Have you noticed your skin reacts allergically?
Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by a reaction to substances called allergens that come into contact with your skin. Some people are allergic to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. They react whenever they are exposed to the ingredient, although it can take up to several days for the symptoms to appear. In susceptible people, these contact allergens can cause itching, redness, and blisters that is known as allergic contact dermatitis.
If you’re having allergic reactions, contact us today!
A dermatologist will study the materials that your skin encounters at work and at play to try to identify the allergen.
Common allergens that can cause Allergic Contact Dermatitis include:
- Dyes
- Preservatives
- Medications
- Fragrances
- Poison Ivy
- Other related plants
Most contact dermatitis is diagnosed by distribution of the rash. Sometimes the cause cannot be identified by history or physical examination and your dermatologist may want to perform patch tests. Patch tests are a safe and easy way to diagnose contact allergies. Patch tests are different from injection or scratch skin tests because they test for different allergens. In patch tests, small amounts of the possible common allergens are applied to the skin on strips of tape and then removed after two to three days. A positive allergy test shows up as a small red spot at the site of the patch.