Contact Dermatitis
"Se recomienda realizar un estudio alergológico mediante pruebas epicutáneas con la finalidad de detectar el agente causal y poder dar las recomendaciones de evitación oportunas a cada paciente”
DR. CARMEN D'AMELIO GARÓFALO
SPECIALIST. ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory reaction of the skin to an irritant that has a toxic effect on tissue.
There are many types of irritants: soaps, detergents, solvents, acids and alkalines that produce cell damage, if applied for a long time and in sufficient concentration.
Irritative contact dermatitis presents a varied clinical morphology that depends on the properties of the irritant product and the characteristics of the exposure, concentration, exposed surface, etc.
- Acute form: it develops after contact with agents that rapidly alter the epidermis and clinically take on the appearance of skin burns.
- Chronic form: it develops after repeated exposure to mild irritant agents that have a cumulative effect until producing the inflammatory reaction. In these cases, the symptomatology may persist even though contact with the irritant has ceased. Patients with previous dermatitis (atopy, psoriasis, etc.) have a higher incidence of irritative contact dermatitis.
What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?
The skin symptoms of the hands, especially on the palms and in the interdigital spaces, that usually appear are:
- Redness or inflammation of the skin in the exposed area.
- Lesions that can be of any type.
- Redness, rash, papules, vesicles, blisters, as well as exudation and crusting.
- Itching or burning.
- Increased sensitivity of the skin.
The most common symptoms are:
- Itching and redness.
- Inflammation.
- Itching or burning.
- Increased sensitivity of the skin.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
You may have a contact dermatitis
How is contact dermatitis treated?
As a preventive measure, emollient or moisturizing creams are usually indicated to help keep the skin moist and encourage its regeneration.
In moments of acute outbreak, creams or ointments with corticosteroids will be administered to help reduce inflammation.
Sometimes it may be necessary to indicate topical treatment with tacrolimus or pimecrolimus.
Where do we treat it?
IN NAVARRE AND MADRID
Department of Allergology
of the Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Department of Allergy and Immunology of the Clinic is part of the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network, composed of the 25 best departments of Allergy in Europe, chosen for their scientific excellence, multidisciplinary work, teaching and international activities.
We have the most advanced diagnostic techniques, we are at the forefront of research and we collaborate with the best experts. We have more than 50 years of experience in the field.
What diseases do we treat?
Why at the Clinica?
- More than 50 years of experience.
- Pioneers in the technique of molecular diagnosis by microarray.
- Nursing specialized in allergic diseases and their care.
Our team of professionals
