inflammation
Antihistamine pills to reduce the allergic reaction
Antibiotics if the skin becomes infected
Oral corticosteroids that slow down the immune system if the contact dermatitis is severe
Who can treat contact dermatitis?
Forefront dermatologists are experts in diagnosing and treating all skin conditions, including contact dermatitis. If you have a rash that won’t go away with at-home treatments, contact a Forefront location near you to find relief.