December 09, 2022

Difference Between Allergic Contact Dermatitis and Irritant Contact Dermatitis

There's not much worse than bringing home a brand new skin care product that you're excited to try out, but instead of the healthy, radiant glow you were hoping for, you get breakouts, redness, and pain. If you've experience skin problems from skin care products or anything else that touches your skin, you're not alone, and you're likely experiencing what's called contact dermatitis.

What is Contact Dermatitis?

Put simply, contact dermatitis is skin irritation or inflammation caused by direct contact with an allergen or irritant. Since there's so many irritants and allergens in the products we use daily, contact dermatitis is very common, and even if you don't have any diagnosable allergies you can still experience it.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis Causes and Triggers

If you're experiencing contact dermatitis, it is more likely to be irritant contact dermatitis. The more common of the two, irritant dermatitis is the result of your skin coming into contact with a chemical or substance that damages the skin barrier and trigger inflammation in the form of a skin rash.

The affects could vary based on the irritant and exposure time, as well as various other factors including:

concentration of the irritant
duration of exposure to the irritant
the state of the skin before contact - any skin sensitivities or conditions that may have already weakened the skin barrier such as atopic dermatitis (eczema)
trauma from harsh scrubs
environmental factors (extreme heat or cold, humidity, harsh wind, etc.)

Some people experience irritant contact dermatitis upon the first exposure, whereas other develop a sensitivity over time. It's also possible to build up a tolerance to the substance.

Common triggers for irritant contact dermatitis include:

hair dye
laundry detergent
skin, hair, and oral care products
pesticides
antibacterials
perfumes
paints
resins and plastics
body fluids (urine, saliva, etc.)

What does irritant contact dermatitis look and feel like?

This kind of dermatitis results in a skin rash that can be red, swollen, itchy, burning, flaky, blistering, and/or painful. Ouch! These symptoms will appear at the point of contact with the irritant, and is unlikely to spread elsewhere.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis Causes and Triggers

Sometimes referred to as contact allergies, allergic contact dermatitis is a result of the immune system reacting negatively to substances that wouldn't normally cause a reaction. After that, your immune system is on high alert for that substance, and will produce antibodies to fight off the substance that it assumes is harmful. This results in the negative reaction upon contact.

Common allergens include:

fragrance
metals (nickel, cobalt, etc.)
adhesives
poison oak, poison ivy, and sumac
other plants and botanicals
essential oils
topical medications

Allergies develop over time, but some people are more prone to allergies due to their genetics.

What does allergic contact dermatitis look like?

The skin reactions experienced with allergic contact dermatitis are very similar to those of irritant contact dermatitis. The allergic reaction may result in itchy skin, red rashes, and swelling are present for both types, and contact allergies may also cause dryness, skin tightening, and weeping blisters.

Contact allergen reactions start at the point of contact, but can also spread to other parts of the body that it didn't touch such as the face, neck, and feet.

The severity of allergic contact dermatitis varies person to person

How to Treat Contact Dermatitis

There is no known cure for contact allergies and irritation, but the best way to treat and live with contact dermatitis, be it allergic or irritant, is to avoid the triggers listed above. Obviously not all of them will trigger every person, so pay attention to what causes irritation, see a dermatologist or allergist for a patch test, or do a self patch test for any products you expect are causing problems.

Unfortunately, it can be challenging to completely avoid all of your triggers, so if you are dealing with an outbreak there are some other remedies that can help calm an itchy rash:

Anti itch creams
Oral steroids
Immunosuppressive medications

One way to help ensure that you do not come in to contact with an irritant or allergen is to choose the products you use on your skin and in your daily life wisely.

Choose skin care products that are free of common irritants and allergens like fragrance, parabens, essential oils, botanicals, nickel etc.

For a more in depth list of common allergens and irritants click here.

It's not only skin care though, hair care, oral care, and other personal care products can all be cause for contact dermatitis as well as laundry detergent, cleaning products, and makeup can all be the culprit. So if you use a product and experience a reaction, take a look through the ingredients list and search for a gentler alternative.

If your rash persists for more than three weeks, or the pain is so severe that it is interfering with your daily life, then it's best to seek medical care from a doctor. If you suspect a skin infection, or you are having difficulty breathing or pain in the eyes, seek immediate medical care.