If you have eczema, then you already know that controlling your triggers is a key to controlling your condition. Avoiding or limiting exposure to certain triggers will control many types of eczema. Your trigger may be easy to control in your home environment, but what happens at work? What if your job forces you to be exposed to your eczema trigger?
Occupational irritant contact dermatitis is a form of eczema that is triggered by exposure to an irritant in the work place. Contact dermatitis is typically red, inflamed, and itchy. It can also be quite painful. It normally occurs at the spot where the skin had direct contact with the irritant. However, it can spread from the initial point of contact, depending on how severe your exposure and reaction is.
Of the more than 3000 known allergens and irritants that cause eczema, only 25 are to blame in most cases. It is common for people to have more than one eczema trigger, but still be able to limit their exposure and control an outbreak. Occupational irritant contact dermatitis occurs when you become increasingly sensitized to an irritant you cannot avoid at work.
The longer you work around your specific irritant, the more frequently and severely your eczema will occur. However, you may not have even had a reaction when you were first exposed. People who suffer from contact dermatitis are believed to have a weakening in the skin. Overtime, the irritant deteriorates your skin through this weakness. At some point, your immune system will recognize this as an attack and releases chemicals to counteract the attack. These chemicals have a side affect of causing eczema at the point of contact with the irritant. The more frequently you are exposed to the irritant the more sensitization will occur. Your immune system's reaction will begin more quickly and your eczema will be more severe each time you are exposed to your trigger.
It is very likely that the occupational irritant is not one of the 25 common triggers. However, you should be able to identify your trigger without too much difficulty. This is especially so if you work around chemicals, hazardous materials, unusual metals, or if there is something that regularly touches that portion of your skin. For example, woodworkers typically have a reaction to certain varnishes. Maids and cleaning professionals may be irritated by cleaning products or by rubber gloves. Beauty professionals are often irritated by nail varnish.
The first thing you should do is speak to your employer or safety representative. It is very likely that they have prior experience with this irritant. They may be able to recommend protective measures ideally suited for your work environment. They may even offer to help you pay for your protective gear. Always remember to keep your employer informed about the status of your eczema condition.
The next thing you should do is protect yourself. Regularly wash your exposed skin and practice good hygiene to remove irritants from your skin's surface. Try to cover your exposed skin with gloves, aprons, hats, goggles, and any other protective gear. Be wary of rubber and latex protective gear as this may be an irritant. Also, try to improve your skin's natural barrier function using lotions such as oatmeal, aloe vera, and zinc regularly.
If you do have a flare up, you will use the normal treatments for irritant contact dermatitis. Your best option is to use both medical and natural therapies. You should also look into long term techniques to detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system and skin.
It is unfair that in order to earn a living you must be exposed to the irritants or allergens causing your occupational contact dermatitis. The important things to remember when trying to control and prevent you condition is to keep your employer informed, protect your skin, and try to keep yourself otherwise healthy. If you identify your trigger, take extra precautions, and use a healthy treatment regiment then you should find your eczema occurs less frequently and heals more quickly.
Occupational irritant contact dermatitis is a form of eczema that is triggered by exposure to an irritant in the work place. Contact dermatitis is typically red, inflamed, and itchy. It can also be quite painful. It normally occurs at the spot where the skin had direct contact with the irritant. However, it can spread from the initial point of contact, depending on how severe your exposure and reaction is.
Of the more than 3000 known allergens and irritants that cause eczema, only 25 are to blame in most cases. It is common for people to have more than one eczema trigger, but still be able to limit their exposure and control an outbreak. Occupational irritant contact dermatitis occurs when you become increasingly sensitized to an irritant you cannot avoid at work.
The longer you work around your specific irritant, the more frequently and severely your eczema will occur. However, you may not have even had a reaction when you were first exposed. People who suffer from contact dermatitis are believed to have a weakening in the skin. Overtime, the irritant deteriorates your skin through this weakness. At some point, your immune system will recognize this as an attack and releases chemicals to counteract the attack. These chemicals have a side affect of causing eczema at the point of contact with the irritant. The more frequently you are exposed to the irritant the more sensitization will occur. Your immune system's reaction will begin more quickly and your eczema will be more severe each time you are exposed to your trigger.
It is very likely that the occupational irritant is not one of the 25 common triggers. However, you should be able to identify your trigger without too much difficulty. This is especially so if you work around chemicals, hazardous materials, unusual metals, or if there is something that regularly touches that portion of your skin. For example, woodworkers typically have a reaction to certain varnishes. Maids and cleaning professionals may be irritated by cleaning products or by rubber gloves. Beauty professionals are often irritated by nail varnish.
The first thing you should do is speak to your employer or safety representative. It is very likely that they have prior experience with this irritant. They may be able to recommend protective measures ideally suited for your work environment. They may even offer to help you pay for your protective gear. Always remember to keep your employer informed about the status of your eczema condition.
The next thing you should do is protect yourself. Regularly wash your exposed skin and practice good hygiene to remove irritants from your skin's surface. Try to cover your exposed skin with gloves, aprons, hats, goggles, and any other protective gear. Be wary of rubber and latex protective gear as this may be an irritant. Also, try to improve your skin's natural barrier function using lotions such as oatmeal, aloe vera, and zinc regularly.
If you do have a flare up, you will use the normal treatments for irritant contact dermatitis. Your best option is to use both medical and natural therapies. You should also look into long term techniques to detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system and skin.
It is unfair that in order to earn a living you must be exposed to the irritants or allergens causing your occupational contact dermatitis. The important things to remember when trying to control and prevent you condition is to keep your employer informed, protect your skin, and try to keep yourself otherwise healthy. If you identify your trigger, take extra precautions, and use a healthy treatment regiment then you should find your eczema occurs less frequently and heals more quickly.
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To find out more about eczema and ways to treat eczema, check out Blake Helton's excellent articles on the above mentioned sites.
