Allergic Contact Dermatitis: What You Should Know

Does your skin itch after being outdoors? Itchy skin is a telltale sign of allergic contact dermatitis. Not to be confused with irritant contact dermatitis, it's essentially a skin allergy. When you come into contact with an allergen, you may develop skin-related symptoms like itching, dryness, blistering, etc.

What is Allergic Contact Dermatitis?

Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic condition that involves skin-related symptoms from exposure to an otherwise harmless substance. These substances are allergens. They are harmless to the general population. For people who suffer from allergic contact dermatitis, some of these substances may trigger adverse skin symptoms. Regardless, allergic contact dermatitis refers to allergies of the skin.

There's also irritant contact dermatitis. The difference between allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis is that the latter is an allergy, whereas the former is not. Irritant contact dermatitis simply involves a chemical or other substance that irritates the skin without triggering an allergy attack.

Common Allergens for Allergic Contact Dermatitis 

Like with other types of allergies, there are many different potential allergens for allergic contact dermatitis. Some people are only allergic to a single allergen, whereas others are allergic to multiple allergens.

Pollen is a common allergen for allergic contact dermatitis. During the spring season, you'll probably be exposed to pollen when walking outdoors. If you are allergic to a particular type of pollen, you may develop adverse symptoms like itching, dryness and blistering.

Mold is another common allergen for allergic contact dermatitis. Mold spores are found just about everywhere. In small concentrations, they are generally harmless. Unfortunately, some people are allergic to mold spores. If you have allergic contact dermatitis, you may experience adverse symptoms after being exposed to mold spores.

Tips on Dealing With Allergic Contact Dermatitis

You should talk with your doctor to learn more about managing allergic contact dermatitis. Only a qualified physician can help you overcome this condition. Your doctor may be able to identify the allergens to which you are allergic. There are skin allergy tests, for instance, that can reveal specific allergens.

Depending on the severity of your allergic contact dermatitis, your doctor may recommend an antihistamine cream. Topical antihistamines are designed to suppress the immune system's response to allergens. Like all allergies, skin allergies involve an overactive immune system. Your immune system may go into overdrive when you are exposed to an otherwise harmless substance. An antihistamine cream will suppress your immune system's response so that symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis are milder and potentially less frequent.