Contact dermatitis is an irritation of the skin caused by contact with a substance that causes the reaction. It results in a localized skin burning and itchy rashes that can take up to weeks to heal.Facts:
- Superficial regions of the skin are affected
- Inflammation of the affected tissue is present in the 2 superficial skin layers
- It takes days to fade away
- It fades only if the skin no longer comes in contact with the allergen or irritant.
- It is essential that the agent that caused the contact dermatitis is removed – even when the agent removal, a chronic contact dermatitis can still develop.
The causes of irritants related to contact dermatitis are various and so it’s their mechanism of action.
Example of triggers: poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, highly alkaline substances (such as lye and other hair straighteners), detergents/concentrated soaps, cleaning products, rubbers
organic solvents (acetone, alcohol, etc).
Mechanism: Detergents, surfactants, extremes of pH, and organic solvents all have the common effect of directly affecting the barrier properties of the epidermis, while removing the natural skin oil and increasing the trans epidermal water loss.
Treatment: is based on using corticosteroid based creams and avoiding at all cost the agent that initiated the irritation.
Be good and be healthy.
Vanessa
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