Contents:
- Medical Video: Dermatitis: What Type Do You Have?
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Irritant contact dermatitis
- Conclusion
Medical Video: Dermatitis: What Type Do You Have?
Contact dermatitis is a type of rash or inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis can be caused by an allergic or irritant reaction. The rash does not always appear directly, and may take some time. Contact dermatitis can cause discomfort or shame, but can be treated. Recognizing the trigger factors can help you prevent contact dermatitis.
Allergic contact dermatitis
If you have an allergy history, you are likely to experience allergic contact dermatitis. Children who have allergies to food are usually easier to have skin allergies, especially atopic dermatitis (eczema). People who have skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, zits, and others, are also more prone to contact dermatitis.
Irritant contact dermatitis
About 80% of cases of contact dermatitis are irritant contact dermatitis. Unlike allergic contact dermatitis, the immune system is not related to this condition. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by an inflammatory reaction to the skin.
People whose jobs require their body parts to be submerged in water are usually more susceptible to irritant contact dermatitis. This is because water erodes the protective oil on the skin. This also occurs in people who work outdoors or are exposed to heat, such as:
- Chef and chef
- Welder
- Farmer
- Factory worker
- Hairdresser
- Construction worker
- Medical workers
- Coast Guard
Women are more prone to irritant contact dermatitis. This is not related to sex characteristics, but rather because the number of jobs that are susceptible to contact dermatitis such as hairdressers and nurses is more female. Contact with repeated irritants can also increase sensitivity to contact dermatitis.
The use of irritants for the first time will not immediately trigger a response, but repeated use can increase the risk of contact dermatitis. Sunlight can be one of the risk factors. Some allergic contact dermatitis are photosensitizers, where the allergens cause a reaction after exposure to sunlight.
Photosensitizers generally include perfumes and aftershave lotions that contain certain oils. Soaps, detergents and sunscreens can also cause reactions to the skin. Even certain fruits and vegetables such as lime and celery can also be triggers. Some oral medications such as tetracycline and doxycycline can also cause the skin to react with sunlight.
Conclusion
Even though you cannot avoid contact dermatitis completely, you can take steps to reduce risk. Try to protect your skin if your work exposes you to irritants. If you are susceptible to allergies, talk to an allergist about how to avoid allergic contact dermatitis.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
