Itching All Over

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by slightlypale

In the first part of this article we found out about what is Allergic Contact Dermatitis and how it is caused. Let us find out more.

The Clinical Look:

The allergy may not be only confined to the place of contact. If you handle a material with your hands and then touch your eyelids, your eyelids will also develop allergic reaction. Unless the dermatitis is severe, it is confined to the area of contact. The skin may become red, itchy and blistered. With repeated allergic reactions, skin deteriorates further and becomes thick and cracked.

Common Allergens:

Common allergens include nickel, poison ivy, some makeup preparations, latex, hair dye, antibiotics such as neomycin, etc. You may find out if you are allergic to any substance with a patch test. By applying the suspected allergen to a small spot for few days and watching the reaction of the skin will indicate the allergy causing potential of that material. Your doctor will guide you more about how to conduct this test. Some examples are – a jewelery piece containing nickel, nickel straps, latex gloves, reaction to permanent hair dye, reaction to topical antibiotic such as neomycin, etc. If the allergy arises, after the skin that had come in contact with the allergen is exposed to sunlight, it is called photo allergy. In this case, the other contact sites will not develop allergy, but only those parts that get exposed to sunlight.

Treatment:

The first need is to avoid contact with allergens. In case of dermatitis developing, it may be treated with topical antibiotics, steroids, or immuno-modulators. Systematic medicines such as antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics, may be used depending upon the severity of the reaction. Your doctor is the best person to prescribe treatment.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

By: Leslie Nguyen This is my public service announcement for my Health Science Technology class. I have eczema myself, but it’s not as severe as the pictures seen in the video. I do use the corticosteroids every now and then, and it does reduce the scaley, dry, reddened skin very well. I have had eczema ever since I was a child and still have it til’ this day [ I will probably have it for the rest of my life] and that means that I have Chronic dermatitis or eczema. Doing this project has really taught me quite a bit about this “skin rash” I have had for years.

Find More Dermatitis Articles

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• Contact Dermatitis
• Cleanness In Excess Can Cause Allergy
• Rubbing The Itchy Truth About Dermatitis
• Ezcema Dermatitis
• Different Types Of Dermatitis

Skin Rash is a type of red bump that forms on your body. There are many reasons for the cause of skin rash. This word is freely used in normal language to denote a number of skin conditions.

Skin Rash Types

Most commonly occurring skin rash types are:

* Non-infected scaly patches on the skin.

* Red, itchy patches or bumps all over the skin.

* Scaly patches on skin caused by fungal or bacterial infection.

Skin rashes are rarely categorized as dangerous, but still warrant medical attention. Self-diagnosis for skin rashes should not be done. Proper evaluation of the skin rash type requires a doctor visit. The following list of skin rash types may help you to categorize the condition.

Non infected scaly patches on the skin:

Scaly and itchy skin rash type usually stands for a condition known as eczema.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. “Dermatitis” means skin inflammation. “Atopic” refers to hereditary diseases. This skin rash type is normally hereditary which often starts in childhood with symptoms like scaly patches on the arms, legs, scalp and torso.

Atopic dermatitis may spread to inner elbows and knees during the teenage. Adults are affected by atopic dermatitis on the genitals, around the eyelids, on the hand and all over the body as well. These diseases may include hay fever, asthma and atopic dermatitis.

During atopic dermatitis, the skin turns extremely itchy and inflamed which may result in redness, swelling and cracking. Atopic dermatitis affects off and on for no apparent reason. It is at its worst in winter months, when the air becomes cold and dry.

Contact Dermatitis

The skin rash type caused due to contact with a specific material, which may cause allergy to the skin is know as contact dermatitis. For example poison ivy and jewelry containing nickel causes reactions. Only the touched part is affected by contact dermatitis.

Other Non-infected Scaly Patches

The other kinds of skin rash types are scaly rashes. Psoriasis is also a hereditary condition. Psoriasis affects the knees, elbows and pityriasis rosea, which forms scaly rashes on the chest and back and generally disappears in a month. Xerosis or very dry skin, may appear as rash during the cold, dry months of the year.

Red, itchy patches or bumps all over the skin:

Virus or allergy causes this form of skin rash type.

Allergic drug rash

Allergic drug skin rashes are the skin rashes, which are caused due to drug allergy. They start in about two weeks of a new medication. It is very doubtful that a medicine which has been prescribed for a few months or years to cause a reaction. There is no specific test to prove whether a skin rash is allergic as a result of which doctors recommend stopping a suspected drug to see the results.

