Dermatology >>>> Contact dermatitis - signs and treatment
Contact dermatitis - signs and treatment.
Contact dermatitis is a skin disease that develops as a result of an allergic reaction of the skin to irritants of various origins. Sunlight can act as an irritant (then they talk about photocontact dermatitis); chemical reagents, cosmetics, medicines, clothing fabric, latex and objects made of various types of rubber, jewelry made of metals, plant sap, dust suspension, mechanical action (for example, metal shavings) and similar irritants. Contact dermatitis often appears as an occupational disease, which determines the location of the affected areas: hands (palms, wrists), feet, facial skin.
Contact dermatitis is considered a feature of the protective reaction of an organism prone to sensitization. Contact dermatitis symptoms can develop gradually (from several days to two weeks). The causes of contact dermatitis are rooted in the mechanism of the development of a delayed-type allergic response, which is initiated by cellular immunity.
Signs of contact dermatitis:
- Intense itching of the skin,
- Swelling of the site of contact with the allergen,
- Hyperemia of the skin in the area of contact with the allergen (redness),
- Small rash in the form of bubbles or vesicles up to 5 mm in size (can merge into large blisters),
- Erosive stains,
- Wet surfaces,
- Possible fever and deterioration in general well-being,
- Skin healing is accompanied by peeling,
- The appearance of age spots in places of healing is possible.
Treatment of contact dermatitis involves first of all identifying the allergen and stopping contact with it. It is possible to independently complete the sensitization process after a few weeks and provided there are no repeated contacts with the allergen. An allergen is identified using patch tests, sorting out potential allergens and applying them to the skin. It is possible to simultaneously identify several allergens in one application.
After identifying the source of the allergy, antihistamines are prescribed to relieve swelling and itching. When weeping areas of the skin appear, topically corticosteroid drugs are prescribed. Apply applications with drying agents, broad spectrum antiseptics to suppress conditionally pathogenic microflora, herbal infusions of tanning action.
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