Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 131) common conditions RASHES A rash decision: Dealing with contact dermatitis If you have red, itchy and irritated skin, you probably have an outbreak of contact dermatitis. Don’t worry, it’s treatable and preventable. By Karen I. Montemayor When showering or bathing, keep the water temperature cool or warm, not hot. recommends Here are some tips for treating contact dermatitis: ■ Identify what is In some cases, you may not be able to identify exactly what is causing an outbreak of contact dermatitis. As long as it doesn’t keep coming back, you probably don’t need to take a lot of steps to figure it out. Contact dermatitis isn’t contagious, and it doesn’t usually cause serious health problems. I n a medical dictionary, it’s found under “c” for “contact dermatitis,” but you probably know it as a plain old rash. Whatever term you use for it, it makes your skin red, itchy and irritated, When to call your doctor In most cases, your rash will clear up within 2 or 3 weeks if you avoid the irritant or allergen and give your skin a little TLC. But you should call your family doctor if your rash gets worse in spite of treatment, or if you are so uncomfortable that you’re having trouble sleeping or doing your daily activities. You should also call your doctor if you have joint pain, fever or a sore throat. Red streaks on your skin, swelling and tenderness could be signs of a bacterial infection called cellulitis. It can cause serious problems, so talk to your doctor right away. Karen I. Montemayor is a senior associate editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. and you want it to go away as soon as possible. You’re so sensitive There are 2 main types of contact dermatitis: irritant and allergic. As the name suggests, irritant contact dermatitis appears after something irritating damages your skin. It’s usually a red, swollen, itchy rash that may look like a burn. Household cleansers, detergents, aftershave lotions, soap, gasoline, turpentine and other solvents are common irritants. This type of contact dermatitis sometimes burns more than it itches, especially at first. Coming in contact with an allergen (something that you are allergic or hypersensitive to) can cause allergic contact dermatitis. As with other allergies, your immune system is overreacting to something that doesn’t cause problems for most people. Your reaction can range from mild skin inflammation to an outbreak of blisters or open sores. It depends on what the allergen is, how sensitive you are to it and what part of your body is affected. A rash caused by contact with poison ivy or poison oak is a very common example of this type of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis may develop right away, or you may come in contact with an allergen repeatedly before your skin reacts to it. For example, your skin may become sensitive to the presence of nickel in your favorite pair of earrings after you’ve worn them for a while. irritating your skin and try to avoid it. ■ Use a mild soap, and use as little as possible. ■ In the bath or shower, keep the water temperature cool or warm, not hot. Use a soft towel to pat your skin dry without rubbing. ■ Avoid getting hot and sweaty. Heat and sweat can make your skin more irritated and itchy. ■ Try not to scratch the irritated area on your skin even if it itches. Scratching can break the skin. Bacteria can enter these breaks and cause an infection. ■ Don’t apply cosmetics or perfumed products directly on the rash. ■ Moisturize your skin to keep it soft and flexible. Don’t use moisturizers that contain fragrances or a lot of other extra ingredients. ■ Soothe your skin with cool, wet compresses or a lukewarm oatmeal bath. You can also try an over-the-counter treatment such as hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion. ■ To relieve severe itching, use an oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org MayoClinic.com http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dermatitis-eczema/DS00339/ DSECTION=1 National Library of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000869.htm familydoctor 2007 131 http://familydoctor.org http://www.MayoClinic.com http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dermatitis-eczema/DS00339/DSECTION=1 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000869.htm
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