Dermatitis is a group of conditions that cause areas of skin to become itchy, dry and inflamed. Dermatitis is sometimes called eczema.
Contact dermatitis can happen after your skin is in contact with something:
- you are allergic to
- that irritates your skin
The symptoms usually improve if you avoid what causes the problem. You can also use treatment to ease the symptoms.
Types of contact dermatitis
There are different types of contact dermatitis depending the cause. The cause is usually an irritant or an allergen.
Irritant contact dermatitis
Irritants are substances that damage the outer layer of the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis can happen to anyone after contact with an irritant.
Common irritants include:
- soaps and detergents
- water and frequent hand washing
Allergic contact dermatitis
Allergens are substances that cause the immune system to react. Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed reaction to an allergen.
If you have an allergy, even a small amount of the allergen can make your skin itchy and inflamed. The delayed reaction can make it difficult to identify the cause of the reaction.
Allergens that can cause contact dermatitis include:
- cosmetic ingredients such as preservatives, fragrances, hair dye and nail varnish hardeners
- metals such as nickel or cobalt in jewellery
Symptoms of contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis can cause skin to become:
- itchy, blistered, dry or cracked
- inflamed (swollen)
- red, if you have white skin
- dark brown, purple or grey, if you have black or brown skin
Symptoms can affect any part of the body but they happen most often on the hands and face.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis
When to see a pharmacist
Speak to a pharmacist if your contact dermatitis is troubling you.
A pharmacist can recommend treatments you can buy without a prescription, such as:
- bland emollients (moisturisers)
- soap-free washes
When to contact a GP
Contact a GP if you have repeated or severe symptoms of dermatitis. They can try to identify the cause and suggest treatments.
Your GP may refer you to a doctor who specialises in skin conditions (a dermatologist) if:
- you cannot identify what causes the contact dermatitis
- an allergen may cause your symptoms
- your symptoms do not improve with treatment
Treating contact dermatitis
If you can avoid the irritants or allergens that cause your symptoms, your skin will clear up.
Until you can identify or avoid the substances, your GP may recommend that you use:
- emollients - moisturisers that you apply to your skin to stop it from becoming dry
- topical corticosteroids - steroid ointments and creams that you put on your skin to treat severe symptoms
Preventing contact dermatitis
To prevent contact dermatitis, avoid contact with the substance that causes your symptoms.
If you cannot identify or avoid the substance, there are things that can ease symptoms:
Do
-
use gloves when you work with water
-
use simple and bland skin products
-
try another product
-
use emollients often and in large amounts
-
use emollient soap substitutes if other bar or liquid soaps dry out your skin
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
