Atopic Dermatitis:

Atopic dermatitis is the most common skin reaction to allergies, and is referred to as a skin allergy.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent skin disease. It usually starts in childhood, but it can also continue on through adulthood, or even start then. This particular skin allergy, like other allergies is something that runs in the family. It is a genetic intolerance. This particular skin allergy is accompanied with a rash often called eczema.

Helpful Resources: Skin Allergies This site teaches one about different skin rashes, and which are caused by allergies, and which are not due to allergens. It also has links for learning about treatment options for skin allergies. Skin Allergy- Atopic Dermatitis This is a great resource for learning about the specific skin allergy-atopic dermatitis. It goes into detail about what it looks like, what causes it, and how to treat it. There are also links to related articles. Contact Dermatitis This site takes you to several links for information about the skin allergy that looks like poison oak, also referred to as contact dermatitis. There are several informational articles that teach you about this skin allergy. Testing for Skin Allergies This is an article that talks about how they test for skin allergies, and how skin tests can be used to diagnose all types of allergies. It is a very inclusive look at how to use this testing technique for diagnosing allergies. Types of Skin Allergies This article addresses the different types of skin allergies, and what allergies are not going to cause reactions on the skin. It has a chart for skin allergy symptoms, and what they look like. Understanding Skin Allergies This site is dedicated to understanding skin allergies, how they work, what causes them, how you get them, how to avoid them, treat them, etc. It includes a lot of easy to understand information about skin allergies. Skin Allergies: Clinical History This site gives information about skin allergies and the clinical history of them. It provides a lot of information about the various types of skin allergies as well as pre-existing ski diseases. ABC's Of Allergies This site offers a clinical review of the ABCs of allergies including allergies and the skin. It discusses how skin and allergies relate, and everything you ought to know about skin allergies. Skin Allergy Symptoms This site talks about the three most common skin allergy symptoms, including hives, eczema and contact dermatitis. It explains what things cause these reactions to occur on your skin. Home Remedy For Skin Allergies This site offers a home remedy for treating skin allergies. It offers some links for further information about allergies, products for treating them, skin treatment options, and more.

Atopic dermatitis is not a rash that itches, instead it is an itch, that if you scratch becomes a rash. If you do not scratch the itch you will never get a rash, so the best thing to do if you have this is treat the itch so that it no longer itches and you do not scratch it and suffer further consequences.

This specific skin allergy is common, especially in childhood. It affects 20% of kids before the age of five. After that age it significantly drops off to between 1 and 3%. While it is less common in adults, it can start then, but is rare in adults over fifty. Last, but not least, children with atopic dermatitis are much more likely to have other allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis and asthma.

If you think you or your child may suffer from atopic dermatitis, you will want to try to find a doctor that can give you a diagnosis. When a doctor looks at you they will ask for your history of symptoms, and then examine the skin. There is no lab test to diagnose this condition.

While there is not a lab test, there are some criteria that have to be met before you an be diagnosed with atopic dermatitis:

First, a person has to have atopy, or have a family history of allergic diseases in close realtives. An uncle's cousins sister is not a close enough relation to count for atopic dermatitis. The fact is that a person having atopic dermatitis without evidence of atopy is rare. Pruritis is the next criteria. Pruritis is the medical term used for itching. The patient must have itching and scratching in order for the rash to occur. If you had a rash without itching and scratching, or if the skin or areas of the rash do not itch, then it is not atopic dermatitis. Eczema is the last criterion that has to be met. Eczema refers to the appearance of rash in patients with atopic dermatitis, and occurs in other skin diseases as well. Usually an eczema rash appears red, with small blisters or bumps that might ooze or flake if you scratch at them. If you have this condition for a long time your skin will appear leathery.

One of the reasons that atopic dermatitis is considered skin allergies, is because the itching that occurs on the skin is caused by irritants, infections, allergies and stress. Those itches lead to rashes, and those rashes can get worse. So what things cause skin allergies that lead to itching? The irritants that cause itching through direct stimulation of the skin include harsh soaps, chemicals, wool fabrics, heat and sweating. Like other allergies avoidance of these irritants is the best option. Instead of those irritants replace them with less harsh products, such as gentle soaps for washing of hands, wearing cotton clothing, and keeping cool and dry. Doing these things will help prevent itching.

