Contact Dermatitis

Question: What are the symptoms of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis? I just want to check with other pet owners to make sure my veterinarian's diagnosis is correct, as I've never heard of allergic and irritant contact dermatitis in dogs. My dog has sores all over his paws, which are very red. I have to keep him from licking at them, because if he does, they bleed. Does this sound like allergic or irritant contact dermatitis to you?

Answer: The only person to tell you that is another vet. We cannot examine or see or know your dog's history. If you are concerned, first discuss with vet cuz you obviously didn't ask enough questions there then decide if you want a 2nd opinion. For these types of skin problems I advise going to a dermatologist vet who has far more experience in handling allergies/treatments than the average vet. Write down your questions before speaking to vet so you don't forget any.

Question: What is the difference between allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis? My dog Brandon, an American Staffordshire Terrier/Rottweiler Mix was diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. What is the difference between these two diseases? The way they are described, they sound like the exact same disease. Could somebody tell me what the difference is?

Answer: 'Irritant' indicates that the skin has been damaged by contact with something that directly harmed it, e.g. a chemical. 'Allergic' indicates that the skin was damaged due to an overreaction by the body's immune system, e.g. contact with grass or hay. It is very difficult to tell the difference between the two by looking at them, a biopsy may tell more. Treatment is usually very similar. Frankly, a skin condition that is first diagnosed as contact dermatitis often is eventually diagnosed as atopy, or an allergy that manifests itself in a place on the body that is NOT in contact with the allergen, ironically. Most commonly seen are food allergies or inhalant allergies (dust, pollen, etc). Some dogs have trouble with pollen both by inhaling it and with direct contact. Regardless, the trouble shows on their skin, whereas humans with 'hay fever' show respiratory signs. Is Brandon itchy? If not, it very well may be contact dermatitis; if he is, he may have allergies that will need further workup. I'm assuming the vet checked for mites as well. Best wishes to you and your poor pup!

Question: What do cyclists use for contact dermatitis? There is a product you can buy at bike and/or triathelon shops for contact dermatitis but I can't remember the name of it. It's an ointment not a cream.

Answer: You're going to laugh, but these work well. For light cases, use either calamine lotion or A&D ointment. Yes, you read that correctly. These reduce the irritation and let your body heal itself. If these don't work, a mild steroid cream such as hyrdrocortisone. If the rash is caused by something like poison ivy or poison oak, then use a product that will remove the irritating oil. The best stuff I've found is Technu. Works like a champ. But the best treatment is prevention. Immediately take off cycling clothes after a ride. This will allow the sensitive areas to dry. If you are getting saddle sores, I recommend a lubricant. Vasaline and Bag Balm are effective, but very messy and difficult to clean. There's a product called chamois butter. Some people use some kind of fat. It makes sense since fat is the natural lubricant in your body.

Question: What sunscreen can I use without getting contact dermatitis? I get really bed exzema and contact dermatitis every time I use sunscreen. Does anyone know of one that I can use and not get this painful rash on my face? I can't skip sunscreen because I burn easily on my face which is just as bad. So please help!! I can't just stay inside for the whole summer!

Answer: New SunClear from Grahams Natural Alternatives protects the skin from the sun and provides added moisture as well. The perfect choice for all skin types including those with eczema and psoriasis. You could also try the more natural based sunscreens such as those from Green People and Lavera. All sunscreens give protection against B rays; some also protect against A rays. The sun protection factor (SPF) tells you the extent to which the sunscreen filters out the B rays. The higher the SPF, the greater the degree of protection. SPF’s range from 2 up to 50, but someone with very fair skin or who has eczema that worsens in sunlight should use a cream with a factor of 15 or above.

Question: How are allergic and irritant contact dermatitis diagnosed? I plan on taking my dog to a canine dermatologist now, since the vet thinks he has allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. What exactly will the dermatologist do to diagnose my dog's problem? I know I'll be telling them the entire history of my dog's health and they will physically examine him, but are there any other tests that they will do?

