Posts filed under 'Skin Care'
Wearing wedding rings and other jewelry may sometimes cause irritations and allergic reactions. The ring itself it not to be blamed for this but rather one of its content called nickel. Nickel is being used by jewelers to harden their products. The problem would arise when you do not know that you are very sensitive to nickel. The wedding ring dermatitis is another form of nickel contact dermatitis that could be gained from prolonged exposure to nickel. Additionally, the disease can also arise from wearing wedding rings 24/7/365, thus giving no room for the skin beneath the ring to breathe.
Nickel allergy is commonly caused by even the minute amounts of nickel particles coming into direct contact to the skin, which was predisposed with sensitivity to the particle. There are other kinds of this allergy but the most common to married women is the wedding ring dermatitis. This disease has been proven to be treatable though you might think twice before wearing any jewelry with nickel content. The wedding ring dermatitis is not so different with other allergic reactions; once you are allergic to nickel, you will always be allergic to it. The best way to determine if you are sensitive to nickel and prone to wedding ring dermatitis is to undergo an allergen test in your local hospital.
As with any form of irritants, the longer you are exposed to the irritant or wearing your wedding ring the higher the risk of developing wedding ring dermatitis. Another factor that might contribute to wedding ring dermatitis is the existence of a pre-determined eczema or atopic dermatitis condition.
On the other hand, you should not fret upon reading this information because there are several measures that serves as necessary precautions for wedding ring dermatitis. You can apply a mild topical steroid on the area of the finger wearing the wedding ring. However, there is a caveat that steroids are known to thin the skin when used continuously. Another precaution you can practice is applying a coat of nail polish underneath the wedding ring. This method can test your patience since nail polish periodically flakes off. Always keep the skin on your ring finger dry and occasionally place your hands into a sink full of water.
Treating Wedding Ring Dermatitis
If you have practiced the necessary precautions for wedding ring dermatitis but still developed inflammation on the skin, maybe it is necessary for you to avoid wearing the wedding ring at all and opt for something skin-friendly. The application of medications for wedding ring dermatitis, as with all kinds of contact dermatitis depends on the severity of the disease. A 1% hydrocortisone topical lotion applied directly on the inflamed skin can help relieve the itchiness, redness, scaling and swelling. This product is available over-the-counter and can be in the form of either ointment or cream. However, for sever cases of disease it is necessary to seek professional help. The physician will recommend a stronger steroid medicine to apply on the affected area and it can also be given as an injection.
July 15th, 2008
Perioral Dermatitis is a very common skin rash which affects young women. The rash develops around the mouth and it appears on the chin, cheeks and the nose. It appears like acne, but there are often lumps on the skin appearing one next to the other.
Steroids
Often topical steroids are used temporarily to clear a mild patch of perioral dermatitis. The rash often clears, only to reappear again as soon as the steroids are stopped.
Drug Groups
The Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis belongs to the tetracycline group and is an antibiotic tablet. In milder cases topical antibiotics are used. The treatment lasts normally six to twelve weeks, as this is the normal course of any Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis.
Treatment
For the first few weeks there may be no noticeable improvement during the treatment. But within two months after starting the Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis, there is definitely an improvement. Therefore, you must be patient if an antibiotic has been prescribed by your doctor, because the results appear only after two weeks.
It is, however not clear how antibiotics work when the patient has contracted perioral dermatitis. But it is known that tetracyclines and some other antibiotics help in reducing inflammation and also kill bacteria, hence it is very effective.
The doses of the Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis are taken in decreasing order. Sometimes topical antibacterial creams and lotions are also used to give the patient immediate relief. In order to prevent recurrence, they can be continued for a longer period of time.
Other oral antibiotics may be required if the case is severe. These are doxycycline, minocycline or erythromycin. If the infection is milder or if the patient is pregnant, topical antibiotic creams may be used.
Side-Effects
The use of a Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis may be effective for the treatment of the dermatitis, but it can have some side effects like nausea, vomiting and phototoxicity. That is why children below eight years of age should not be treated with these antibiotics. Often, patients with perioral dermatitis have high skin sensitivity and topical medications may not be suitable for them.
Other Methods
Besides these limitations, there are patients who are reluctant to take any Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis. Hence a safe and effective treatment for it has been found that might help to eliminate or reduce the need to consume antibiotics. The photodynamic therapy with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid is one of the solutions.
