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Stop scratching and start soothing your red, itchy skin
Contact dermatitis is a rash that will not go away on its own. In most cases it is extremely itchy and red or pink in color.
Contact dermatitis is a reaction that your skin has to some external substance. The rash may not appear immediately after you are exposed. It may take hours or even days for the rash to show, and it may not always appear in the places that came in direct contact with the allergen or irritant.
The symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
Many substances, irritants and allergens can cause contact dermatitis.
Common household products that may cause a reaction include:
Irritation may also be caused by chemicals or metals in your workplace, and environmental products and foods you are exposed to frequently. In some cases you may develop sensitivity to something you have used for many years without a problem. One reason this may happen is because the manufacturer changed ingredients.
Contact dermatitis is not contagious. You cannot give your rash to someone else and you cannot get a contact dermatitis rash from another person.
Contact dermatitis is a reaction that your skin has to some external substance. The rash may not appear immediately after you are exposed. It may take hours or even days for the rash to show, and it may not always appear in the places that came in direct contact with the allergen or irritant.
The symptoms of contact dermatitis include:
Many substances, irritants and allergens can cause contact dermatitis.
Common household products that may cause a reaction include:
Irritation may also be caused by chemicals or metals in your workplace, and environmental products and foods you are exposed to frequently. In some cases you may develop sensitivity to something you have used for many years without a problem. One reason this may happen is because the manufacturer changed ingredients.
Contact dermatitis is not contagious. You cannot give your rash to someone else and you cannot get a contact dermatitis rash from another person.
The only way to prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid the substance that is causing the irritation. IU Health dermatologists can help you pinpoint possible causes of your rash, testing for as many as 400 common allergens and irritants.
Testing can be done using either a blood test or skin prick test, or both. Testing may not always indicate the cause of your rash, but the results can help eliminate many possible causes. In addition to testing, your medical and family history may offer some insight.
The only way to prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid the substance that is causing the irritation. IU Health dermatologists can help you pinpoint possible causes of your rash, testing for as many as 400 common allergens and irritants.
Testing can be done using either a blood test or skin prick test, or both. Testing may not always indicate the cause of your rash, but the results can help eliminate many possible causes. In addition to testing, your medical and family history may offer some insight.
The key to successful long-term treatment for contact dermatitis is proper care of your skin and avoiding the particular causes of your condition. When contact dermatitis is unavoidable, treatment can help reduce symptoms.
Treatment may include:
Safe cleansers and moisturizers from the Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD) can help you avoid using brands that contain your particular skin allergen.
Steroids may be topical (applied to the surface of the skin), oral medicines or injections that temporarily reduce inflammation.
The key to successful long-term treatment for contact dermatitis is proper care of your skin and avoiding the particular causes of your condition. When contact dermatitis is unavoidable, treatment can help reduce symptoms.
Treatment may include:
Safe cleansers and moisturizers from the Contact Allergen Replacement Database (CARD) can help you avoid using brands that contain your particular skin allergen.
Steroids may be topical (applied to the surface of the skin), oral medicines or injections that temporarily reduce inflammation.
This website by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services includes a large, easy-to-use database of products and their ingredients. Search for substances that you have identified as causing your contact dermatitis to learn which products contain those substances.
This national government website features detailed information about contact dermatitis and available treatments.
This website by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services includes a large, easy-to-use database of products and their ingredients. Search for substances that you have identified as causing your contact dermatitis to learn which products contain those substances.
This national government website features detailed information about contact dermatitis and available treatments.