Skin irritation in adults
Irritation on the skin in adults is not a disease, but a symptom that usually describes signs of dermatitis, eczema or some infections, allergies, and even parasitosis. Essentially a general description of redness, dryness, itching or flaking

When we talk about skin irritation, we most often mean its redness, peeling, itching or swelling that occurs after contact with various environmental factors. It can be water, dry and cold air, allergens, aggressive substances, various types of cosmetics or even medicines, food, drinks, etc.

Often, skin irritation refers to the phenomena of dermatitis – inflammation of the skin, the development of its various defects. However, it can also be manifestations of eczema, including microbial, food allergies, skin parasitosis, reactions to insect bites, poisons or toxins, as well as manifestations of infectious diseases. It is important to assess which symptoms are associated with skin irritation in adults and how long the manifestations persist.

What is irritation

The appearance of skin irritation is a very subjective symptom. Each person understands it differently. But in general, it is redness, unpleasant sensations of itching, burning, peeling of the skin, erosion or weeping. All these are signs of dermatitis.

Although the word dermatitis is used to describe many types of skin rashes and irritations, the two most common forms of the condition are atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is inherited and usually first occurs in infancy as a result of exposure to allergens and environmental reactions.

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with something that causes an allergic reaction (allergic contact dermatitis) or damages the skin (irritant contact dermatitis).

Symptoms of skin irritation in adults

Each person describes the signs of skin irritation in their own way. This is usually a red itchy area of ​​the skin, there may be a slight tingling sensation. However, some rashes are skin conditions that develop due to gene abnormalities or immune system reactions.

Common symptoms of dermatitis with skin irritation:

  • abnormal change in skin color and texture (redness, unnatural pallor, cyanosis, emerging skin pattern, enlarged follicles, goose bumps);
  • itching or burning, tingling, discomfort when touched;
  • dryness or peeling of the skin, tightness;
  • rough skin.

These may be the first symptoms of a skin rash due to dermatitis or infection. However, there are different types of rashes. Some of these are serious conditions that may require treatment by a dermatologist.

In general, dermatitis is most often manifested on the skin – this is an inflammation of the epidermis. The word “dermatitis” is used to describe a number of different skin rashes caused by infections, allergies, and irritants. The rash varies from mild to severe, and may cause the following skin manifestations, depending on their cause:

  • itching, from mild to excruciating, depriving sleep and rest;
  • painful ulcers or erosions of the skin;
  • redness;
  • thickening of the upper layers of the skin with a soft or dense texture;
  • discoloration of individual areas;
  • rashes, plaques;
  • cracks, weeping and crusts;
  • blisters or small vesicles, pustules.

Causes of skin irritation in adults

Common irritants are contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, which are considered the two most common types of dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with a substance that causes a delayed allergic reaction (allergic contact dermatitis) or when the surface of the skin is damaged (irritant contact dermatitis). The skin may develop an allergy to a substance after repeated exposure or after a single exposure. For example, most people develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy or hogweed after one exposure. The most common triggers for allergic contact dermatitis include cosmetics, rubber derivatives (latex), dyes, adhesives, nickel, and other metals.

Substances that can irritate the skin include detergents, soaps, cleaners, waxes, and chemicals. These substances can destroy the fatty protective layer on the surface of the skin and lead to irritant contact dermatitis. This condition is most common in people who regularly work with harsh chemicals, such as restaurant workers, maintenance workers, and chemists.

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disease that can be passed from parent to child. It can occur at any time in life, but usually first appears in infancy and may not decrease until adulthood. More than half of infants with atopic dermatitis outgrow the condition by school age, although flare-ups can occur throughout life.

This disease most often runs in families, among people who are allergic to the environment. Although food allergies can also cause flare-ups, eliminating suspicious foods (such as eggs, milk, fish, wheat, and peanuts) from a child’s diet is unlikely to solve the problem.

Atopic dermatitis can also get worse when the skin comes in contact with irritants, such as harsh soaps and scratchy, tight-fitting clothing. Scratching can also contribute to the development of infections that require treatment.

Treatment of skin irritation in adults

To effectively treat and completely eliminate the vacuum on the skin, you need to determine its cause and eliminate it.