Some contraindications against the Topical Antibiotic for Perioral Dermatitis have been listed out by the doctors. Many of the antibiotics are not recommended for smaller children because it documents hypersensitivity and even severe hepatic dysfunction.
July 13th, 2008
An allergic reaction can occur in patients because of sweat if they are suffering from atopic dermatitis. It is a form of Sweat induced dermatitis, because sweat is one of the most aggravating factors in atopic dermatitis. A lot of research is still being conducted in this field, because for all patients suffering from atopic dermatitis sweat is not always the deciding factor.
Atopic Dermatitis
Since sweat may induce allergic reactions in patients with atopic dermatitis, sweat allergy is treated as a useful marker for the diagnosis of the dermatitis, and this gives a target for new therapeutics.
The exact mechanism of Sweat induced dermatitis and the role of sweat in atopic dermatitis is still unclear for many doctors. There are both allergic and non-allergic mechanisms, and there are actually no satisfactory scientific evidences.
Nickel
Sweat induced dermatitis is common in people who are sensitive to nickel. If sweaty skin comes into contact with items containing nickel, it can immediately develop an itchy, prickly sensation within a period of fifteen or twenty minutes. Sometimes even a rash may appear within a day or two. But if there is no sweat on the skin, these nickel items can be worn for several hours and there will be no skin problems.
Not only jewelry but also clothing fasteners made of nickel, like buckles, zippers, buttons and metal clips can come into contact with the sweat in your body and immediately react on the skin and cause Sweat induced dermatitis. Hence people who are sensitive to nickel should substitute them with nylon accessories. Rubber products are often the cause of allergic contact dermatitis and this is caused by the chemical additives in rubber. Medical workers wearing tight-fitting gloves may be prone to Sweat induced dermatitis, because the skin of the hands under the glove experience sweating and could cause hand dermatitis. Powder free rubber gloves may prevent sweating or gloves made of other material should be used, so that there is no sweating. Treatment If there is any indication of Sweat induced dermatitis, then the best thing to consider is to prevent that portion of the body from sweating. Wearing light and cotton clothes, using powder under gloves would be some of the precautions. It is easy to prevent touching nickel objects or wearing nickel jewelry especially when you are sweating. Your dermatologist can help you to identify the items that you should avoid. It is easier for you to detect the cause of the Sweat induced dermatitis than your doctor, because you can check out whether you are allergic to some product only when you sweat, and then you can use it as well when there is no sweat in your body. This can prove that the itching and rash is only Sweat induced dermatitis, and only when sweat comes into contact with the product, it causes the allergy or dermatitis on your skin.
July 11th, 2008
A person who suffers from stasis dermatitis knows that this is a skin condition that no one would ever want to face, as it is painful, embarrassing, but also scary. To understand exactly how to handle stasis dermatitis, a person first needs to understand exactly what it is. A doctor will be able to make the best diagnosis but stasis dermatitis is skin that gets rough, dry, red, and can look scaly. Also, there could be crusting, erosions, and oozing that begins to take place which is probably the worst part of having stasis dermatitis.
There is often a lot of leg swelling that comes along with this skin condition because there is a buildup of fluid that takes place along with a lot of poor circulation. Although stasis dermatitis usually occurs in the legs, it can happen in other areas of the body. A malfunction of a vein valve or heart failure can cause this condition to come about but those are not the only reasons behind this terrible skin condition. Also, women are more likely to face this problem and most are over the age of fifty. As a person’s age increases, so does their chance at developing this skin condition.
Treatment Options
For stasis dermatitis, there are a lot of things that can be done but there are some things that are most common. If there is a lot of swelling in the legs, which usually gets worse the longer a person stands throughout the day, there are steps that can be taken to help out the situation. Women can wear support hose that is elastic and this should be put on first thing in the morning when first awaking. When sitting for long periods, make sure to try and keep the legs above the level of the heart in order to help control too much of a fluid buildup from forming. Over the counter hydrocortisone cream can be applied up to two times a day on the red areas.
