Contact dermatitis
Overview
Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema triggered by contact with a particular substance.
Symptoms
Contact dermatitis causes the skin to become itchy, blistered, dry and cracked. Lighter skin can become red, and darker skin can become dark brown, purple or grey. This reaction usually occurs within a few hours or days of exposure to an irritant or allergen. Symptoms can affect any part of the body but most commonly the hands and face. Read about symptoms of contact dermatitis
Causes
Contact dermatitis can be caused by: an irritant – a substance that directly damages the outer layer of skinan allergen – a substance that causes the immune system to respond in a way that affects the skin Contact dermatitis is most commonly caused by irritants such as soaps and detergents, solvents or regular contact with water. Allergic contact dermatitis is less common and can be triggered by an allergic reaction to substances found in certain products, such as cosmetics, or some metals, including nickel. Handling raw, uncooked fruit and vegetables may also trigger allergic contact dermatitis in some people. Read about causes of contact dermatitis
Prevention
The best way to prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid contact with the allergens or irritants that cause your symptoms. If you cannot avoid contact, you can take steps to reduce the risk of the allergens or irritants causing symptoms, including: cleaning your skin – if you come into contact with an allergen or irritant, rinse the affected skin with warm water and an emollient as soon as possibleusing gloves to protect your hands – but take them off every now and again, as sweating can make any symptoms worse; you may find it useful to wear cotton gloves underneath rubber gloves if the rubber also irritates youchanging products that irritate your skin – check the ingredients on make-up or soap to make sure it does not contain any irritants or allergens; in some cases, you may need to contact the manufacturer or check online to get this informationapplyingemollientsfrequently and in large amounts – these keep your skin hydrated and help protect it from allergens and irritants; you could also use emollient soap substitutes rather than regular bar or liquid soaps, which can dry out your skin
When to see a doctor
See a GP if you have persistent, recurrent or severe symptoms of contact dermatitis. They can try to identify the cause and suggest appropriate treatments. A GP may refer you to a doctor who specialises in treating skin conditions (dermatologist) for further tests if: the substance causing your contact dermatitis cannot be identifiedyour symptoms are not responding to treatment Read about diagnosing contact dermatitis