LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Dermatitis: Contact Dermatitis
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Contact dermatitis occurs in two forms. The irritant form is more common and results from an exposure to a substance that is toxic to the skin and initiates the inflammatory reaction. This could be a chemical or even a cream, cosmetic or lotion. The other form is allergic in origin. This may refer to the poison ivy, oak or sumac. Beside these common plants, in teens, allergic contact dermatitis may be due to nickel jewelry, preservatives and topical antibiotics.
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Treating contact dermatitis begins with eliminating or avoiding the source of irritation. Prescription or over-the-counter corticosteroid creams can lessen inflammation and relieve irritation. Creams, lotions, or ointments not specifically formulated for dermatitis can intensify the irritation. Oral antihistamines are sometimes recommended to alleviate itching, and antibiotics are prescribed if the rash becomes infected. Medications taken by mouth to relieve symptoms of dermatitis can make skin red and scaly and cause hair loss.
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The best treatment for diaper dermatitis is to prevent it from starting. This is most easily done by using absorbent disposable diapers. These do not allow urine to come into contact with the skin. Modern absorbent disposable diapers can hold large amounts of urine and keep it away from the skin. For all practical purposes these diapers only need to be changed when they become soiled with feces or they get so heavy that they are down near the child's ankles. It is the mixture of urine and feces that causes the rash.
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It is often very difficult to determine the specific cause of an episode of allergic or contact dermatitis. Many people are highly sensitive to specific types of chemicals in foods, cosmetics, medications, and perfumes. Some foods seem to cause hives to a greater extent than others. These include nuts, chocolate, fish, tomatoes, eggs, berries, and milk. Sometimes additives and preservatives in the food may be responsible for the hives. Hives can ... result from physical agents such as vibration, sunlight, cold pressure, and exercise.
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Irritant contact dermatitis, which accounts for 80% of all cases of contact dermatitis, occurs when a chemical substance causes direct damage to the skin; symptoms are more painful than itchy. Typical irritating substances are acids, alkalis (such as drain cleaners), solvents (such as acetone in nail polish remover), strong soaps, and plants (such as poinsettias and peppers). Some of these chemicals cause skin changes within a few minutes, whereas others require longer exposure. People vary in the sensitivity of their skin to irritants. Even very mild soaps and detergents may irritate the skin of some people after frequent or prolonged contact.
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Minimizing contact with the irritant can prevent dermatitis, but this is not always possible. Since excellent manual dexterity is often required of machinists, some personal protective equipment, such as gloves, may not be appropriate for some operations and may even be a serious safety hazard with other operations, such as those using rotating equipment. The employer may specify operations for which gloves are permitted. If used, gloves should not allow fluid to penetrate. Disposable or washable inner gloves may ... be considered to eliminate perspiration. If fluid is retained in gloves, the employee should wash exposed skin with warm water and a mild hand cleaner and gently but thoroughly dry.
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Contact Dermatitis