Suddenly, your skin develops a feeling of itching immediately after a shower session. One spot around your elbow area turns dry and inflamed. The same lotion you've been using without issue begins stinging upon contact with the irritated area. Such symptoms should never be taken lightly as they may indicate that your skin barrier is failing.
Redness of skin is caused by various irritants that enter through broken skin surfaces and cause allergic reactions in addition to triggering an inflammatory response caused by pre-existing health concerns. What complicates matters significantly is the fact that many skin disorders exhibit similar symptoms to each other. It is crucial to understand what causes them rather than focusing only on the red spots themselves.
What Happens to Your Skin During Dermatitis?
The top layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, functions as a protective shield. It comprises skin cells that are joined together by lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, which assist in retaining moisture and preventing penetration of outside irritants.
If the protective shield becomes continuously subjected to abrasive cleansers, mechanical force, and other harmful conditions, then its ability to act as an effective barrier will diminish and result in loss of moisture and dry skin.
Injured skin cells release various inflammatory messengers, which attract and activate other elements of the immune system. This is how inflammation, itching, and changes in the skin's appearance develop. Dermatitis is therefore not just dry skin. (1)
However, impaired function of the protective shield is not the only way. Allergic contact dermatitis is triggered via another immune system pathway.
Red Itchy Skin Causes: Irritation or Allergy?
Two types of contact dermatitis are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Even though both conditions have symptoms like itching and skin inflammation, they differ in their development process.
1. Irritant contact dermatitis
It is caused by the irritating effect of a certain substance to the skin. In such cases, there is no need for a person to have a particular allergy to the substance.
Factors like frequent hand washing, soaps, chemicals, constant exposure to water, and other skin cleansing agents can trigger irritant contact dermatitis. This condition depends on the nature of the chemical, the concentration, exposure time, and the frequency of contact.
For instance, a person who regularly uses a hand soap several times a day might suffer from irritated and cracked skin because of repeated washing without being allergic to the hand soap.
2. Allergic contact dermatitis
It occurs when the immune system is sensitized to a certain substance and reacts upon contact with that substance. Some examples of substances known to cause allergic contact dermatitis are fragrances, nickel, some preservatives, and hair dyes.
Contrary to immediate reactions, allergic contact dermatitis can happen hours or even days after the exposure to the triggering substance. Even a substance which is safe to use for many years can become the trigger once sensitivity has been developed.
The delayed reaction complicates the identification of the source of the rash. The rash can occur in the area away from where the substance was applied, and more than one product can contain the same allergen. If the triggering substance is not clear, a dermatologist will suggest patch testing. (2)
Dermatitis Symptoms: What the Skin May Be Telling You
The symptoms of dermatitis depend on the nature, degree and length of the inflammation. Do not focus only on the presence of redness.
Itching, burning or stinging: Itchiness is typical of this condition, although irritant reactions may cause burning, especially when cleansing or using skincare products.
Dryness and scaling: A damaged skin barrier becomes less able to hold moisture, causing rough, scaly or peeling skin.
Swelling and blisters: Severe reactions may involve swelling or blisters filled with liquid, often accompanied by oozing and crusting.
Cracks and skin thickening: Continuous inflammatory process and scratching may cause cracks in the skin; as a result of this process, the skin becomes thickened and develops lines.
Color changes: Inflammation can be red, purple, brown or darker in comparison with the rest of the skin.
Some locations of dermatitis help identify its cause. Redness under a watch strap can indicate contact dermatitis, irritation on the hands can be connected with frequent washing or occupational exposure. Itchy, dry skin, flaring up in new spots, is probably due to something else, for example, atopic dermatitis.
All these are just clues and do not imply diagnosis, since fungal infection or psoriasis, for example, may look like dermatitis. So persistent rashes should not automatically be treated as contact irritation.
Why Your Skin May React Even to Products Labelled “Gentle”
One of the hardest to understand reasons behind red itchy skin is the build-up effect of daily exposure. It might be okay to use a cleanser, but combined with excessive cleansing, warm water, friction and dry weather, these factors can exceed the tolerance level of the skin.
The other way around could also be true: the product that feels nice could contain an ingredient that causes allergic reaction for this specific individual.
"Natural", "botanical" and "plant-based" are not necessarily free of allergens. Fragrance oils and ingredients obtained from plants can cause allergies. Similarly, "unscented" does not guarantee the absence of fragrances.
This is when the role of proper formulation and knowing the ingredients is crucial. Skin care products must cleanse the skin, not strip it. Moisturizing products must provide the comfort without adding additional ingredients, which an individual is allergic to.
Sensitive skin requires caution when it comes to botanic ingredients. The right skin care product is the one that suits the skin requirements and does not irritate.
How to Care for Skin Showing Signs of Dermatitis
If skin dermatitis is suspected, the aim should be to minimize irritation, promote barrier recovery and determine the underlying cause.
Keep things simple. Eliminate any suspected culprits from your skincare regimen. Don't introduce too many different products at one time.
Review cleansing practices. Rinse with lukewarm water, avoid harsh rubbing and use a cleanser that doesn't make your skin feel tight. If your hands are continually exposed to detergents and other chemicals used for cleaning, the use of proper gloves may be advisable – unless they themselves irritate your skin.
Use a moisturizer regularly. A properly chosen moisturizer prevents water loss and maintains the skin barrier function. Apply it delicately after cleansing. In case of a persistent stinging sensation or rash worsening caused by a product, discontinue its use.
Keep a record of triggers. Note when the rash appears, where it occurs, what products, clothing, accessories or domestic substances have been in contact with the affected area in the past days.
Do not prescribe yourself the treatment. Persistent dermatitis needs medical treatment, and the choice of an adequate treatment depends on the diagnosis. Consult a doctor in case of recurring symptoms, their spread, interference with sleeping and lack of improvement.
How TGHC Approaches Everyday Body Care
In TGHC's body care regimen, there is an important philosophy of cleansing which should ensure that skin feels clean without being stripped. Cleansing and moisturizing in an organized manner is one way to keep skin barrier functioning effectively.
However, even a good regimen will not always be able to protect you from all allergies and cases of dermatitis. It is important to find out what causes inflammation of your skin and take professional advice if required. Once your skin calms down, try introducing products gradually and not by altering your entire regimen.
Conclusion
Redness and irritation do not necessarily mean that your skin requires a more nourishing cream. They may be the signs of some other problem, such as a damaged barrier, an allergic reaction, or even another form of inflammation. The distinction between irritant and allergic contact dermatitis will help you to make appropriate decisions regarding your skin care.
The main rule for healthy skin care includes gentle cleaning, regular moisturizing, and knowledge of your skin reactions. If you have sensitive skin, it means that you need effective but not excessive skin care routines.
Reference:
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Irritant Contact Dermatitis — a Review - 2022 Apr - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8989112/
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Patch testing can find what's causing your rash - Mar 2021 - https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/types/contact-dermatitis/patch-testing-rash
