Contact dermatitis treatments

Treatments for contact dermatitis

Unfortunately, there the only cure for contact dermatitis is complete avoidance of the irritant or allergen. Any contact dermatitis treatment can only alleviate symptoms of skin rashes or redness.

The first and most obvious treatment is to completely wash the contacted skin areas. It is important to remember what irritant caused the rash or itching (jewelry, chemical, food, etc) so that the doctor can make better assessments based on your detailed experiences. Workers should use gloves, long shirts, and protective eyewear if dealing with known irritants that cause contact dermatitis.

Topical steroids are an effective treatment to help with itching red skin caused by contact dermatitis. Some over the counter creams (hydrocortisone) can help alleviate mild skin symptoms such as redness or itching. Prescriptions are required for stronger steroid creams or oral steroid pills to control more severe rashes. Antihistamines can also help with skin itching and redness.