Contact dermatitis is a type of inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to substances that cause an allergic reaction. It is commonly caused by detergents, chemicals, toiletries, foods or water. Hands, feet, and groin are most commonly affected areas. Contact dermatitis causes symptoms like redness, swelling, itching or blistering of the skin. It is not contagious but infected skin can spread infection. Steps to prevent contact dermatitis include wearing gloves, thoroughly rinsing hands after exposure, drying hands well, and moisturizing.

1. Contact Dermatitis
What is it?

2. Contact Dermatitis
• Dermatitis is a blanket term meaning any
"inflammation of the skin" (e.g. rashes
etc.). There are several different types.
Usually all of them have in common an
allergic reaction to specific allergens.
The term may be used to refer to
eczema, which is also known as
Dermatitis eczema.

3. Contact Dermatitis
 The variation of dermatitis which the hair
and beauty trade suffer from most
regularly is contact Dermatitis

4. Contact Dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis is Inflammation of the
skin due to contact with substances
which can result in a range of symptoms
such as redness, swelling, itching or
blistering

5. Contact Dermatitis
 What part of the body does dermatitis
affect?

6. Contact Dermatitis
 Dermatitis affects the skin on any part of
the body

7. Contact Dermatitis
 What are the most commonly affected
areas of the body?

8. Contact Dermatitis
 Hands
 Feet
 Groin

9. Contact Dermatitis
 Is dermatitis contagious?

10. Contact Dermatitis
 The simple answer is No
 However should the skin become
broken, the possibility of infection
increases and the area can become
infected

11. Contact Dermatitis
 How will you know if the area is
infected?

12. Contact Dermatitis
 Yellow pus present, Weeping and
Sore to the touch

13. Contact Dermatitis
 What type of substances do you think
might cause contact dermatitis?

14. Contact Dermatitis
 Most commonly detergents,
chemicals, toiletries and even natural
products such as food or water!
 An allergy is a type of hypersensitivity, a
reaction of the immune system.
 Because of this a variety of triggers can
cause the same reaction in different
people

15. Contact Dermatitis
 What steps can be taken to avoid
dermatitis?

16. Contact Dermatitis
 Wear
disposable, non-latex gloves when
shampooing, colouring and bleaching

17. Contact Dermatitis
 Rinse hands thoroughly after washing

18. Contact Dermatitis
 Dryhands thoroughly with soft cotton or
paper towel

19. Contact Dermatitis
 Moisturise after washing your hands as
well as the start and finish of each day
 Pay attention to the fingertips, webs and
wrists

20. Contact Dermatitis
 Change gloves between clients.
 Make sure you don’t contaminate your
hands when taking them off

21. Contact Dermatitis
 Check skin regularly for early signs of
dermatitis

22. Dermatitis – Signs and Symptoms
People often experience different signs
and symptoms and they can include:
 Dryness
 Itching
 Redness
 Cracking
 Flaking
 Scaling
 Bleeding
 Swelling
 Blistering

23. Contact Dermatitis
The following pictures will give you an
idea of how differently dermatitis
manifests itself on the body and the
varying degrees of severity.

24. Contact Dermatitis

25. Contact Dermatitis

26. Contact Dermatitis

27. Contact Dermatitis

28. Contact Dermatitis

29. Contact Dermatitis

30. Contact Dermatitis

31. Contact Dermatitis
Hopefully you will now know what Contact
Dermatitis is and what steps can be
taken to avoid it.
Answer the questions at the front of the
Dermatitis unit book