With a disease such as contact dermatitis, treatment and prevention is required. What types of dermatitis exist and how to treat them?
Types of disease
Contact dermatitis is a skin inflammatory disease that occurs when chemicals are exposed to the skin. It is divided into two types: simple and allergic.
The duration of the disease is chronic and acute. The acute form is accompanied by weeping wounds and swelling. In chronic inflammation, the characteristic signs are the appearance of cracks and peeling of the affected areas.
Reasons, diagnosis, treatment
Any irritating chemicals can cause a simple form of the disease, lesions have clearly defined boundaries, a rash appears in the form of red spots, sometimes with severe swelling, ulcers.
Treatment usually comes down to identifying the allergen, its further elimination and wearing protective clothing with the necessary contact with allergens (protective gown, gloves, etc.).
An allergic form of the disease manifests itself as a delayed form of an allergic reaction. It occurs at the site of exposure to the allergen, capturing the surrounding skin. Sometimes it can appear on parts of the body remote from the lesion. Skin rashes are represented by vesicles, papules and erythema, with characteristic severe itching.
When a disease such as allergic contact dermatitis manifests itself, the treatment consists in the appointment of potent glucocorticoid creams or ointments. In most cases, after the detection and exclusion of an allergen, the disease goes away on its own.
Identification of an allergen is a rather complicated, long procedure, which is determined by the nature of the manifestation of the disease, taking into account all the possible contacts of the patient (at work, at home, on the street). The most common allergens are nickel, latex, detergents, cosmetics, household products and more.
With abundant rashes, as well as with damage to the genitals or facial skin, glucocorticoid drugs are prescribed. They are taken orally, the course of treatment is up to 3 weeks.
Chronic contact dermatitis. Treatment
This is a fairly common disease, often it is professional in nature. It occurs and progresses with frequent, prolonged contact with the allergen. Usually affects the hands and fingers, appearing on the back side. On the palms of the disease is rare.
Diagnosis is to identify, as well as eliminate the allergen. It happens that the use of protective clothing, in addition to a simple form of dermatitis, adds an allergic reaction. Confirmation of the presence of such a reaction can be obtained after an application test.
If the disease manifests itself as chronic contact dermatitis, treatment is carried out using wet-drying dressings with the subsequent application of potent glucocorticoid ointments.
Contact dermatitis in children. Treatment
The causes of dermatitis in children can be different. The most common occurrence of rashes in the form of weeping diaper rash between folds of skin in obese children. It is accompanied by itching, soreness.
The disease can occur when exposed to low temperatures in the form of redness of the skin, swelling, dryness and the appearance of cracks. Exposure to direct sunlight also causes dermatitis. Erythema appears on the skin of the baby with well-defined borders, in difficult cases, with the presence of edema, blisters and a strong burning sensation.
Much less often, the cause of the disease can be chemical irritants. It often manifests itself in contact with some disinfectants (iodine, alcohol, essential oils, etc.). In the summer, the cause of the onset of the disease can be some types of plants (buttercup, arnica, spurge, hogweed and others).
If the child has contact dermatitis, treatment and prevention depends on the nature of the irritant. If irritation occurs under the influence of low temperatures, warm baths are prescribed in a combination of camphor ointment and ichthyol.
In case of an overdose with ultraviolet rays, powders of talc and zinc oxide are prescribed in equal proportions with the addition of ichthyol. In the acute form, lotions are prescribed from a solution of Burov, lead water, a solution of tannin or amidopyrine. After removing severe irritation, you can use a lime liniment (lime water with linseed oil in equal proportions), Lassar paste or zinc ointment with the addition of dermatol.
Prevention
There is no primary prophylaxis to prevent dermatitis. If you are prone to allergies, contact with the allergen should be completely excluded. Use only oxidation resistant metals (gold, silver, titanium). Use high-quality, skin-friendly perfumes and cosmetics.
The most important thing is to observe the requirements of personal hygiene: clean clothes, daily showering, instant neutralization of irritating substances that have come into contact with the skin. With frequent manifestations of dermatitis, you should consult a specialist - a dermatologist.