Facial Rash : Lots of Causes

Posting Date: 02/09/2004

Dr. Dean's Comments: This is a very useful resource about all the things you would never suspect that can cause a rash on your face.

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Contact Dermatitis: Sometimes It's in Your Face

The irony of facial contact dermatitis is that, in search of a cause, patients often overlook what was once literally right in front of them. Since allergic reactions can take several days to develop after initial exposure, the substance responsible for the dermatitis on the face has plenty of time for a clean getaway.

Speaking today at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), dermatologist Susan T. Nedorost, MD, Director, Contact Dermatitis Program and Patch Test Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, discussed some of the common causes of facial contact dermatitis.

Dermatitis By Allergy

Contact dermatitis is characterized by redness, swelling, itching, and scaling caused by an allergic substance that makes direct contact with the skin. The condition can develop at any age, although the facial version of the disorder is most often seen in young and middle-aged adults.

?Facial contact dermatitis often stems from fragrances or preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care products; hence, more women are affected because they use a greater number of personal care products,? said Dr. Nedorost. ?Facial contact dermatitis is also common in patients who also have hand dermatitis, signaling that the cause is a substance the patient touches that is transferred from the hands to the face.?

Allergens: Common and Covert

Dermatologists rely on patch testing to identify contact allergens. Small concentrations of suspected allergens are applied to the skin on the back and held in place with tape for 48 hours. If small, red spots, that may also itch, appear within three to five days, this indicates that the patient is allergic to the substance.