An important thing to remember is if the swelling or the itching does not get better by the steps that are being taken at home, it is time to seek medical care from a doctor. The doctor will need to see exactly what is going on that could be causing the swelling to make sure that you are in no urgent medical crisis. If you fear that there is an infection present at the affected area, it is time to seek medical help right away. Signs of an infections would be a fever, extra amounts of pain to the affected area, an increased amount of redness and swelling and even areas that are opening up to let pus out. If you experience any of this with your stasis dermatitis, seek help right away.
July 9th, 2008
Dermatitis is a common ailment experienced by many people worldwide. Some are reported to have suffered from the disease for a very long time. When severe dermatitis becomes out of hand and uncontrollable, profound treatments are recommended by the clinical experts.
When simple treatment such as topical steroids can no longer cure severe dermatitis, a more challenging way of remedy is being used. Systemic immunosuppressants and immunomodulators are then recommended to successfully eradicate the symptoms. However, there is only a limited time frame in which these drugs can be used since they produce systemic toxic effects.
Severe Dermatitis: What it Looks Like
Severe dermatitis is different from that of a normal dermatitis considering the appearance and the range of its spread. Typically, dermatitis causes itchiness and redness in an area of the body; but in severe dermatitis, almost all body parts experience pruritus and inflammation. The coverage is widespread in the entire body including skin folds, the head and face, trunk, and upper and lower extremities. The head also experiences alopecia, which means loss of hair. Scarring may also be present due to constant rubbing of the skin. In some cases of severe dermatitis, infection from Staphylococcus bacteria may also be present.
Tips to Lessen the Severity of Dermatitis
The recommended tips to reduce the symptoms of severe dermatitis are: frequent dusting of house furniture to ensure that there are no mites, application of skin moisturizers such as Vaseline, Aquaphor and petroleum jelly, avoidance of creams and ointments since it aggravates the eczema, bathing in lukewarm water followed by lotion application to damp skin, and religiously following the medication treatment for this ailment. In most cases, these tips are confirmed to be safe and efficient for the cure of severe dermatitis.
Aggressive Treatment for Severe Dermatitis
If the normal treatment to severe dermatitis does not work, a more challenging type of treatment will be used. This involves the usage of drugs which can bring about toxic effects in our body. Efalizumab treatment is proven to be effective in fully eradicating severe dermatitis. However, its toxic effects should also be considered because it may bring more harm than good in our body. Like all other treatments, people should weigh first the good that one type of cure brings, and the harm that goes alongside with it. Proper decision making with your physician should be considered and should be well thought of.
July 7th, 2008
Another name for dandruff is Seborrheic Dermatitis and it generally affects the scalp. There is a flaking of the skin and is a common ailment affecting adolescents and adults. Even babies are prone to this ailment, and it is known as “cradle cap”.
Sometimes Seborrheic Dermatitis can also occur on other parts of the body like the face, chest, the creases of the arms and legs and the groin. The skin is not only flaky, but also a little greasy and scaly. It is very common especially among men between the ages of thirty and sixty. Often babies below the age of three months are prone to this disease too.
Causes
The causes for Seborrheic Dermatitis are still not known, but the causes for infants and adults are different. The ailment could be related to hormones, because infants are affected by it, but it disappears before puberty. A fungus called malassezia may also be a cause of the disorder. This organism is already present on the skin, but in small numbers. When the numbers increase, skin problems may arise.
There is also a link between Seborrheic Dermatitis and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. Researchers have established a link between them, but they still don’t know the reasons for it.
Treatment
The treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis depends on its location on the body. Also, the age of the person plays an important role. The treatment of the common dandruff is done with shampoo which contains salicylic acid. The shampoos should be used at least twice a week. Shampoos containing coal tar can be used more frequently, like three times a week. Actually, if you have dandruff, start by using any of the shampoos daily and then reducing the use to two or three times a week, once the dandruff is under control.
If the Seborrheic Dermatitis symptoms do not respond to self-care like shampoos and massages, consult a medical professional. If the skin develops patches of Seborrheic Dermatitis and drains fluid or pus, or becomes very red or painful, it is time to call a doctor.
Steroid lotions can also be used by adolescents and adults, but only if the doctor prescribes them for you. For babies, Seborrheic Dermatitis can be treated with a mild and nonmedicated baby shampoo. Gentle brushing and massaging of the scalp with a soft brush also helps. For severe cases, doctors recommend gentle steroid lotions and creams.
