- Symptoms of contact dermatitis
- How the treatment is done
- Ointments for contact dermatitis
- Home treatment
- Main causes
Contact dermatitis, or eczema, is a type of skin reaction that occurs due to the contact of an irritating substance or object, which causes allergy or inflammation in the skin, generating symptoms such as itching, intense redness and swelling.
The treatment of contact dermatitis is made according to the severity of the symptoms, and should be indicated by the dermatologist, who usually indicates the use of ointments or creams with corticosteroids in order to relieve the symptoms related to the inflammation. Contact dermatitis is not caught, as it is not contagious, since it is an exaggerated reaction of the person's own body.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis
The main symptoms of contact dermatitis are:
- Redness and itching on the spot; Peeling and small pellets with or without liquid in the affected region; Swelling of the affected region; Presence of small wounds on the skin; Extremely dry skin.
When dermatitis is caused not by an allergy, but by an irritation of the skin, the affected area may look similar to a burn, especially when there has been contact with some acidic or corrosive substance. In cases of allergy, your doctor may do an allergy test to try to identify the substance that may be causing this skin irritation. Understand how the allergy test is done.
Contact dermatitis can be classified into two main types: allergic and irritative. Allergic dermatitis is usually discovered in childhood and in people who have another type of allergy and the symptoms can appear immediately or within 6 days after contact with the irritating agent. In the case of irritant dermatitis, symptoms can appear immediately after contact with the agent causing the irritation and can happen to anyone, often being related to the use of jewelry, cosmetics and cleaning products, for example.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of contact dermatitis should be done according to the doctor's guidance so that there is a chance of cure. Thus, it is also important to avoid contact with the irritating substance, in addition to washing the area with cold and abundant water.
In some cases, the doctor may also recommend applying a cream with antihistamine or corticosteroids at the allergy site until the symptoms improve. In addition, it may be indicated to take an antihistamine, such as Cetirizine, to control symptoms faster.
The healing time takes about 3 weeks in case of allergy, and in the case of an irritant dermatitis, the symptoms can be controlled in just 4 days after treatment is started.
Ointments for contact dermatitis
Ointments or lotions with corticosteroids are the most suitable for the treatment of this type of allergy, with hydrocortisone being the most suitable for the face. When the skin is very dry, the use of ointments is more recommended, but when the skin is more moist, creams or lotions may be indicated. See a list of the main ointments used for the most common skin diseases.
Home treatment
A good home treatment for contact dermatitis is to wash the affected area with cold plantain tea due to its natural antihistamine properties. To make the tea, just add in one liter of boiling water 30 grams of plantain leaves, cover and let cool. Then strain and wash the region with this tea 2 to 3 times a day. Check out other options of home remedies to relieve dermatitis.
Main causes
The cause of contact dermatitis is the body's reaction to the allergy-causing substance. This reaction can occur when you come into contact with:
- Cosmetics and perfumes; Plants; Polishes; Paints, latex and plastic resins; Additives, preservatives or food dyes; Soap, detergent and other cleaning products; Solvents; Dust; Jewelry; Stool or urine.
According to the person responsible for the reaction, symptoms can appear in different parts of the body. In case the reaction is triggered by the use of makeup, for example, the symptoms appear mainly on the face, eyes and eyelids. In the case of ear symptoms, for example, it may be due to the reaction with jewelry earrings or perfumes.
Knowing when symptoms normally appear can also help to find out what caused this skin reaction. For example, allergies that arise on Monday, but that improve during the weekend, or on vacation, generally indicate that the cause of skin irritation may be present in the workplace.