Diagnostics

If a rash or irritation occurs that does not go away, see a doctor. If a doctor suspects allergic contact dermatitis, they may do patch tests. During the test, the doctor places small samples of chemicals on an area of ​​skin to see if a rash develops. Contact dermatitis cannot be diagnosed with blood tests.

You must mention all products that come into contact with your skin, even if you only use certain products once a month or if the product was used after the rash appeared.

Note: There are no tests for irritant contact dermatitis. Tell your doctor about all irritants or chemicals that you regularly come into contact with (including cosmetics, lotions, and nail polish). For any type of contact dermatitis, you may want to avoid substances you suspect to see if the rash goes away.

Modern treatments

The form of treatment will depend on the cause of the irritation and dermatitis. Common treatments include:

  • cortisone creams (in severe cases, drugs containing cortisone can be taken by mouth);
  • antihistamines (medicines for itching, swelling, and allergies);
  • dry skin care (lotions and creams);
  • oatmeal baths (to relieve itching).

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease, which means that it cannot be cured. However, many medications and treatments are very effective in reducing the symptoms of itching and dry skin. Your doctor may prescribe lotions and oral medications (taken by mouth). These treatments include corticosteroid creams and antihistamines. Follow the instructions for using the medicines.

Prevention of skin irritation in adults at home

To prevent contact dermatitis and skin irritation, here are some simple tips:

  • avoid contact with substances that cause skin rashes;
  • wash all areas in contact with allergic substances;
  • learn to recognize poisonous plants.

For irritant contact dermatitis:

  • wear cotton gloves under rubber gloves for any work with water – you can also use petroleum jelly to protect your skin: reapply petroleum jelly two or three times a day and after washing your hands;
  • avoid contact with substances that irritate your skin;
  • use mild soap;
  • use hand creams and lotions frequently.

To help with atopic dermatitis, you can also:

  • avoid long hot baths as they can dry out the skin – instead use warm water and wash your body with a soft sponge, apply lotion immediately after bathing while the skin is still damp – this will help retain moisture in the skin;
  • keep the room temperature as constant as possible – temperature and humidity fluctuations in the room can lead to dry and irritated skin;
  • prefer cotton in clothes – wool, silk and artificial fabrics, such as polyester, can cause skin irritation; use a mild laundry soap and make sure the clothes are well laundered;
  • watch for skin infections – if you notice an infection, contact your doctor;
  • do not rub or scratch the rash;
  • use moisturizers several times a day.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about when you need to see a doctor for skin irritation, what complications this problem threatens and whether it is possible to be treated with folk methods with dermatologist Sofia Belova.

When to see a doctor for skin irritation?

Irritation on the skin can be caused by many different reasons: contact with household chemicals, perfumes, skin and hair care products, and physical irritants. In the winter-autumn period – it is wind and cold, in the summer – solar radiation. Also, mechanical impact can cause irritation – tight and uncomfortable clothes, shoes, the need to wear masks and gloves – with prolonged and continuous use, they give a fairly strong load on the skin.

In addition, changes in the skin can be caused not only by external irritants, but also be manifestations of a toxic-allergic reaction of the body, or serious skin diseases.

And often even a dermatologist can be difficult to understand the cause of skin rashes. Sometimes this requires additional research. But without establishing this cause, it is impossible to prescribe adequate treatment.

It is necessary to consult a dermatologist at the first signs of the disease, since if treatment is delayed, there are risks of developing more serious pathologies.

What complications can occur with skin irritation?

There are a lot of options. The most common are infection and the transition of the disease to the chronic stage. It is difficult for the patient himself to figure out whether it is irritation on the skin or a sign of a serious pathology, so the help of a doctor is necessary.

Is it possible to cope with irritation with folk, improvised or home methods?

Now in pharmacies you can buy quite strong and effective remedies for the treatment of irritated skin. Periodically, some of them are advertised in the media. But here it is important to understand that all their effectiveness can be nullified by illiterate and improper use. In some cases, instead of alleviating, they can aggravate the problem, lead to serious complications, and in the future, in order to cope with it, it will take a long time and hard to be treated.

Traditional medicine is also far from always harmless, and, in addition, self-medication, you can lose time, which will lead to the progression of the pathological process. Therefore, if you have skin problems, the best solution would be to contact a qualified specialist – a dermatologist.

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