A few weeks ago, when I washed my face in the morning, I noticed that something felt. My skin felt uneven and structuredWhich was not the norm for me. To begin with, I thought the culprit was mine Face laundry – Maybe it would have been out without me noticing? – but after rinsing it and applied mine Face moisture creama pit sat in my stomach when I realized that the structure was definitely on My face and not from one of my many beauty products.
In panic, I rushed to the mirror and saw that redness, bumps and a scaly dryness had sat over both my cheeks overnight. Although I have had my fair share of acne battles, it did not look like something I had experienced before. Two hectic calls to my dermatologist and a video chat later, I got a diagnosis: it was a contact dermatitis rash.
After I have never experienced dermatitis before, I had lots of questions. The first creature (of course), WTF is actually contact dermatitis? In an attempt to learn more, I consulted Freddie Bartholomew, MD, FAAD, a board -certified dermatologist, to see if he could shed light on the situation. In front, Dr. Bartholomew down what contact dermatitis is, its symptoms and treatment options.
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Freddie BartholomewMD, FAAD, is a board -certified dermatologist at Berman Skin Institute in California.
What is contact dermatitis?
To put it simply, it is a condition that looks like a rash on the skin. “Dermatitis, sometimes called eczema, is a general term for skin inflammation,” says Dr. Bartholomew to Popsugar.
Contact Dermatitis specifically “Refers to inflammation caused by contact with a substance that does not comply with your skin.” It is common for people with sensitive skin and can easily be treated.
Contact dermatitis symptoms
Contact dermatitis may look different for everyone, but signs of dermatitis you can see and feel on your skin may include redness, swelling, dryness and itching. Contact dermatitis can manifest anywhere on the skin, which includes areas such as the face, eyelids and even the scalp.
Contact dermatitis can also affect other areas of the body, such as the nails, although it mainly affects the skin.
Contact dermatitis nails can manifest in different ways, such as nail staining, nail thickening or brittleness. In some cases, the nail can also differ from the nail bed, called Onycholysis.
There are many reasons for contact dermatitis “based on your medical history, lifestyle, environment and use of products for personal care,” says Dr. Bartholomew. “Common examples include traces of nickel in gold jewelry, scents in deodorants or detergents and preservatives in makeup remover wipes.”
Contact dermatit nails can be caused by everything from a hand wash that does not agree with you to a new nail product that you have not used before.
If you experience symptoms that may be related to contact dermatitis, it may be time to reach out to your dermatologist. My contact dermatitis showed up after I spent the night in a hotel, so it could have been caused by everything from the detergent they used on their towels to a surface cleaning product that they used just before entering the room.
Contact dermatite treatments
In addition to trying to find out what irritated my skin to begin with, my most pressing question was how I would get rid of it – and fast. The first rule of thumb is to stop using any triggers, including makeup or skincare with scents, essential oils or other commonly irritating ingredients. Then Dr. Bartholomew that those who experience contact dermatitis would reach out to a dermatologist to try to find out the best treatment. “After identifying possible causes, treatment may mean avoiding probable sinners, focusing on mild skin care and applying short courses with medicated creams or ointments.”
For me, what worked temporarily over to Vanicream’s moisturizing lotion ($ 17) and the brand Uncertained gentle facial cleanser ($ 11) and uses the current triamcinolone cream my dermatologist prescribed. (One thing to note: Triamcinolone is a current steroid and can cause Steroidakne About overuse. Consult your doctor about whether or not a current steroid is right for you. I also completely avoided makeup and one of my normal skin care products. It still took about a week for me to see something really decrease, so in my opinion, your biggest tool is patience. (Typical healing time can be up to two weeks.)
How to Prevent Contact Dermatitis
When it comes to avoiding contact dermatitis altogether, “simplify your Skin care routine can reduce the likelihood of irritation, says Dr. Bartholomew. This means reducing your exposure to potentially triggering ingredients.
Before you commit to a new product, do a patch test first. “For those with sensitive skin, I recommend that you start with a small test area on your skin to ensure that there is no side effect. Preferably you should only add a new personal care product at a time, so the products that do not agree if your skin can be identified and avoided.”
In the end, what helped me was the most time. Although I was hoping for a miracle product that would get rid of my shocks and dryness ASAP, the medicine gave the time to do its job and give my skin a break from makeup really helped me. If you experience symptoms that may be contact dermatitis, a visit to a licensed dermatologist should get you on the right track.
