What is it? Contact dermatitis is the inflammation of certain areas of the skin in response to the effects of stimuli on them. Allergic reaction can be triggered by means for washing clothes, shampoos, gels, soaps, creams, ointments, plant pollen, synthetic tissue - everything that comes in contact with the skin surface( see photo).
Contact dermatitis has two stages of development:
- The stage of sensitization - at this stage the patient's immune system produces antibodies that later come into contact with the allergen;
- Stage of clinical manifestations - skin rashes appear.
The first stage of development passes without any clinical signs and often goes unnoticed for the patient himself. The duration of this period takes an average of about 2 weeks.
After the specified period, when the patient's skin reacts with the allergen, contact dermatitis develops, which is caused by the release of skin cells of a special substance that acts as a mediator( provoker) of the inflammatory process.
Most often, allergic contact dermatitis develops in children or persons whose work is associated with a constant interaction with irritants - powders, alkali, chemicals and other.
Depending on the causes of dermatitis, there are 2 types of disease:
- Contact - develops as a result of the influence on certain areas of the skin irritants. The reaction to the stimulus develops in the patient immediately on a limited area of the skin( on the one that contacts the irritant);
- Allergic - the clinical picture develops gradually, in particular with the secondary contact of the skin with the allergen. The lesion is not limited to the area of the skin that contacts the irritant, the inflammatory process often spreads to other areas of the skin.(details of allergic dermatitis).
Contents
- 1 Causes of
- 2 Symptoms of contact dermatitis, photos
- 3 Treatment of contact dermatitis
- 4 Features of the course of dermatitis in children
- 5 Prevention of contact dermatitis
Causes of
The following factors are the causes of contact dermatitis:
- Hereditary predisposition;
- Skin contact with metals( with a nickel alloy strap plaque);
- Wearing synthetic clothing;
- Hypersensitivity of the skin to detergents( gel for washing, detergent, rinse for tissues);
- Intolerance of natural materials( wool, latex and other).
Dry sensitive skin is most susceptible to the effects of various irritants.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis in the hands can sometimes be difficult to differentiate from other skin diseases, as the clinical signs are similar, so it is important to immediately consult a doctor, rather than self-medicate.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis, photos
Irrespective of the cause of the disease, the clinical signs of dermatitis are always the same:
- Redness of individual parts of the skin( contact dermatitis on the face, hands or other parts of the body);
- Severe itching of inflamed skin;
- Peeling and dryness of inflamed areas;
- Skin oedematous;
- The appearance of small bubbles filled with liquid;
- The appearance of microscopic cracks, which, when combed, become the entrance gates for infectious agents;
- Closure of the skin and attachment of a secondary bacterial infection.
In most cases, an allergic form is encountered on the hands, as this part of the body is exposed daily to various detergents and aggressive environmental factors.
Contact dermatitis on the face is most often due to the use of low-quality cosmetics or prolonged exposure to the skin of ultraviolet rays( solarium).
Symptoms of contact dermatitis can be supplemented with general signs of the disease:
- Irritability;
- Insomnia;
- Anxiety;
- Development of neurosis.
- Diagnosis, analyzes
If a clinical sign of dermatitis is found, the patient should consult a dermatologist-allergist. In order to identify the cause of the development of an allergic reaction, the specialist conducts the patient's application tests.
The essence of the study is to apply various allergic agents to the skin, and then observe the reaction. If after 15-30 minutes redness and itching appear on the site of application, the probability of a negative reaction to this allergen is high.
The determination and exclusion of interaction with the allergen causing the patient a clinical picture of the disease helps to achieve a stable remission in the treatment of contact dermatitis.
In addition to allergotests, the patient is assigned a detailed biochemical blood test, which helps to determine the presence of antibodies in the body.
Treatment of contact dermatitis
Treatment of contact dermatitis is carried out in a complex way and is aimed at eliminating clinical symptoms of the disease, normalizing the skin condition and further excluding the interaction of the patient's skin with an irritant.
- Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for rapid swelling, itching and inflammation of the skin, usually in the form of a cream or ointment topically, but in severe cases when the damaged areas are wet, it is advisable to inject drugs.
- To eliminate itching, antihistamines for oral administration( tablets or drops) are prescribed, for example, Diazolin, Claritin, Suprastin, Loratodine.
When attaching bacterial infection as a result of strong scratching of the skin, the treatment of dermatitis should be adjusted by the appointment of antibiotics and physiotherapy procedures.
During the remission period, the patient is given treatment and rehabilitation procedures, sanatorium-and-spa therapy.
Features of the course of dermatitis in children
The skin of children differs from the skin of an adult with high sensitivity, delicacy and tenderness, therefore, dermatitis is most often found in small patients. Unlike "adult" causes, contact allergic dermatitis in a child can develop as a result of:
- Long stay in a wet diaper;
- Friction wrinkles and seams of clothing against delicate skin;
- Non-compliance with hygiene rules;
Daily bathing using soap or detergent( skin of a child for up to a year to wash with soap is not necessary more than 1 time per week).
The most common manifestations of dermatitis in a child are most noticeable in the area of inguinal folds, cervical folds, axillary hollows, buttock skin, knee and elbow folds.
For young patients, it is especially important to timely identify the cause of the disease and limit contact with the allergen, as the transition of dermatitis to the chronic form of the flow is fraught with the subsequent formation of bronchial asthma and the propensity of the body to anaphylaxis and edema Quincke.
Prevention of contact dermatitis
Persons with hereditary predisposition to allergic dermatitis, as well as those people whose work is associated with constant contact with direct allergens, to prevent the development of dermatitis, it is necessary to follow preventive measures:
- With aggressive means that irritate the skin, work only with gloves, then wash hands thoroughly;
- Use hypoallergenic uhod cosmetics;
- Wash things with phosphate-free powders, additionally rinsing the laundry;
- Do not use different conditioners for laundry;
- Before going out in the sun or visiting the solarium, apply a cream with the optimal UV protection spectrum;
- Wear clothes made from natural fabrics.
To prevent the development of allergic dermatitis in children with a hereditary predisposition:
- To introduce lactation to a child not earlier than 6 months;
- Wash clothes only with soap or household soap;
- Boil water before bathing to soften it a little;
- Use soap to wash the body not more than 1 time per week( not considering the undermining);
- Do not leave your baby in a disposable diaper for long periods;
- Take air baths more often.
Contact dermatitis: ICD code 10
According to the ICD 10 cd contact allergic dermatitis - L23.