Blog Post

A Guide to Contact Dermatitis

  • By Admin
  • •
  • 30 Apr, 2018
  • •
A Lady With Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a condition that is very common: nearly everyone suffers from contact dermatitis, a form of eczema, at some point in their lives. Contact dermatitis strikes when your skin is sensitive to a certain product, causing an itchy or painful rash.

A rash may occur within a short time of touching something your skin is sensitive to or can occur hours after contact. Do you have contact dermatitis? Use this guide to help you determine if you have this common skin condition or not and the treatment options that are available to you.

Does Your Skin Get Irritated When You Use a Certain Product?
Many substances can cause irritation to the skin, including certain cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, and even soaps. If you constantly break out in hives or get a painful, itchy rash when you touch a certain object or wear a certain type of lotion, then you may suffer from contact dermatitis.
In addition, your skin irritation may be caused by wearing clothing washed in a certain laundry detergent, this is an example of contact dermatitis as well.

Does Certain Jewelry Causes You Discomfort?
Some types of contact dermatitis do more than cause irritation in your skin temporarily. Allergic reactions due to contact dermatitis are commonly associated with certain materials, such as nickel and Latex.
An allergic reaction due to contact dermatitis will often have greater consequences than simple skin irritation. Since your body takes time to create immunity to allergens, you may not notice the symptoms of an allergy-related skin reaction for a few days. If your skin contacts certain objects or materials that you are allergic to, then you may have a reaction. Common reactions include:
  • Swelling of the skin
  • Large, oozing bumps
  • Hives
  • Chronic itching
Make note of any items that you touched, especially those that leave you incredibly uncomfortable, and note how long your allergic reaction lasts.
If you experience swelling in your throat, face, or have trouble breathing after coming in contact with certain items, then call for emergency help immediately. Though this type of reaction is rare, immediate medical attention is required if you have a severe allergic reaction.

What Can You Do?

 If you believe you have some form of contact dermatitis, make an appointment with an allergen specialist right away. Write down your symptoms, which can be as minor as simple itching and slight redness to more severe reactions such as hives or swelling.
In the meantime, do not scratch at or irritate your condition further. Continue to make notes of your condition, especially if it gets worse rather than better over time.
Your health specialist will help determine what is causing your contact dermatitis symptoms based on the information you give them, and the specialist may prescribe an antibiotic or other medication to treat any current symptoms you have.
Your allergen specialist will also give you advice on avoiding certain irritants and make your life more comfortable. For example, you may be advised to get rid of all nickel jewelry (opting instead for sterling silver, stainless steel, or other non-allergen metal) and replace cosmetics with hypoallergenic products.
You will be asked to return to your health specialist after making product changes to see if your symptoms have improved or if more studies for your condition are needed.
At some point in your life, you will likely experience contact dermatitis. You should understand what the condition is and how it can affect you so you can protect your skin from irritation. You can treat your contact dermatitis condition with the assistance of your allergen specialist.
Contact our team of specialists at Allergy and Asthma Clinic of Fort Worth today. We will set up an appointment with a specialist who can assist you in your dermatology and allergy needs.

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COVID-19

By James Haden • 12 Mar, 2020

We hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

 

Given the following:

many of our patients have underlying conditions that could potentially make infection with COVID-19 more severe

 

in light of the fact that the ongoing novel Coronavirus pandemic is officially now local,

 

to ensure the clinic can remain open to best serve the needs for ALL of our allergy and asthma patients, we have implemented the following:

  • If you have a cough or fever, DO NOT  come to the office. Call ahead first . We may be able to schedule a Tele-Visit to accommodate you. This is to protect all of our patients  in the waiting room who are not ill.
  • We are unable to test for COVID-19. Currently this must be done at our local health department.
  • We have enhanced our already robust office cleaning protocols, cleaning all contact surfaces frequently with powerful antiseptic products.
  • Patients with cough (it is asthma season) are provided mask Before  entering the clinic and will be directly taken to an exam room to isolate from the general waiting room population

We encourage all of our patients to follow the recommendations of the CDC and WHO to limit exposure:

 

CDC:     https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

 

 WHO:   Coronavirus


Remember also that the flu is still circulating and if you haven’t had your flu shot, it’s time to get it now. As of today a fever is still likely to NOT be COVID-19, but that may change rapidly.

If you’ve been taking your asthma medication less than regularly, it is now time  to religiously take them daily as prescribed. If you have questions about how to use them please contact us.

If you need refills please let your pharmacy know, they will contact us.

Working together, we can slow the spread of this virus and minimize its impact.

It is spring and allergy season is here. COVID-19 doesn’t change that. My office is here to continue to manage all of the usual symptoms you may experience.

We don’t want anyone to fall behind on allergy shots if at all possible. Hopefully this pandemic will pass in a few months, but another allergy season is always just around the corner.

 

Let us know if we can help and take care of yourselves and your families!

 

All of our best,

Dr Haden and all of the staff at Haden Allergy

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