The disease is not life threatening, but it gives a person a significant discomfort, especially if red itchy spots are located on the face or hands. Children dermatitis is more common than in adults, due to the age characteristics of the skin and functional immaturity of the immune system.
What it is?
Allergic contact dermatitis is called an allergic inflammation of the skin that develops against the backdrop of the impact on the skin of an allergen or irritant. To date, distinguishes two phases of this pathology development - this is the phase of sensitization and phase of clinical manifestations. Sensitization phase of the disease lasts for about two weeks, while not causing any symptoms.
At the end of this phase, the human body produces special substances which subsequently upon contact with the allergen cause sufficiently powerful allergic reaction. Once a particular allergen again begin to work on human skin, immediately begin released mediators of the inflammatory process, ie, substances which tend to cause an inflammatory skin reaction. The main agent in this case is considered to be histamine. When interacting with the tissue histamine promotes both edema and inflammation, and pruritus.
Causes of
The skin, which is also the body has a definite place in the immediate and delayed type hypersensitivity reactions occur. Moreover, according to some opinions of scientists, the skin is immune organ that can be confirmed by the existing centers to lymphoid, which are involved in hypersensitivity reactions and are also involved in the formation of inflammatory lesions of the immune nature.
The causes of contact dermatitis is directly dependent on the type of disease. Thus, contact dermatitis may occur due to skin contact with toxic plants, and chemicals etc. Not only this, a variety of mechanical irritation, for example, shoes (close) is the cause of disease. Contact dermatitis can also be caused by skin burns and frostbite, and direct sunlight.
Also worth noting is that the reason being, during frequent occurrence of contact dermatitis may make chemical substances and compounds plan to These include: ink for coloring hair, detergent, emulsion, a number of medicines and cosmetic preparations as ointments and creams.
- Contact dermatitis can occur on the hands after handling the various chemicals, for example: dishwashing detergent, paintwork products for the repair, the application of ointments and creams for hands, etc. Even elementary means for removal of nail polish can cause skin irritation hands.
- Contact dermatitis on the face may be primarily due to the use of cosmetic products to care for him and applying makeup.
It should be noted that the skin on the face and hands of a very thin, thus explains its frequent inflammation, especially for those groups of people who are generally very sensitive to any kind of allergens and stimuli.
What is the difference between an allergic dermatitis from contact?
Allergic contact dermatitis develops under the influence of optional irritants that often are inherently haptens. What does this mean? Hapten - fine particles of a substance which when combined with skin proteins triggers an allergic reaction. Symptoms of allergic dermatitis develops immediately, but within a few hours after contact. As a rule, they are represented by a pronounced edema, bright hyperemia, rash, hives. In inflamed skin appear small blisters filled with liquid, which remained after opening weeping surface. Healing damaged area occurs through the formation of crusts, redness at the site for a long time preserved purple or bluish spot.
Difference from allergic contact dermatitis is the extent of the lesion. Irritant dermatitis clearly corresponds to the area of contact with damaging factor and appears in the first few hours after injury.
Intensity of symptoms of inflammation depends on the contact time and concentration of the stimulus. Allergic can also spread much wider. For example, after contact with the detergent hyperemia and edema occurs on the hands, and rash, hives on the forearms and shoulders. It develops it is not always immediately possible latency period of up to 15 days. The contact time and concentration of the stimulus does not affect the severity of the inflammatory process, it depends only on the strength of the immune response.
The symptoms of contact dermatitis, photos
In adults, this disorder can occur in two forms - acute and chronic. In the first case, contact dermatitis development will occur suddenly appeared redness and infiltration in the affected area of skin irritating factors. If we are talking about chronic dermatitis, its symptoms will be "oiled", to appear from time to time - redness of certain areas of the skin, peeling, cracking, swelling and a small area defeat.
Pay particular attention to the condition of the skin should be treated mummies - in childhood (and only in infancy and even more so!), contact dermatitis may occur suddenly and quickly become chronic flow. On the baby's skin appears a little red in it and that the affected area may become pronounced swelling, skin starts to "get wet", or peel off and crack. Children complain of itching and burning at the site of occurrence of contact dermatitis.
The clinical picture of the disease in question can be varied - it all depends on how much strong irritant to the skin affected, how long this effect lasted, what immunity in the body and another.
If the skin affected a strong, powerful stimulus, the symptoms may include the following:
- redness;
- swelling;
- burning;
- oozing blisters and ulceration at the site of injury.
