Rashes (often called dermatitis) have many causes, including allergic reactions, friction, prolonged exposure to heat and moisture, or contact with irritants, such as harsh chemicals. See you dermatologist for the proper diagnosis and treatment of rashes.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

• The itching and blistering of allergic contact dermatitis can be produced after contact with an allergen, a substance that causes an allergic reaction.

• Common causes of allergic contact dermatitis include nickel, rubber, dyed, preservatives, fragrances, poison ivy and related plants.

• Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are the most common causes of allergic reactions in the United States. Each year, 10 to 50 million Americans will develop an allergic rash after contact with these poisonous plants.

Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis

• Eczema is a skin disorder that appears as patches of dry, red skin, sometimes with a scale and crust. Oftentimes, intense itchiness is present with this condition, which leads to scratching and skin infections.

• Eczema usually occurs on the face, neck and the insides of the elbows, knees and ankles.

• In the United States alone, eczema affects more than 15 million people of all ages.

• Treatment options include:

• A new class of drugs called topical immunomodulators (or TIMs), which suppress the skin’s immune reaction;

• Traditional phototherapy or treatment with ultraviolet A or B light waves;

• Intense-pulsed UVB light therapy, which selectively treats only the affected areas of skin while sparing the surrounding normal skin, can be administered at higher doses than conventional UVB phototherapy; and

• Topical medications containing cortisone-like compounds or tar.

For more detailed treatment information on eczema/atopic dermatitis, see the AADA’s guidelines of care approved by the AAD/A Board of Directors on July 26, 2003, at www.aadassociation.org/Guidelines/atopic.html

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