There is not a medication for dealing with this skin allergy, however, since people with atopic dermatitis are more susceptible to skin infections by various bacterial, fungal and viral infections, many of them take medications to treat those symptoms. Many are have large amounts of a common skin bacterium, called Staphylococcus aureus, which can worsen the itching and eczema.

Other allergies can be a significant trigger for itching in people with atopic dermatitis. Usually allergens that come in direct contact with the skin, such as animal dander and dust mites, cause the most problems, although pollens and mold spores in the air can also worsen the condition. Food allergies also intensify the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, especially for kids.

Allergy testing is an important part of the evaluation of patients with atopic dermatitis, and avoiding the things that trigger the worsening of this skin allergy is essential to treating it. Both environmental and food allergens, can significantly affect the disease, and hurt the skin.

Where does the allergy present itself?

The location of eczema, or reaction to allergies on the skin when you suffer from atopic dermatitis depends largely on what areas of the body get scratched. For young children the rash is usually on the cheeks of the face, on the chest, and the scalp. In older kids and adults, the rash is usually on the elbows and back of the knees. However, it can also be on the face, and hands and feet.

Contact Dermatitis:

Another form of skin allergy is contact dermatitis. This skin allergy produces a Poison Oak-Like reaction. It is the name that refers to skin rashes that look like poison oak or poison ivy.

The things that trigger this allergic reaction in the skin vary just like they do with atopic dermatitis. They can include metals, cosmetics, toiletries, chemicals, and occupational things.

When being diagnosed with contact dermatitis an evaluation will include patch testing and a look at your history of exposure to various chemicals. By doing a thorough history the cause of the rash is more easily determined.

A patch test is called the TRUE test, and is the only test FDA approved for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis.

As with the majority of allergies, the most important aspect of the treatment of contact dermatitis involves avoidance of the trigger. So, let's take a look at the most common trigger, and how to avoid them.

Occupational. Occupational skin diseases are not uncommon. The following jobs have high rates of contact dermatitis caused by various other allergies and exposures.

Health professions (latex allergy)
Food processors (food allergies)
Beauticians/hairdressers (chemicals)
Machinists
Construction workers (airborne allergens)

Contact dermatitis of the hands is the most common location of disease.

Plants from the Toxicodendron family can also be a cause of allergic contact dermatitis. These plants include poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The rash from these plants results in a linear, or streak-like, group of itchy blisters or bumps. These plants carry a chemical called urushiol, and this causes the reaction on the skin.

Cosmetic induced contact dermatitis is also very common, especially since so many people use cosmetics, and dye their hair, paint their faces, etc. There are a lot of chemicals being introduced to the skin through cosmetics. The results of this skin allergy are usually a rash that shows where the cosmetics were applied.

since people may apply numerous chemicals to their skin, hair and scalp on a daily basis. Typically, the rash will occur on the skin where the cosmetic was applied, although sometimes the rash will occur on another part of the body (for example, reactions to nail polish may first cause an eyelid rash as a result of touching the eyelid).

Fragrances are a leading cause of contact dermatitis. The symptoms are rashes. These are usually where the fragrance was sprayed, or on the neck. Look for products labeled "unscented", or "fragrance-free".

Hair products are another common cause of contact dermatitis. The chemicals that are commonly found in sprays, shampoos, and dyes can be tested for with the TRUE panel, and are often the cause of itchy scalp.

Sunscreens and sun blocks, are full of chemicals that cause allergic skin reactions. However, you can find "chemical-free" sunscreens, containing physical blocking agents such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are easier to tolerate, and do not result in as strong of reactions.

Topical Medications, such as lanolin, or anti-itch creams can result in contact dermatitis where they are applied to the skin.

A contact dermatitis rash may look like atopic dermatitis, but the rash is typically located only in the area of contact with the offending chemical. Common locations include the face, especially the eyelids, neck, hands and feet. Contact dermatitis to metals, such as in jewelry or snaps/buttons/zippers on clothing, commonly occurs on the neck, wrists/hands, earlobes and at the waistline.

If you suffer from skin allergies, avoidance is the best policy, but it is not always possible, so talk to your allergist about other possible solutions.