Seborrheic Dermatitis can be a chronic condition and the treatment can definitely control it. Sometimes it is inactive, and at other times it can flare up, but it continues to stay life long. There may be some possible complications associated with it like psychological distress, low esteem and embarrassment. Sometimes Seborrheic Dermatitis may even lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections.
July 5th, 2008
Postscabetic dermatitis can be downright itchy. Most people who are suffering from postscabetic dermatitis cannot sleep all night with all the itch and discomforts brought about by this type allergy. Yes, postscabetic dermatitis is a kind of allergy; it is not scabies at all. Scabies are caused by mites living in our skin while postscabetic dermatitis is caused by allergic reactions to the mites in the skin and may even persist even when all the scabies have been eliminated from your skin. Yes, the whole itchy thing is very uncomfortable so if you have this type of allergy, you better settle in for a long night. It is very hard to sleep when you are itching all over.
Treating Postscabetic Dermatitis
No, you cannot eliminate postscabetic dermatitis by taking any mite killing medication. Always remember that you are dealing with allergies here so you need special treatment for your allergies. To find the best treatment for your allergies, you better see your doctor immediately. Do not take just any of those over the counter drugs of liniments to relieve your discomforts. Note that taking the wrong type of over the counter drugs and liniments can make things worst for you. You don’t really want to end up scratching yourself like crazy all night long so go see your doctor immediately.
If your symptoms start in the middle of the night and you do not have access to your doctor, do not run to the nearest emergency room. Yes you are uncomfortable and you want to get fast relief from that itching and burning sensation but you cannot just run to the emergency room because of some persistent itch. Note that people in the emergency room are very busy and if they think that your case is not really so serious, they may not really be very happy to see you especially when there are a lot of dying people in the room who need their attention. Instead of running to the emergency room, take a hot bath to ease the itch a little. Hot water can sooth away the itch so take a long warm bath. Make sure that you do not put any oil, scent or soap in your bath to avoid irritating your skin further.
After taking a long warm bath, pat yourself dry with a warm soft towel. Do not rub your skin. Yes, it is very tempting to rub your skin at this point but unless you want to rub yourself raw, do not start rubbing your skin with a towel.
July 3rd, 2008
Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis is known as photodermatitis and is an inflammatory skin reaction having a strong resemblance to sunburn. After radiation, for example, the reactivity of the skin is increased by photosensitizing substances and hence the reaction on the skin after it is sunburn-like. Drugs can also cause phototoxic eruptions. Causes When Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis occurs, there is a hyperpigmentation of the skin, especially in the areas which are exposed to the sun. Also, if the skin is exposed to agents containing photosensitizing substances like coal tar and certain specific perfumes, drugs, plants and even sunlight, dermatitis is the result. Another name for Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis is sun poisoning. It is the reaction of the skin to the UV rays of the sun, or it may be termed as photoallergy. Sometimes the cause may just be medication or a skin product like sunscreen or a vitamin deficiency. A photo test is conducted by doctors to diagnose the ailment. Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis can also be caused by citrus fruits. There is another type of Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis which can be caused by textiles. This is also called the “bikini dermatitis” because it is a type of hyperpigmentation that the patients develop after wearing bikini bathing suits. The dye in the bathing suits causes the Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis in some of the individuals. Symptoms
Often there is a swelling and a burning sensation on the skin. The skin starts peeling off after a red itchy rash which resembles small blisters. Sometimes the patient may suffer from nausea.
Prevention If you know that you are prone to Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis, avoid the sun as much as possible. Just remain indoors during the day so that your skin does not come in direct contact with sunlight. Cover the whole body to protect yourself, wear long sleeves and long pants and use a wide-brimmed hat if you have to go out in the sun.
If a drug has triggered the reaction, consult your doctor and discontinue it immediately. In any case, if the symptoms are severe, a doctor should be consulted. If you wear sunscreen, make sure that it has a high UVA protection level with at least factor 30. Treatment There are some foods which can definitely help in the treatment of Phototoxic Contact Dermatitis. Beta Carotene found in carrots and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flax seed have been found to be effective. Green tea helps as an antioxidant and protein food is also advisable for people who are suffering from malnutrition. Consumption of vitamins like B3, C, D and E are also good and Aloe can be used externally as a soothing balm on the skin.