Viral Skin Rash

Viral infections of the skin like herpes mostly occur on one part of the body, viral rashes also occur all over the body and are symmetrical. These viral rashes usually last about a week and vanish on their own.

Other Red, Itchy Patches Or Bumps

Urticaria or Hives are red welts that are itchy. They appear and disappear on different body parts. Most people use the term “skin rash” to describe the conditions of pimples or rosacea on the facial skin, because of the vagueness of the term. They certainly do not fall into any skin rash types.

Scaly patches on skin caused by fungal or bacterial infection:

Bacterial infections

The most common skin rash type caused by bacterial infection is impetigo. Impetigo is caused by strep germs and is more common in children. This again is not due to poor hygiene.

Fungal infections

Fungal infections are common but not as frequent as rashes in the eczema category. Hygiene is not the cause for fungal infections as clean people are also prone to them. Fungal infections are not contagious. The fungal infection skin rash type is not caught from animals, nor is it transmitted in gyms, showers or pools.

more posts of interest:

• Skin Rash – Part 1
• Eczema – Simplified Guide To Eczema
• What You Should Know About Eczema
• Atopic Dermatitis, and Other Types of Eczema
• A Short Classification of Eczema

Seborrheic Dermatitis is also referred to as Dandruff, Seborrheic Eczema and Cradle Cap used in conjunction with infants who have seborrheic dermatitis). It is a condition which is characterized by inflammation, itching, and scales which form on oily or greasy areas of the skin (for instance, the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, sides of nose, behind ears, in middle body skin folds, and inside the ear). It sometimes has a red or pinkish tint to affected skin. Skin affected by this condition often looks oily and scaly.

The actual cause of seborrheic dermatitis is not known but it seems to be genetic as patients who have it usually have family members who also have or have had it. The condition may be worsened by stress, fatigue, extreme temperatures, infrequent cleansing of affected areas, using personal hygiene products which contain alcohol on affected areas, oily skin, and obesity.

Hormones may be a factor in seborrheic dermatitis as can a fungus called malassezia. This fungus, normal to the skin, can increase during illness, high stress, and other triggers. With such increases, skin problems result, including seborrheic dermatitis.

Head Injuries, Parkinsons disease, stroke, and HIV have also been linked to this skin condition. However, seborrheic dermatitis does not mean that you have one of these linked conditions. This oily skin condition occurs most as cradle cap in infants less than three months old and in adults between 30 and 60 years of age as dandruff. It appears more in men than in women.

Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious, caused by poor hygiene, an allergic reaction, or dangerous to the patient. The biggest health issue associated with this oily skin condition is skin damage and/or open wounds caused by scratching. Broken skin from scratching can develop infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal); these infections are usually mild and easily treated but can be more insidious (such as staph infections).

Treatment of the condition depends on the body part affected and the patients age:

Dandruff generally has good results when treated with prescribed shampoos which may contain one of the following medications: salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, or pyrithione zinc. Usage is usually twice per week for the above prescribed shampoos, but may be three times a week if you are using an over the counter tar based shampoo. The tar based shampoos may be used daily when treatment is first begun; usage is reduced after the dandruff is better controlled. In addition to usage requirements, how you use the shampoos is also important. Massage the shampoo through very wet hair making sure it covers the scalp well, let sit for about 10 minutes, and rinse well with warm water. Topical corticosteroids in a cream or lotion form may be prescribed if the traditional shampoos do not control the scaly, oily condition. These are usually applied one to two times a day.

In cases of seborrheic dermatitis appearing in adults skin folds, corticosteroids are usually prescribed in a cream or lotion form. Dosage is usually one to two times per day.

Cradle Cap is usually relieved by careful cleaning, moisturizing, and massage (using a baby brush). Do not pick at the oily scales, let them loosen through cleansing and moisturizing then they usually come off when brushed softly with a baby brush. Picking at them or brushing too roughly can result in broken skin and the risk of infection. If you have tried this for several days and do not see significant improvement, you may want to talk to your babys pediatrician about the condition. Do not attempt to use over the counter shampoos (like the above mentioned shampoos) without consulting the doctor. Babies skin is extremely delicate and needs special treatment.

When the oily scales of seborrheic dermatitis appear in skin folds on babies, very mild topical corticosteroids in lotion or cream form are usually prescribed. Normal dosage is once daily.

