Contact dermatitis is a kind of reaction of the human skin to a stimulus or allergen that is in direct contact with it. Penetrating into the skin, the allergen enters through the epidermis into the lymph, the cells of which (lymphocytes) "conflict" with the cells of the stimulus. As a result, this manifestation of this pathological process on the skin surface is observed.
Causes and types of contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is divided into two varieties - simple contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis . Simple contact dermatitis occurs as an inflammation of the skin after the action of a chemical stimulus on it, which in all people when exposed to the skin causes such a reaction. Irritants can be the following:
- strong alkalis and acids;
- concentrated detergents;
- solvents;
- bleaching powder;
- plants, which contain irritating and poisonous substances (for example, nettles, spurge), etc.
Unlike simple, allergic contact dermatitis affects not all people. The organism of some people can be absolutely insensitive to many allergens, while others have even a brief contact with certain substances, an allergic reaction. Predisposition to contact allergic dermatitis is transmitted genetically. In most cases, the same allergens cause allergic inflammatory reactions, both in parents and in children. As the allergens can act a lot of substances, among which is:
- plant allergens (composite plants, onions, asparagus, garlic, celery, citrus fruits, etc.);
- metals (nickel, copper, gold, mercury, chromium, cobalt, etc.);
- preservatives that are added to toothpastes, hair colors, cosmetics (formalin, hexachlorophene, butylparaben, etc.);
- medicinal substances (nitrofurazone, lidocaine, novocaine, neomycin, etc.).
The risk of the appearance of contact dermatitis is a violation of the integrity of the skin. Therefore, this disease often develops as a professional disease as a result of constant contact with irritants and skin damage during labor activity.
Depending on the duration and frequency of exposure to allergens and irritants, contact dermatitis can be acute and chronic.
Symptoms of contact dermatitis
Acute contact dermatitis is characterized by pronounced symptoms:
- intense redness of the skin;
- the appearance of swelling, blisters in the area of direct contact;
- severe persistent itching;
- a sharp rise in temperature at the site of skin lesions;
- in severe cases - a general increase in body temperature, chills, wavy pain in the place of direct contact.
Acute contact dermatitis can be accompanied by the appearance of edematous plaques covered with vesicles. Also, there may be numerous erosions, from which a colorless exudate is released.
Allergic contact dermatitis often occurs in a chronic form, in which a thickening of the skin occurs at the site of contact with the allergen, the cutaneous pattern intensifies, dryness and flaking occur. In some cases, there are also numerous cracks. In this case, the damage to the skin extends not only to those areas that have come into contact with the allergen, but also much further.
How to treat contact dermatitis?
Treatment of simple and allergic contact dermatitis is based on the following principles:
- elimination of allergen or irritant;
- medicamentous therapy for getting rid of the symptoms of pathology;
- hyposensitization (decreased sensitivity), compliance with the diet.
In most cases, drug therapy is limited to the use of local remedies - ointments (creams, emulsions) from contact dermatitis, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic drugs.