July 1st, 2008
The condition called Perioral dermatitis or POD is a persistent papulopustular and eczematous dermatitis usually affecting the face around the area of the mouth. The affliction commonly occurs in women aged twenty to forty-five but a variant occurs in children. The lesion features of the perioral dermatitis resemble those of rosacea. The disease can occur due to naive use topical steroids for minor skin alterations of the face. The perioral dermatitis is limited to the skin and is not life threatening. However, people suffering from the disease may develop emotional complications.
Symptoms and Causes of Perioral Dermatitis
People suffering from the condition may experience a sensation of burning and tension during the beginning of the disease. Periroal dermatitis does not normally evoke pruritus due to the rarity of itching. The lesions of the skin can occur as a group of follicular reddish papules, vesicles with papules and pustules on an erythematous base. The papules are located around the mouth though the lesions can also be found in the fold between the nose and mouth and the side portions of the lower eyelids. In the severe variant of perioral dermatitis called lupuslike, the disease’s infiltrates appear yellowish.
In people suffering from the disease, the basic cause cannot be detected. However, the innocent use of the topical steroids usually precedes perioral dermatitis. There are causative factors in the form of fluorinated toothpaste, skin care creams or ointments containing petrolatum or paraffin, which usually develop perioral dermatitis. There are studies conducted showing that the application of foundation in addition to moisturizer and night cream can increase the risk of perioral dermatitis thirteen-fold.
POD is also worsened by continuous exposure to UV light, heat and wind. There are microbiological factors that have been found in cultured lesions including specific species of Candida, the bacteria spirilla and other fungi.
Medical Care for Perioral Dermatitis
Care for perioral dermatitis includes the systemic or topical therapies. The PDT or photodynamic therapy has also been proven to be effective against the disease until recently. The treatment applied for the ailments must be adapted depending on the severity and extension of the disease. There should also be reassurance and education regarding the possible underlying factors and the time course of the disease. These are important in helping patients to cope with the disfiguring characteristic of the disease. Additionally, the measures would help them minimize the risk of recurrences.
Consulting a dermatologist is also advised to evaluate the factors and to determine the treatment that can be applied for the perioral dermatitis. Substances that expand dermal blood vessels must also be avoided. These substances may include alcoholic beverages and spicy dishes. The physical activity of people suffering from the disease is not limited but strenuous physical exercises may worsen the condition. This is due to the occurrence of vasodilation of dermal vessels during such activities.
June 29th, 2008
With so many illnesses and rashes that could strike a baby at any time, it is no wonder that all the rashes seem to look alike. But the fact is, they are not all alike as each is generally caused by different factors and each could end up needing special care and treatment. One of the less talked about rashes that occur in young children, mostly babies, is that of perianal dermatitis. Although it can occur in adults, most reported cases are that of babies still in diapers as a lot of moisture tends to get left for too long.
The common term that a lot of doctors use when talking with parents is that of diaper dermatitis. But diaper dermatitis does not just mean perianal dermatitis, as there are actually four different presentations for diaper dermatitis. Out of the four different presentations of diaper dermatitis, perianal dermatitis is the second most commonly seen. This means that the rash that is taking place is limited to the anus area. A lot of newborns get this about having a bad case of diarrhea.
How To Treat It
If you notice that your little one is suffering from what looks like perianal dermatitis, you should seek the help of your child’s doctor. You should avoid trying self-treatment or medication as you could make the situation worse without realizing it or trying to. The first thing a doctor is going to explain is that you must take extra care to make sure that the diaper area remains dry and free from waste and urine. With each diaper change, you will need to apply a doctor prescribed or suggested ointment in order to help heal the rash and prevent it from coming back.
There may even be the suggestion to try avoiding using rubber or plastic pants as these can cause irritation. If there is a yeast infection that is causing the perianal dermatitis, then an anti-fungal cream will be prescribed for use. By taking action and following doctors orders, you will be sure that the situation clears up without fail. And by taking the appropriate steps needed, you are sure to prevent perianal dermatitis from coming back to your child. You and your child will be happy that you took action and did the right thing, as this is something that causes a lot of pain for young children and something that they cannot prevent themselves.
June 27th, 2008
Previous Posts