But mild irritant agent will provoke less intense symptoms - dry skin, mild redness, flaking, cracks.
disease photo
The photo below shows how to manifest contact dermatitis in adults and children on the skin.
Contact dermatitis in children
In children, the symptoms of contact dermatitis may appear due to wear synthetic clothes and frequent lubrication of body creams, so skin treatment begins with the exception of kids with irritants contacts.
Typically, such a simple restriction is sufficient for a favorable resolution of the pathology. Dermatitis allergic nature is recognized by redness of the skin, and it blistered in places hit irritant.
Pharmacy drugs kids do not usually prescribed. To get rid of allergy doctors suggest parents to apply to the affected festival of the Protection baby cabbage leaves or compresses with grated carrots. Natural medicines reduce inflammation and is removed from the dermis chemical compounds.
Regardless of the nature of children's dermatitis is necessary to maintain the body proper nutrition. The diet should be present domestic apples, buckwheat and millet porridge with a small piece of butter, a small portion of boiled beef. As the first child of dishes is better to give puree soup consistency.
As for wardrobe, children should be putting things made of natural fabrics. Clothing should be loose, do not hold down movements during games. Wash it can be hypoallergenic baby soap or detergent.
complications
Contact dermatitis can result in the following complications:
- Chronic itching and scales on the skin. The skin condition called atopic dermatitis (chronic simple lichen) starts with itchy spots on the skin. You start to scratch it, which makes it even more itchy. This leads to more scratching of the skin. After all, you can scratch the affected area is already out of habit. This condition can lead to compaction of the skin to the site of injury to discoloration and stiffness.
- Infection. If you repeatedly scratching your rash, it can lead to oozing wounds. In this regard, can create favorable conditions for the development of bacteria and fungi that can cause infections.
Diagnostics
To identify this pathology, it is necessary to first and foremost make an appointment with an allergist. It is this specialist through special application tests can point you to the exact stimulus that causes dermatitis in your particular case.
Identification of the precise stimulus is an important step in the fight against this disease. There are cases when the patients themselves point to the allergen. In the case of this disease in the child, it should be as soon as possible to determine the stimulus and completely eliminate it. This is important, because in the future inaction could cause the development of more complex allergic reactions such as asthma, edema Quinta, anaphylactic shock.
How to treat contact dermatitis in adults?
With the development of a simple contact dermatitis in adults, above all, should be to identify and eliminate the stimulus and, if necessary, the use of gloves and protective clothing. Before you start treatment, the skin should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed.
- In patients with allergic contact dermatitis often treatment is not required, as all disease symptoms disappear after removal of the allergen. However, fluorine-containing potent hormonal creams and ointments may be assigned as needed. In the case where the localized skin rash on the face or on the genitals, can be recommended for 2-3 weeks inner receiving glucocorticoids.
- In order to improve the penetration of drugs shown occlusal overlay (hermetic) dressings barrier air. During this period, it is not recommended to use ointments with anesthetics, as they are sensitizers and may exacerbate the irritation. However, the disease may worsen local antihistamines.
- When you join a secondary infection patients were systemic antibiotic therapy, and in parallel are assigned hormonal ointments. In severe allergic contact dermatitis superimposed on the affected place saline or aqueous lotion. With strong itching used, ice or cold water.
In the acute phase of allergic contact dermatitis heavy used systemic glucocorticosteroids.
Lifestyle and home remedies
To reduce itching and soothe inflamed skin, try these self-help methods:
- Apply the cream for itching or calamine lotion to the affected area. Nonprescription cream containing at least 1% hydrocortisone can temporarily relieve your itch.
- Avoid contact with irritants or allergens. When it comes to jewelry, you can just give up wearing them.
- Attach a cool, wet compress. Moisten a soft cloth in cold water and apply it to the affected area for 15 - 30 minutes to calm your skin. Repeat this procedure several times a day.
- Take medication for itching. The-counter antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, etc..), May be helpful if you suffer from severe itching.
- Take cold baths and immerse them in the affected areas of skin (arms and legs). You can also spray the affected areas of skin with cold water and baking soda.
- Avoid scratching. Trim your nails. If you can not keep from scratching itchy place, cover it with a bandage and bandage.
- Protect your hands humidifiers and gloves. Apply to skin moisturizers throughout the day. If you experience a rash on the hands, wear protective rubber gloves.
- Use cream soap without dyes and flavorings. Wash your rash localization, then blotted dry skin and apply a moisturizer.
An important rule is to only buy clothes and natural fabrics, as well as the appropriate size, with a lack of hard detail.
