Brief Points About Contact Dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction of skin to physical chemical or biological agents. The epidermis is damaged by repeated physical and chemical irritations Contact dermatitis may be of primary irritant type in which non-allergic reactions resulted from exposure to irritant substances or it may be allergic in nature (allergic contact dermatitis) resulting from exposure of sensitized persons to contact allergens.
Causes of contact Dermatitis
- Soap
- Detergents
- Industrial
- Chemicals
- Extreme cold and heat
- Pre – existing skin diseases
Ideally contact dermatitis is confirmed using patch test
Management
The objectives of the management are to rest the involved skin and to prevent further exposure of the patient to the causative agents.
NB . No amount of treatment can control the disease if the patient continues to come in contact with the agent, where as if further exposures to the agent are prevented, the patient tends to recover even without any treatment.
It is important to encourage the patient to wash the skin area with soap and water, to wash if the remnants of the antigens, which may still be lying on the skin. Treatment of dermatitis consists of local compresses with saline or potassium permanganate twice daily followed by local application of a corticosteroid ointment,. In sever cases and secondary bacterial infection antibiotic may be necessary. If the itching is very severe oral antihistamine tablets may be given twice or three times a day and in very severe and generalized case a short course of systematic corticosteroid may be helpful in providing quick relief.
- As a rule, a dose of corticosteroids equal to 30 mg of prednisolone a day is sufficient and once the disease has been controlled, this can be quickly with deceased over the next two weeks
N.B normally, not advice to use systemic corticosteroid, if topical steroids doesn’t help, you can refer the person to higher-level health facility.
Note: Corticosteroid have got anti-inflammatory and anti allergic effect.
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