Treating skin irritation by its cause may take some detective work by both patients and doctors because many conditions share the same skin symptoms. Common complaints include red, itchy rashes that either become dry and scaly or form blisters that drain fluid. Patients can experience isolated or recurrent incidences of skin rashes that require treatment. Doctors will examine patients and quiz them on their family histories to determine whether genes, allergies, an abnormal immune system or other causes are behind their health problems.
Atopic Dermatitis
Health care professionals suspect that a combination of several factors create the chronic skin condition atopic dermatitis, or eczema. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, heredity, skin cell structure and the immune system's relationship to metabolism contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. While not an allergic condition, allergies contribute to or affect when atopic dermatitis patients will suffer periodic skin rashes or skin irritation. Sometimes-painful skin symptoms include an itchy, swollen rash on the hands, legs or elsewhere on the body. When the head is affected, dandruff symptoms result.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis represents another nonallergic cause of skin irritation. Exposure to a strong or caustic substance, such as turpentine or battery acid, can damage skin on the spot. As the Mayo Clinic reports, it may take frequent handling of some irritating cosmetics, cleansers or skin care products to generate skin symptoms, Unlike allergic reactions, skin rashes caused by harsh substances can affect anyone but usually go away in a short time.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
When people touch normally benign substances and get an abnormal immune system response, they may have allergic contact dermatitis. Skin irritation occurs in many individuals after contact with poison ivy, nickel, soaps, latex or ingredients in skin care products, such as formaldehyde and perfume. No one knows why a person becomes allergic to a certain substance, but once they are sensitized, they have the allergy for good. The Mayo Clinic notes that having existing allergies or a family history of allergies raises the risk for developing additional types of allergic reactions.
Food or Drug Allergy
Ingesting an allergenic food or medication causes the immune system to trigger skin symptoms as it tries to neutralize the invading substance. The National Institutes of Health relate that when the allergens reach the skin through the bloodstream, they create skin rash symptoms similar to eczema. Patients can distinguish food and drug allergies by the addition of digestive problems and oral itching and swelling. These symptoms may pass long before the skin conditions fade away.
