Contact Dermatitis: Sometimes It's in Your Face
Embargo expired: 2/6/2004 1:00 AM EST
Source Newsroom: American Academy of Dermatology
Newswise — The irony of facial contact dermat
Contact Dermatitis: Sometimes It's in Your Face
Embargo expired: 2/6/2004 1:00 AM EST
Source Newsroom: American Academy of Dermatology
Newswise — The irony of facial contact dermatitis is that, in search of a cause, patients often overlook what was once literally right in front of them. Since allergic reactions can take several days to develop after initial exposure, the substance responsible for the dermatitis on the face has plenty of time for a clean getaway.
Speaking today at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), dermatologist Susan T. Nedorost, MD, Director, Contact Dermatitis Program and Patch Test Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, discussed some of the common causes of facial contact dermatitis.
Dermatitis By Allergy
Contact dermatitis is characterized by redness, swelling, itching, and scaling caused by an allergic substance that makes direct contact with the skin. The condition can develop at any age, although the facial version of the disorder is most often seen in young and middle-aged adults.
"Facial contact dermatitis often stems from fragrances or preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care products; hence, more women are affected because they use a greater number of personal care products," said Dr. Nedorost. "Facial contact dermatitis is also common in patients who also have hand dermatitis, signaling that the cause is a substance the patient touches that is transferred from the hands to the face."
Allergens: Common and Covert
Dermatologists rely on patch testing to identify contact allergens. Small concentrations of suspected allergens are applied to the skin on the back and held in place with tape for 48 hours. If small, red spots, that may also itch, appear within three to five days, this indicates that the patient is allergic to the substance.
Patch testing for facial contact dermatitis may reveal an allergen that the patient or dermatologist had not previously considered because it was not intentionally or directly applied to the face. There are a variety of sources of allergens that patients may not recognize as likely causes of dermatitis and include:
Rubber contains several allergenic chemicals in addition to latex. "Rubber allergy may cause dermatitis where applicators used to apply eye shadow contact the skin, or where foam rubber sponges are used to apply and remove cosmetics," said Dr. Nedorost.
Metal allergy is the most common form of contact dermatitis, and nickel is the most common of all metal allergens. Nickel may be present in costume jewelry, such as earrings, and in eyelash curlers or tweezers used on the face. Gold is also a common allergen and may 