Redness, localized swelling more or less extensive, oozing vesicles then forming crusts, accompanied by pruritus (itching) often fierce. These symptoms describe contact eczema.
Summary
Contact eczema: what is it?
Symptoms of contact eczema
Contact eczema: the causes
Treatment of contact eczema
1 |Contact eczema: what is it?
Contact eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that starts when an allergen has come in contact with the skin. This allergic reaction can appear in the absence of a familial atopic site, unlike atopic eczema. Indeed, the occurrence of this type of eczema comes from sensitization of the skin to an allergenic substance (this can last from a few days to a few years). And on new contact with this substance, the body that identifies it and the symptoms of contact eczema appear.
Symptoms of contact eczema
Contact eczema flares are manifested by:
when you notice some red and dry patches all over your body this is the main reason that is responsible for severe itching. The occurrence on these plaques of vesicles filled with clear fluid. These vesicles rupture and ooze spontaneously or under the effect of scratching, linked to the significant itching associated with
The formation of scabs which, by disappearing, gives way to normal skin without scars.
These red patches first appear on the skin that has come into contact with the allergen (bracelet, trouser button, shoes, clothing, dye, etc.) then diffuse from the point of contact which can sometimes extend over the whole body. Finally, if skin contact with the allergen is not interrupted, contact eczema becomes chronic. In this case, it is characterized by:
Cracked, squared, and often darker skin.
Thick and very cracked skin on the hands and feet.
Contact eczema: the causes
Allergens
Our everyday objects, costume jewelry, cell phones, keys, clothes, shoes, cosmetics, deodorants, soaps, shampoos, dyes, paints, glues, metals … are full of nickel, chromium, formaldehyde, cobalt, and other components that are just as many potential contact allergens.
But, there are families of particularly allergenic products, such as:
Metal compounds: chromium, mercury, and nickel. Contact dermatitis of professional origins is also numerous among masons, cement workers, metallurgists, and laboratory workers.
The chemical components of clothing: tanning products, rubber elastics, glues, dyes, small metal parts, etc.
Cleaning products: detergents, fabric softeners, detergents, strong soaps, and sometimes the water itself. Wearing gloves and sweating worsen skin reactions in these cases.
Certain pharmaceutical products are used locally: antibiotic ointments, antihistamines, local anesthetics. These allergies are common.
Perfumes (especially bergamot) and cosmetics: various creams, varnishes, lacquers, make-up removing wipes, shampoos. You should also be careful with deodorant sprays, the effects of which may be masked by hair growth.
Plants such as ragweed, sumac are responsible for contact allergies.
Finally, latex has sometimes formidable effects, especially in the medical environment.
Photo-allergens
Sometimes, contact eczema manifests itself in the sun, for products applied locally and can also reveal a delayed allergy to substances ingested or injected. The products and substances in question are:
Antibiotic drugs such as sulfonamides or certain tetracyclines
Diuretics
Anxiolytics
Local products against ringworms (griseofulvin)
Oils and perfumes
Sunscreens
Toiletries.
Treatment of contact eczema
The elimination of the allergen involved in the appearance of eczema is essential to treat the disease. For this, it is necessary to succeed in identifying the allergen concerned by making a personal investigation, by testing the effect of stopping the suspected product. The doctor can give you the list of products containing the allergenic substance to avoid or have you perform an allergological assessment. When the allergen has been identified, contact eczema lesions progress to healing within 10 to 15 days.
However, this avoidance is not always easy when the allergen has not been identified or when it is present in many products. In this case, protection of the skin by clothing or gloves, for example, makes it possible to avoid contact with the product in question.