While seborrheic dermatitis is greatly affected by oil gland production, it is not necessarily going to occur on everyone who has oily skin. Care for it is a combination of the care for other forms of eczema and the care regimen for oily skin. It is important to keep the area cleansed but not over cleansed and moisturizing is helpful in controlling this condition. Moisturizing the scalp is usually best done through good, moisturizing conditioners.

more posts of interest:

• Understanding seborrheic dermatitis
• Two Types Of Dermatitis
• Triggers and Treatments of Atrophic Dermatitis
• Seborrheic Dermatitis | Aging | Diseases | Disorders
• Guide to Seborrheic Dermatitis-skin Disorders

When your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to you will develop what is called a skin allergy. When you eat food or even proteins you breathe in may cause symptoms to appear on your skin. These reactions are commonly called hives or rashes, and usually appears within 48 hours after the initial exposure to the allergen. Redness
Swelling
Blistering
Itching
Hives and rashes. Poison ivy

Oak
Sumac Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)Researchers have found that atopic dermatitis can be triggered by:It is also related to the development of other allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, in most children. Itchy rash that appears first as small white pimples with red centers over the infants cheeks, neck and scalp. When the infant begins to scratch the rash, the area can become infected, produce fluid and spread over a wider area.In older children the rash appears on the:Over time if the skin is chronically affected by the rash, it will become dry, thick and browner in color. Some children develop the rash on the eyelids, palms of the hand and soles of the feet. The bend of the elbow;
Back of the knees, ankles and wrists;
On the face
Neck
Chest
And palms of the hands and soles of the feet.A doctor will take a careful medical history, looking for allergy in other family members. Skin testing helps confirm food allergies. A food challenge can also confirm that atopic dermatitis is triggered by food.Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis begins with efforts to reduce the itching and inflammation. A person affected with Atopic Dermatitis can:Other ways you can help control and treat Atopic Dermatitis are:If symptoms resist normal treatment remember that the disease can be controlled. It may take awhile to find out the cause and what the best treatment for it is. The condition also nearly always improves over time.Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The information contained in this article should not substitute seeking responsible, professional medical care. It is not meant to attempt to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of skin condition.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

more posts of interest:

• Common Skin Allergies
• Symptoms of egg allergies
• Eczema – Simplified Guide To Eczema
• How Do I Know If I Have Allergies?
• Skin Rash | Skin Rashes | Skin Rash Types | Skin Rash Cures

It’s the first day of your vacation and you fell asleep on the beach and now you’re in some serious pain. How will you get through the next week of vacation? When you expose your unprotected skin to the sun too long, the sun will burn your skin, just like fire does. Here’s some tips on how to soothe that sunburn.

1. Bathe or shower in cool water to bring down the overall temperature of your body. Soak for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Peel the skin from an aloe vera leaf and gently lay it on the burn. Or, if you do not have an aloe vera leaf, apply 100% aloe vera lotion or gel to soothe the pain. The aloe vera will also promote healing of the skin. Never put butter on a sunburn.

3. Taking aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help ease the pain. stinging and swelling somewhat.

4. If your legs are sunburned, keep them elevated. Sam goes for your arms.

5. Sleep in loose-fitting pajamas or nothing to reduce the pain. That also goes for your clothes the next day. Try to wear something that is loose and not itchy material.

6. If your eyelids are burned, place a chilled, damp tea bag over them to soothe the pain.

7. If you experience any blistering, fever, chills, or weakness as a result of your sunburn, contact your doctor. Do not pop blisters or apply lotions or gels to them, as you may infect your skin.

8. Stay out of the sun for several days while your skin heals or at least protect your sunburned skin with clothing or a hat if you are outside.

9. Make sure that you are drinking water. Drinking water will help promote hydration and can help your skin heal faster than if you are dehydrated. Also, being out in the sun, will dehydrate you in itself.

10. In the future, protect your self! Wear a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 25 or higher. Wear long sleeves or a hat to protect more of your skin from the sun. Reapply your sunscreen every 1 to 2 hours or more if you are swimming or sweating.

If after your sunburn has healed or if a couple of days has gone by and you develop any odd skin condition, you want to make sure that you visit a dermatologist right away. Any out of the ordinary skin condition can be a sign of skin cancer.

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• Sunburn Remedy: Feel The Burn
• Sunburn treatment – Part 1
• Sunburn Treatment Few Effective Herbal Remedies
• Sunburn Remedies & Prevention
• Sunburn- How To Protect From Sunburn?