Answer: A skin allergy test - same as the prick test they do on humans to test to see which substances cause your dog to have reactions. They will be able to give better info once they have narrow it down on the type of shampoo you will need, what food to feed or avoid & what you should be doing at home. The vet would the one to decide which tests are necessary based on your individual dog - not every allergy prone dog is the same or requires the same treatment, meds or testing. Sometimes there are other health issues going on that make the allergies worse or more noticeable. Dermatologist vet is the best choice for skin treatments & diagnosis.

Question: How can I find the cause of my contact dermatitis without going to the dermatologist? I get itchy, bumpy rashes that come and go every once in a while. It always appears in random places on my body. I changed all of my sheets and put some freshly-washed clothes on. Besides my cat, there isn't anything that could possibly trigger an allergic reaction. (Though I was never allergic to cats!) We don't even have furniture in the living room yet. My mom dusts, cleans, and vaccums the house every morning and night. We are generally cautious about dust mites and pet dander because we have a sick baby. Is there anything I'm missing that could trigger this reaction? Also, I just recently had a blood transfusion. If what I have is not contact dermatitis then could it be a reaction to the white/red blood cells that were donated to me?

Answer: Most transfusion reactions are immediate. There is one delayed reaction, called graft vs. host disease, that includes a rash. But it also includes fever and liver issues, and would likely make you feel sick and run-down. If that's the case, you should call your doctor. Otherwise, contact dermatitis is a good guess. Have you changed laundry detergents, or fabric softener, or dryer sheets, or soap or shampoo? Even a new deodorant or perfume could be causing a reaction. The next time you get the rash, try to stop and backtrack, thinking about everything that came into contact with your skin -- and with your clothes.

Question: can urination or lying on carpet cause a child to get a contact dermatitis rash? i need explanation in detail of the types of things that can cause a child to get a contact dermatitis rash. like sleeping on carpet or urinating on him self and the web site you found the information on.

Answer: Unfortunately, some people just have very sensitive skin. I could roll around in poison ivy and it wouldn't bother me. My husband and daughter get horrible rashes if they walk within 10 feet of it. I have no web site, just life experience with the two "weaklings" I live with. I have to use baby detergent on all of their clothes, and put a blanket on the carpet for my daughter to play on. The only way to truly pinpoint their allergies, is to go to a doctor for allergy testing. Or you can do it the way I do--trial and error. If my daughter gets a rash with one soap, we throw it out and try another. The possible culprits you should consider are: soaps, fabrics, dyes, scents.... Also keep in mind that moisture and heat will make it worse because it causes the pores in the skin to open up and take in more of the irritant.

Question: I have developed a skin rash on my legs - doctor called it contact dermatitis. I need to know of products used? I have developed a skin rash on my legs - below the knee - the doctor called it "contact dermatitis". I am on day 3 of prednisone (a 5-day prescription) and no notable difference. I am using benadryl cream on it as well. Does anyone know of any products that could speed the healing process or take some color out of it. It itches from time to time but not terrible.

Answer: Initial treatment includes thorough washing with lots of water to remove any trace of the irritant that may remain on the skin. You should avoid further exposure to known irritants or allergens. In some cases, the best treatment is to do nothing to the area.

Question: What can I do to stop getting contact dermatitis from chlorhexidine wash?? It's the only hand wash in my workplace and I wash my hands after every patient... arrrggghhh. Also I use the alcohol rub which also contains chlorhexidine, I feel if I don't use these I am at risk of spreading bacteria. My hands get so itchy afterwards.... Can someone develop something that doesn't produce contact dermatitis

Answer: Your employer has an obligation to work with you to find a solution to your problem, including things like bringing in a different hand cleanser for you. But I wonder... do you think it is possible you have a latex sensitivity? When I switched to latex free gloves, the dermatitis on my hands resolved.

Question: I think I have something called Contact Dermatitis? I was wondering if I can get Contact Dermatitis from my pet rat? I have have this weird rash, and googled reactions and found pictures of something called Contact Dermatitis. And I was wondering if I can get that from a reaction to my rat. I also just got my rat not that long ago.

Answer: I have contact dermatitis and it sounds like you have it too. Go to see your doctor, who will most likely prescribe some form of hydro cortisone which will clear it right up. It's definitely nothing serious and you should be able to keep your rat, so don't worry.

