This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Treatment

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Identification of the substance and its subsequent avoidance are the mainstay of treatment (1):

  • prevention techniques are useful to reduce the risk
    • use appropriate protective clothing, for the hands, occlusive vinyl gloves - not rubber - with a thin pair of cotton gloves underneath to absorb perspiration, is ideal
    • any irritant chemicals should be washed off as soon as possible and emollients such as emulsifying ointment BP should be applied regularly to hydrate the skin.
    • barrier creams are less effective than gloves.

Acute care

  • affected area should be soaked in cool or lukewarm water, saline (1 teaspoon/pint) or Burrow’s solution (13 % aluminium acetate dissolved in water at a 1:40 concentration)
    • antibacterial as well as an anti-inflammatory properties and cooling effect of Burrow’s solution will decrease pruritus and prevent infection

Topical treatments for the condition include:

  • barrier creams
    • useful against low-grade irritants and specially for workers who constantly use water, soap and detergents
    • help to accelerate the rate of healing in damaged skin by increasing skin hydration and modifying endogenous epidermal lipids
    • commonly used products include:
      • petrolatum - combination of paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, and white mineral oil,
      • dimethicone 
        • is a man-made polymer of the naturally occurring element silica or silicon
        • used as an emollient to soften and moisturize the skin, facilitate epidermal exfoliation, and provide a protective barrier from irritant
        • sensitization and inflammatory reactions to silicon polymers has limited its use
  • lipid based moisturizers
  • topical corticosteroids (1):
    • efficacy of topical corticosteroids in irritant contact dermatitis is less clear
    • used in a limited scope to treat acute eczematous ICD as they can help decrease inflammation and itch.

Using a soap substitute may be helpful in some people (2).

Antibiotics should be given for any secondary infection. Flucloxacillin or clarithromycin (if the person is allergic to penicillin) is recommended first-line treatment (2).

References:

  1. Fonacier L, Bernstein DI, Pacheco K, et al; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Contact dermatitis: a practice parameter - update 2015. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015 May-Jun;3(3 Suppl):S1-39.
  2. Bourke J et al. Guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis: an update. BJD 2009; 160:946-954.

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.