Itching for your love?

Even a seemingly harmless gift like a cologne from a dear one can often trigger off a severe skin irritation know as Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD). It is mostly due to chemicals present in daily use items like soaps and detergents. A topic Deramtitis (AD) is an allergic reaction noted by inflammatory responses of the skin. AD is genetically determined disorder found more frequently in children.

Symptoms ::
The first signs for AD are itchy, dry patches on the face, cheeks, behind the ears, elbows and knees, which make babies fretful and restless. The symptoms for ACD are itching, burning, redness of the skin followed by weeping, crusting and peeling. Scratching of the skin may lead to secondary invasion by bacteria.

Treatment ::
For AD, cotton wear is recommended to decrease itchiness. For ACD, avoid contact with the offending material which could be anything from cosmetics to metals to leather. A low room temperature and daily moisturising of the skin are also suggested. Oral antihistamines and topical cortisteroids are often prescribed. Do not scratch and self-medicate. Consult your doctor.