Irritant Contact Eczema

Irritant contact eczema is similar to allergic contact eczema and is caused by frequent contact with everyday substances such as detergents in toiletries or cleaning products. Some of the main differences between an irritant and allergic contact eczema are:

An irritant will cause a reaction in everyone who comes in contact with it, while an allergen will trouble only those people with the greatest susceptibility for developing allergic reactions.

The skin effect from an irritant will be almost immediate – from stinging or burning to caustic burns. There will be no immediate effect from an allergen. The latter takes time to develop. When it does, itching is a prominent symptom.

An irritant contact eczema seldom manifests itself as red vesicles which combine to form moist patches.

Some of the materials known to potentially cause skin reactions are themselves components of common treatments for eczema (e.g. lanolin in moisturizers and hydrocortisone in steroid creams). Therefore, if the condition is worsening or proving resistant to treatment, it may be that the treatment itself is contributing to the skin problem.

As a rule, inflamed areas of skin tend to 'flare-up' from time to time, and then tend to settle down. The severity and duration of 'flare-ups' varies from person to person, and from time to time in the same person.

Common Causes of Foot Eczema

The most common cause of foot eczema is dyes used in the manufacture of shoes and sneakers, which are made with dyes and/or rubber. These irritants cause rashes and dry or scaly skin. Leather shoes also contain dyes. Successful treatment may include wearing socks that are 60% cotton and changing shoes every day -- alternate 2 to 3 pairs of shoes. Follow recommended treatments for at least 4 months after skin has healed. It takes a long time for skin to recover, and, unless you're careful, the eczema will reoccur.

Dyshidrotic Eczema - Causes and Control

The cause of dyshidrotic eczema may be sensitivity to nickel or other metals such as chromium or cobalt, also fragrances, fungal infection (tinea pedis), stress, aspirin, oral contraceptives, smoking, and implanted metals. The following suggestions will be helpful for anyone with symptoms of hand eczema: wear waterproof or cotton-lined gloves, avoid contact with soaps, detergents, scouring powders, and irritating chemicals. Wear waterproof gloves when peeling or squeezing lemons, oranges, or grapefruit, peeling potatoes, or handling tomatoes. Wear heavy-duty gloves while gardening, wash dishes in a dishwasher, do not wash clothes by hand, avoid contact with turpentine, paint, and paint thinner, floor polish, and shoe polish. Wash hands in warm water and a small amount of mild soap, rinse carefully and dry gently. Wearing rings can cause hand eczema to become worse.

Causes of Contact Eczema

A substance that has a direct toxic effect or exposure to an irritant produces irritant contact eczema and a skin reaction can occur immediately or gradually after repeat exposure. Examples of substances that cause irritant contact eczema include acids, certain toilet bowl cleaners or drain cleaners, oven cleaners, detergents, ammonia, lye, cement, turpentine, and paint thinners.

Allergic contact eczema will trigger an immunologic response that causes inflammation called a skin allergy. Examples of substances that cause allergic contact eczema include poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, dyes, fragrances, leather, rubber compounds (gloves and shoes) and nickel (jewelry accessories). Itching and burning are common symptoms in both types of contact eczema.

Peri-oral Eczema

Perioral eczema affects mostly women. In addition to redness around the mouth, the symptoms of perioral eczema may also include small red bumps or even pus bumps and mild peeling. Treatments include using a non-tartar, non-fluoride toothpaste. Lip balms, lipstick, or toothpaste can also cause perioral eczema. Contact eczema is an inflammatory response by the skin to an outside allergen or irritant. Substances that cause contact eczema include household items, clothing, cosmetics, and plants. The types of substance that cause the symptoms to appear can further define contact eczema.

Causes Of Cradle Cap

Infantile seborrheic eczema, also called cradle cap, affects the face, scalp, and upper extremities and is often associated with food consumption (cheese, egg whites, wheat, or nuts are a common cause of infantile seborrheic eczema). Other triggers that can cause baby eczema include soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, wool, and polyester or blended fabrics. A natural treatment, feeding the baby breast milk can help to control or limit eczema in infants.

Triggers For Atopic Eczema

Trigger factors vary as to the type of eczema one is experiencing. Triggers for atopic eczema may include soap, harsh chemicals, heat and humidity, stress, certain foods (most common offenders include eggs, milk, wheat, soy protein, and peanut). Many of these ingredients can turn up in unusual places, such as all-natural soaps, makeup, cream or lotions. Inhalant allergens such as house dust mites, pets, pollen and cut grass are also triggers that can cause eczema.