Contact dermatitis, the symptoms and treatment of which are of a heterogeneous-allergic orientation, is a common inflammatory process of the skin. The causative agents of contact rashes on the skin can be food, pet hair, drugs, plant pollen, and so on. Itchy skin, or pruritus, can occur almost anywhere on the skin. However, the most common pruritic rash on the body forms skin rashes in the groin, on the head (especially in the ear or behind the ear), on the legs and arms. Contact dermatitis (according to ICD-10) belongs to group L25.
Types, causes and signs
Dermatitis, prurigo prurigo or strophulus is the common name for an inflammatory process that causes itchy skin rashes. The term is a collective name for heterogeneous allergic skin inflammation. There are sever altypes of inflammatory skin lesions caused by exposure to damaging factors as a result of physical and / or biochemical damage to the skin:
- Seborrheic dermatitis caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands, developing under the influence of a chemical change in the subcutaneous fat layer. As a rule, pruritus affects the main facial areas: the bridge of the nose, nasolabial folds, eyelashes, eyebrows and chin. Often, seborrheic inflammation of the skin is noted behind the ears or in the area of the auricle. The causative agent of seborrheic dermatitis is a yeast-like fungus of the species Malassezia restricta and / or Malassezia globosa.
- Allergic contact dermatitis is a sensitive reaction of the skin after interaction with an allergen, which is captured by the cells of the epidermis and forms dermatitis. The causes of inflammation, as a rule, are the genetic predisposition of the body to a particular allergen, that is, it is inherited. Therefore, contact dermatitis is very often observed in children (babies) who have an allergic nature of occurrence.
- Atopic dermatitis is a chronic form of allergic dermatitis, which is based on a hereditary predisposition to various allergen pathogens. The recurrent course of atopic eczema has various clinical manifestations depending on the age characteristics of a person. The disease has clear seasonal characteristics, when exacerbation or incomplete remission occurs in the winter, and partial or complete disappearance of symptoms is observed.summer.
Factors of skin inflammation
In contact dermatitis, the symptoms and treatment are determined by the stage of the disease. So, the following forms of inflammation of the skin are distinguished:
- sharp pin;
- subacute contact;
- generalized contact.
Symptomatic signs of acute dermatitis
The acute stage of a skin rash is characterized by a sudden course of the disease after contact with allergens after a short period of time. As a rule, symptomatic signs and pain sensations stop after drug intervention, provided that the allergen is correctly identified. Symptomatic signs of acute dermatitis:
- severe reddening of the skin surface due to dilation of blood vessels;
- skin rash forms a pronounced itch;
- appear papular nodules filled with serous content;
- dryness and / or peeling of the epidermis layer is noted.
This type of dermatitis is not contagious, and the rash usually disappears after an appropriate medical response.
The chronic stage of skin inflammation has more pronounced symptoms due to prolonged exposure to an allergic irritant. The appearance of pinkish or purple hyperemic spots on certain areas of the skin is due to prolonged combing of the damaged areas. The inflammatory process is complicated by the possible infection in the outer layer of the skin. Symptoms and treatment of contact dermatitis in this case are complicated and require a longer therapeutic effect. The terms of treatment are determined in the course of the treatment itself. Drug therapy involves the use of various gels and / or ointments for treatment and oral administration of pharmacological drugs. Ointment from contact dermatitis is prescribed strictly by a doctor. During procedural treatment, a specialist may prescribe several types of ointments. In the process of treatment, it is also necessary to take breaks from the constant use of ointments, especially in the case of children.
Heavy forms
Subacute contact dermatitis (what it looks like - see the photo in the article) requires special attention from medical workers, as the rash on the skin becomes bluish, accompanied by possible allergic complications, hay fever or asthma.
The most severe form is generalized dermatitis. The causes of clinical pathology lie in the neglect of the allergic condition. Patients have swelling of the skin, severe peeling and dryness of the dermis, sometimes accompanied by a coarsened thickening of the affected area. On the part of the skin, microtrauma and venous hyperemia are noted.
How to treat contact dermatitis
Before starting therapeutic actions, it is necessary to clearly define the type of causative agent of an allergic reaction - an allergen. This will help a thorough diagnosis of contact dermatitis. According to the results of a visual examination of the patient and the data of a laboratory biochemical study, the attending dermatologistdetermines the severity of the condition and methods of therapeutic treatment. Contact dermatitis is most effectively treated with complex therapy that includes:
- drug treatment by pharmacological groups;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- strictest hypoallergenic diet.
Drug treatment: antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids
For the treatment of skin diseases from the contact group, antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids are used. Such pharmacological groups have an operational and effective effect on the clinical conditions of the skin. Among the pharmacological treatments, the following antihistamines can be distinguished:
- "Suprastin" is an effective treatment for atopic dermatitis of seasonal and / or chronic forms of allergic skin inflammation.
- "Claridol" is a pharmacological preparation against various conditions of allergic origin.
- "LoraGeksal" is an effective drug for various pseudo-allergic reactions, contact dermatosis, Quincke's edema and other conditions.
- "Kestin" is a pharmacological combination that blocks histamine receptors.
Attention! The dosage and course of treatment is determined by a consulting specialist dermatologist or local therapist.
Physiotherapy treatment
An effective way to cure contact dermatosis is a physiotherapeutic effect throughlow-frequency laser radiation on damaged areas of the skin. Laser exposure in dermatological diseases is limited to 3-5 minutes of radiation. With a daily one-time physiotherapy procedure, the course of treatment is designed for 10-15 sessions, with repeated laser exposure to the body after 1-3 months.
