Contact Dermatitis Article Library | Contact Dermatitis Institute

How to Read Labels

Product labels are meant to help you use a product wisely and safely and often include ingredient information. Identification of the ingredients in cosmetics, over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, and pesticides is required by law. Knowing where to look and how to read this information can help you avoid contact with substances that may cause your skin to react . . .

Skin Hygiene

Your skin is a natural barrier against abrasion, chemicals, and pathogens. Proper skin hygiene is the best way to keep your skin healthy. Removing dead cells, dirt and microbes from the surface of the skin is key to good hygiene. At the same time, it is important to maintain the natural fats and oils (extracellular lipids) in the outer skin layer (stratum corneum). . .

Discussing Negative Results

Your negative patch test results suggest that you are not allergic to the most common contact allergens and allergen mixes. A negative test result is common: as many as 6 of every 10 people who have a patch test have negative results. Negative results, however, are still important because they will help our expert patch testers to treat your skin condition correctly so that it can begin to heal. . .

Nickel Allergy

Nickel is a very versatile metal and is found throughout our natural environment. Common industrial uses for nickel include the mining, milling, smelting, and refining of metal ores; the production of stainless steel and nickel alloys; metal welding and cutting; nickel plating, chemical manufacturing; and the production of batteries, coinage, pigments, and powders. . .

Latex Allergy

The word “latex” refers to natural rubber latex (NRL). It comes from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is grown in countries like Malaysia and Thailand. Latex is harvested by “tapping” or cutting into the tree similar to maple syrup production in the United States. About one-third of freshly harvested latex contains rubber particles; the remaining two-thirds are composed of water, proteins, lipids and other molecules. . .

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a complex, chronic, recurring skin disease that affects 1%-3% of the population worldwide. It often develops during young adulthood but can occur at any age. The most common type (plaque psoriasis) appears as round, red, dry “plaques” covered with silvery white scales. Psoriasis can appear on any part of the body but usually involves the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso. It also can appear on hands, fingernails, feet, face, armpits, groin, and even in the mouth. . .

Scars and Wounds

Scars are made during the wound-healing process. Normally, cells in damaged skin remove dead cells and debris. The damaged skin then forms a temporary protective structure, composed of randomly placed connective tissue (collagen). Eventually, this temporary structure is replaced by a more orderly and permanent arrangement of tissue. . .