Contact dermatitis

[LeafySheep]

Hello. If you identified what caused, or successfully treated your contact dermatitis, could you tell me what it was and what worked for you please?

Trying cetirizine dihydrochloride and Hydrocortizone 1% at the moment and it’s getting worse and spreading.

Ouch. What have you been in contact with exactly? I associate contact dermatitis with hands mainly.

I’ve had a good think about whether any new products have come into the house, and I’m pretty sure there aren’t any. No new washing powder, laundry softener, shampoo, shower gel, soap, perfume, cream etc. I haven’t eaten any new foods, or got any new clothes. Bit baffled!

You need to use over the counter emollient/ moisturiser, and lots of it in the early stages, as well as antihistamines, and topical steroid cream twice a day
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/contact-dermatitis

There's a lot of information here but a pharmacist can help https://eczema.org/wp-content/uploads/Emollients-Jun-23.pdf

https://eczema.org/wp-content/uploads/Topical-steroids-Mar-23.pdf

How much steroid cream to apply https://patient.info/treatment-medication/steroids/fingertip-units-for-topical-steroids

I'm including this here too
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergies/

Take care

It might not be caused by something new. I've had breakouts caused by things that I've used for years. Sometimes it's an ingredient change, sometimes it happens because my skin has just decided to no longer tolerate it.

Try keeping a diary of anything you use on the area. You might be able to figure it out that way

I use betnovate for contact dermatitis.

Had something similar on my neck and ended up with angry patches on my face. I tried everything available without prescription. Every emollient just made it feel like it was burning.

In the end I went to the GP. Our practice has one with a special interest in dermatology. I had to wait a while to get to see him.

He took it seriously. I got a full set of bloods done, a short course of steroid tablets and a steroid cream. The tablets started working within hours and I'm all clear on face and neck. Next step if it comes back is referral to dermatology and allergy testing.

I wish I hadn't suffered for so long before seeing the GP. I now have a clean slate to work out what the allergy might be.

I had something that looks very similar on my chest and neck. GP thought it must be a reaction to something, but I had not used or been in contact with anything new.

I tried all sorts, emollients, steroid cream etc, and nothing helped. Obviously I can't say if it will work for you, but the thing that cured it completely and quickly for me was dettol original antibacterial bar soap - it's a yellow bar of soap. It calmed down after the very first wash, and was gone within days.

I had this on my hands and it turned out to be an allergy to the essie gel nail polish I’d used for ages. It was such an utter relief to work it out. My fingers were swollen, splitting and so itchy it woke me at night.

do you use any perfume or wear necklaces?

I had a rash like that on my neck when I had scarlet fever. Do you have any other symptoms?

Me too, it's by far the best thing I've found.

I’ve had eczema (chronic dermatitis) for 30 years. To calm a flare up I have a bath with 2x CUPS of Dead Sea salt. Don’t ask why it works, just does.

Then immediately after getting out I apply steroid (Eumovate for me) and emollient (I use coconut formula bc that works better than the prescription ones for me).

Could be the steroid cream is actually spreading it.

Might be tinea incognito rather than psoriasis.

Your GP needs to refer you to a dermatologist.

Hope you get it resolved, skin problems can really impact your mood x

Thanks everyone, a good list of things to try here. And no, no symptoms of scarlet fever thank goodness.

I hadn’t heard of tinea incognito - thanks. I’ll look into it.

My daughter uses betamethasone