Question: contact dermatitis? what is it and how can i treat it? i have it on my hands i put oilatum cream on it daily and my nurse said it was contact dermatitis but not wanting to sound daft i didnt ask about it properly and just agreed with her! she said its coz am young and have sensitive skin. im 21yrs old. any info would be great. thanx

Answer: Dermatitis literally means "skin swelling." That describes how your skin reacts when you "contact" irritating substances. (Thus, you have "contact dermatitis" -- not something caused from poor nutrition or health issue.) You could be allergic to cleaning compounds, extremely cold temperatures, jewelry, nail polish, hand creams, soap, etc. I found I was allergic to latex gloves! I didn't figure it out for two years, and my hands were itchy and irritated the whole time. When I stopped wearing the gloves, the dermatitis went away. In the meantime, try cortisone cream, which you can get without a prescription. It gives immediate relief from itching. There's also a great lotion that I swear by... it's called Amlactyn (or Amlactin). Many diabetics use it for their skin. Good luck!

Question: How do I treat Allergic contact dermatitis of the vulva? Aside from switching everything that comes in contact to a hypoallergenic product I'm still having symptoms. It's driving me nuts. I can't figure out what I am allergic to. Is there a special kind of diet that I could try?

Answer: You're gonna have to sit around nekkid for awhile? Sometimes when the dermatologist has no other answer, they say that. I would try a barrier cream, like vaseline, but thicker--you can find these usually in the adult diaper section at walmart. Just don't get anything that has chemical additives.

Question: What is the best course of action to get rid of contact dermatitis? The rash looks like an irritant eczema which would normally (not always) be expected to be caused by contact with an irritant substance or organism. However, I have no idea what. Is there a way to ID these rashes to avoid their cause. No pets. Location: shins. Or could the rash be caused by a bacterial illness? Not psoriasis by appearance, which also introduces both auto-immunitiy dieseas and a skin response to a pathogen attack. It looks like Dogger Bank Itch. Left shin above the sock level. Don't wear shorts and I avoid dogs and cats and it is recent so it has not come from the countryside and there are few insects about (hence the mystery). Got a cold virus (so I suppose it could be antibodies, toxins or something?). Its not scabies, ringworm, flea bites, psoriasis, hand-foot-mouth disease. Could conceivably be an unprecendented allergic reaction of a common anti-biotic? I do not get allergies normally, ever of any kind.

Answer: I'd go to your doctor. It's most likely an infection. If it IS contact dermatitis it's your body reacting to something. An auto-immune disease is unlikely, as it would be affecting more than just your shins. New socks? Seriously, it's probably environmental. Take a photo of it to show to your GP, or check out a Dermatology Atlas. I can recommend a good one, it might be able to help you out: http://dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu/derm/

Question: what is the difference between atopic and contact dermatitis? i really dont know if what type of dermatitis do i have

Answer: the best thing to do is to go see a dermatologist. I have reoccurring skin problems and the best way to figure out is to see a dermatologist.

Question: do you think I have eczema and contact dermatitis? whenever I go outside in extreme cold or hot weather my skin turns bright red, when I drink cold or hot drinks it turns red, when I exercise too hard my face is red, and even if i rub it. Could this be part of eczema AND contact dermatitis? Even when I am mad or depressed my face breaks out. And what treatment could I get for this? Would cortisone be a good choice?

Answer: If it is just a red flush with no other symptoms, I don't think it is eczema. Eczema skin is dry, itchy and inflammed. You get rashes and marks that you can't help not itching and scratching. If eczema is not what you are having, I don't suggest cortisone. Cortisone comes with side effects. I know - I am an eczema sufferer.

Question: What does contact dermatitis look like on a small dog? My Maltese has round, red circles only on the hairless parts of his belly, dime-sized and smaller. He has a lot more than winter, now that he sits and walks in grass. Sometimes there is a small, white dot in the red circle, and sometimes a grayish ring around the outside. What could this be?

Answer: The link below will show you many different kinds of infections are issues dogs can have with their skin...Dermatitis can come in may different forms and has many different causes.. Either way a VET is NEEDED