Diet
If a food allergen is identified, there is an urgent need to follow a strict hypoallergenic diet that excludes the food that causes an allergic reaction.
The following foods can cause the risk of an allergic clinic, which are divided into three groups depending on the severity of their allergenic effect.
The strongest stimuli contain:
- milk;
- high-fat meat;
- seafood, including fish;
- citrus;
- nuts;
- honey;
- all kinds of chocolate products;
- tomatoes;
- wheat;
- strawberries, etc.
Medium-risk allergens include:
- potato;
- pork;
- turkey meat;
- apricot, peach, currant;
- rice, corn;
- all kinds of red peppers.
The least allergic pathogen is found in products such as:
- mutton;
- apples, plums;
- zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin and squash.
This is just a short list of possible foods that cause an allergic reaction in the human body.
Important! Before formulating a dietary diet, consult your doctor or nutritionist.
Folk remedies
In addition to traditional remedies and methods of treating itching in dermatitis, there are folk ways to get rid of this disease. Subject to the therapeutic measures prescribed by the consulting specialist, the use of traditional medicine will be effective in the case when the allergic reaction has not acquired a chronic and / or generalized course of the disease. Consider effective ways to cure contact dermatitis with folk remedies:
- Recipe number 1. Potato compress. Peeled medium-sized potato fruit is rubbed on a fine grater. The resulting healing mass is applied to the inflamed areas of the skin for 1.5-2 hours.
- Recipe number 2. St. John's wort ointment. Freshly picked grass (250 g) is mixed with 500 ml of vegetable oil and infused for 7-10 days in a dry and dark place. After straining, the home remedy is ready. St. John's wort ointment has a disinfectant and anti-inflammatory property, calms the nervous system, eliminates itching and burning on the affected areas of the skin.
- Recipe number 3. Nettle decoction. The crushed grass of the plant (2 tablespoons) is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for 1.5-2 hours. After cooling to a comfortable temperature, the medicinal decoctionused in the form of medicated, soothing itching lotions.
- Recipe number 4. Dandelion tea. For 100 g of dandelion leaves, 500 ml of boiling water is needed. Homemade medicine for skin itching is brewed like regular tea, and after 5-7 minutes of infusion, it is ready for use. The healing mass is intended both for a compress for allergic wounds, and in the form of a drink that will have a calming effect on irritated receptors of the nervous system.
- Recipe number 5. Thyme ointment. Thyme acts on the affected skin as an antiseptic. A teaspoon of dry herb powder is mixed with a tablespoon of quality butter.
Allergic wounds on various parts of the skin are smeared with healing ointment.
Children
Contact dermatitis in children is most often caused by improper clothing. The reaction can be caused by folds of clothing that interfere with the comfort of the child. Tight and uncomfortable shoes can also contribute to this. In practice, very often there are cases when dermatitis was the result of improper shoes. Many parents buy shoes one size larger, accompanying their action with the phrase "for growth." Or the child has to wear shoes for someone, but he quickly grows out of them, which leads to discomfort. First of all, doctors just find out these questions in order to decide on a further treatment program. Contact dermatitis also occurs in overweight children, which is to blameare frequent physical contact (rubbing) with clothing (mainly synthetic materials or those that cause an allergenic reaction). Dermatitis itself is accompanied by pain and itching.
Due to unstable immune systems, infants and children under three years of age often develop dermatitis in cold weather (mostly below zero). At this moment, the child has a violation of the innervation of the skin (providing organs and tissues with nerve cells), and the level of refractory fatty acids in the body also increases. The combination of all these factors leads to the appearance of contact dermatosis. The affected area falls on the cheeks, nose, ears and fingertips. Contact dermatitis in adults is based on a completely different symptomatology. This is due to the more stable immune system of an adult, unlike a child.
Precautions for children under one year old
Here's what to look out for:
- A one-year-old child should avoid contact with chlorine. Chlorinated water always flows in our pipelines, so bathing a child can result in his illness. Such water should be boiled or left for 6-8 hours in open containers so that all the chlorine evaporates. For bathing small children, it is recommended to install a filter cleaner on the faucet.
- When washing children's clothes, use only baby soap or specialized baby powders. It is also worth rinsing clothes more thoroughly after washing.
- It is recommended to use only white clothes made of high quality cotton. Purchased clothes from the store must be manuallywash it with soap before putting it in the washing machine.
- Baby hygiene products (soaps, shampoos and gels) should be used no more than once or twice a week. The fact is that all hygiene products (regardless of the mark "children / children's") contain surfactants that neutralize and sometimes destroy the protective fatty layer of the child's skin.
- Children's toys and other items that a child comes into contact with should not be washed with chlorine. In general, household cleaning products should be kept out of the reach of your baby.
- When using diapers, make sure that the child does not stay in them for more than four hours. If the child defecated in the diaper, then immediately change it. Contact with natural secretions can lead to dermatitis.
Other treatments
In addition to various ointments, lotions and compresses, it is no less effective to use wellness baths that will relieve skin inflammation, soothe itching and burning. For a therapeutic effect, pine buds and / or coniferous needles are added to the water. Equally effective is the treatment of dermatitis with a weak solution of sea s alt, which has a calming effect on the inflamed body. All of these methods are also used in the prevention of contact dermatitis.
Take care of yourself and be he althy!
