When Your Skin Erupts

Although poison ivy is the best known cause of contact dermatitis, it is certainly not the only culprit that accounts for nearly six million doctor visits a year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Contact dermatitis is divided into two classifications -- irritant and allergic.

The characteristics of both types are similar and make diagnosis difficult. With both, the skin becomes itchy, red and inflamed, and oftens develops blisters.

Both types of contact dermatitis account for 15-20 percent of reported occupational diseases. Many workers are at an increased risk because they are exposed to many known allergens.

Almost anything that comes in contact with the skin can cause allergic contact dermatitis. It occurs when the body's immune system senses a known allergen and reacts to expel it. Examples of allergic triggers include poison ivy and related plants, metals, perfumes, cosmetics, dyes, and rubber.

Irritant contact dermatitis is just the opposite. It can occur with no previous exposure to the offending agent and the immune system is not the reacting factor. Examples of irritant triggers include soaps, detergents, household and industrial chemicals, acids, and oils.

About 80 percent of contact dermatitis is classified as irritant while the remaining 20 percent is allergic.

Harsh chemicals are usually classified as irritants but some can be allergens for some people. There are nearly 3,000 chemical agents known to possibly induce allergic skin reactions.

Troublesome Plants
The most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis is a plant called poison ivy, which belongs to a plant family that includes poison oak and sumac.

Urushiol, the odor less sappy oil, in the plants causes the reaction. This oil is easily spreadable and stays active a long time. A dead plant can even cause allergic reactions for years. It can adhere to anything and only a small amount is required to cause a reaction. It can easily be transferred to your skin by touching your clothing, yard tools, or even your pet. A reaction can even occur if you come in contact with the smoke of the burning plants. This sap can also be found in mango rinds, and the oil of cashew nut shells.

Other plants that can cause allergic skin reactions are primula obconica and chrysanthemum.

Offending Metals
The metals that most commonly cause allergic skin reactions are nickel, chrome, and mercury. Nickel allergies are on the rise affecting as many as ten percent of women and two percent of men. It is believed this increase is due to the current fad of body piercing.

The North American Contact Dermatitis Group conducted a study in 1996 and found that 14 percent of patients undergoing routine Allergy testing had reactions to nickel. Once nickel Allergy occurs, it persists for many years, often for a lifetime.

Nickel is found in many products. It can be found in jewelry, buckles, zippers, snaps, buttons, hair-pins, and metal clips. Be aware that any metal product may contain nickel.

Nickel can also be found in foods. Foods high in nickel include legumes, grains, fish, and chocolate.

Chrome contains nickel, therefore contact with objects that are chrome-plated may cause allergic skin reactions in people who are nickel sensitive.

Mercury can be found in some contact lens solutions.

Cosmetic Culprits
Cosmetics are often the cause of skin problems. The most frequent offender in cosmetics are permanent hair dyes which contain paraphenylenediamine (PPD). Other offending products include perfume, eye shadow, nail polish, lipstick, and sun screens that contain preservatives and fragrances.

The number one cause of adverse skin reactions to cosmetics and laundry products is fragrance.The skin reactions to fragrance chemicals can produce rashes, hives, dermatitis, or eczema.

What Can Be Done?
If you are aware that you came in contact with an allergen it is recommended you wash it off immediately with soap and water.

An allergic skin response may not occur immediately after coming in contact with an allergen. It may take one to three days before the skin reacts and becomes red, itchy and inflamed. Although the area that was exposed to the allergen is usually the most severe, reactions may also occur elsewhere on the body.

The primary goal in treating an allergic skin condition is to prevent scratching the area that itches. The scratching can irritate and break the skin and possibly cause infection.

You can prevent the skin from itching by keeping the skin moist. For soft and smooth skin, and to reduce the itching sensation, use emollients three or four times a day. The emollients should be applied to the entire body while the skin is slightly wet. This will seal the moisture into the skin.

Other suggestions would be to avoid very hot water when bathing, use detergents without fragrances or harsh chemicals, and avoid all known allergens.