What is Contact Dermatitis?
The word dermatitis itself simply means skin inflammation.
Rashes, bumps and scrapes happen, but when can you tell when it is severe and when the irritation will go away on its own? Contact Dermatitis is a rather common occurrence with children and can be treated easily at home in mild cases.
Signs of Contact Dermatitis:
Mild reactions include:
- Redness
- A rash of small red bumps
- Itchy
Severe reactions include:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Larger blisters
What causes Contact Dermatits?
Dermatitis is fairly common with children and can be contracted by a number of things including:
- Foods
- Soaps
- Plants such as poison ivy, sumac, or oak
- Fragrances
- Certain metals
- Jewelry
Typically if your child is experiencing Dermatitis, they would have come in contact with the culprit within the last few days as Dermatitis tends to show signs of irritation after 48 hours of contact. Usually contact dermatitis will disappear after a few weeks or when the contact ends.
Look at the placement of the irritation. If the irritation is happening underneath a watch or on your child’s neck, it may be something as simple as an allergy to a certain type of metal. If the placement seems completely random it could be because you switched detergents or possible a food allergy to something your child hasn’t ingested before. It’s a good idea to recall what your child was eating within the last few days if you suspect the irritation is a result of food and keep a food diary for your child in the future if rashes become common.
When should you see a doctor:
- Your child is losing sleep as a result of being uncomfortable
- The color, shape or bumps worsen
- Your child’s skin is more painful than irritated
- If you suspect your child’s skin is infected
Remidies
- Cold compress
- Anti-itch topical cream
- In severe cases a doctor may prescribe an oral medication
