Contact dermatitis is a rash caused by a substance that was in close contact with the skin, causing either an irritant or allergic reaction. These reactions can be caused by chemicals such as hair dye, pollen, dust, grass, topical creams, personal care products such as make-up, cleansers, moisturizers, antibiotic ointment, latex gloves, nickel, jewelry, plants, etc.
Treatment involves topical and/or systemic anti-inflammatory medication depending on the severity of the reaction. Preventing recurrence requires identifying the allergen responsible. This can take some detective work.
Certain areas of the body may have a higher exposure to specific substances. The dermatitis may show up only around the eyes for example and not the rest of the face. This may be because the skin is thinner in this area and it takes less allergan exposure to cause a dermatitis or it may be because one is allergic to swim goggles, glasses, etc.
Sometimes patch testing is required to determine the chemicals, dyes, metals, etc. to which your skin is reacting. You can be given a list of products that are safe for your skin that do not contain the culprit ingredient. For example, if you are allergic to cocamidopropyl betaine, you can be given a list of soaps, shampoos, lotions, hair conditioners that do not contain it. By reading ingredient labels on products you can learn to avoid it.
