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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Preventing contact dermatitis requires a twofold approach of avoiding the triggers that cause it — such as poison ivy or harsh soaps — as well as taking gentle care of your skin.

Common triggers
Try to identify and avoid triggers that worsen the inflammation, such as:

  • Rapid changes of temperature
  • Sweating
  • Stress
  • Direct contact with wool products, such as rugs, bedding and clothes
  • Harsh soaps and detergents

If you must handle products that irritate your skin, wear nonlatex gloves.

Skin care
Avoiding dry skin may be one factor in helping you prevent future bouts of dermatitis. These tips can help you minimize the drying effects of bathing on your skin:

  • Bathe less frequently. Most people who are prone to dermatitis don't need to bathe daily. Try going a day or two without a shower or bath. When you do bathe, limit yourself to 15 to 20 minutes, and use warm, rather than hot, water.
  • Use only mild soaps. Choose mild soaps, such as Cetaphil, Dove or Keri, which clean without excessively removing natural oils. Deodorant and antibacterial soaps may be more drying to your skin. Use soap only on your face, underarms, genital areas, hands and feet. Use clear water elsewhere.
  • Dry yourself carefully. Brush your skin rapidly with the palms of your hands, or gently pat your skin dry with a towel after bathing.
  • Moisturize your skin. Seal in moisture, while your skin is still damp, with an oil or cream. Pay special attention to your legs, arms, back and the sides of your body. If your skin is already dry, consider using a lubricating cream made for dry skin, such as Eucerin.
Alternative medicine
References
  1. Dermatitis. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/education-and-quality-care/medical-student-core-curriculum/dermatitis. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  2. Definition of dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic_disorders/dermatitis/definition_of_dermatitis.html?qt=&sc=&alt=. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  3. Contact dermatitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00012-4--s24245&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1204592870&uniqId=281421382-10#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00012-4--s24245. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  4. Eczema and hand dermatitis. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00012-2--s0490&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1204598002&uniqId=281421382-11#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00012-2--s0490. Accessed Sept. 10, 2011.
  5. Psoriasis and other papulosquamous diseases. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00017-1--s0855&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1204603757&uniqId=281421382-12#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00017-1--s0855. Accessed Sept. 10, 2011.
  6. Kachiu L, et al. Stasis dermatitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00028-8--sc0175&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1204606152&uniqId=281421382-13#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00028-8--sc0175. Accessed Sept. 10, 2011.
  7. Atopic dermatitis. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00014-6&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=281421382-13#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00014-6. Accessed Sept. 10, 2011.
  8. Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0835&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1204609019&uniqId=281421382-14#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0835. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  9. Contact dermatitis. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/print.cfm?id=9&sub=23&cont=329. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  10. Davis MD. Unusual patterns in contact dermatitis: Medicaments. Dermatology Clinics. 2009;27:289.
  11. Atopic dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic_disorders/dermatitis/atopic_dermatitis.html. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  12. Contact dermatitis and patch testing. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0835&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1204609019&uniqId=281421382-14#4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0835. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  13. Dermatitis. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Sept. 12, 2011.
  14. Lee J, et al. Complementary and alternative interventions in atopic dermatitis. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2010;30:411.
  15. Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 13, 2011.
DS00339 Dec. 8, 2011

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