Q I don't know what I'm touching that causes this. What substances commonly trigger contact dermatitis?
A Nickel (accessories, metal buttons), rubber/latex gloves, cosmetics/fragrances, detergents/soaps, and hair dye (PPD) are representative triggers. Recording the contact area and timing helps greatly in narrowing down the cause.
Detailed Answer
Substances that commonly cause contact dermatitis include nickel (metals such as earrings, necklaces, watches, and trouser buttons), rubber/latex gloves, cosmetics and fragrances, preservatives, detergents/soaps/disinfectants, and a hair dye ingredient (PPD). Irritant types arise easily from substances that directly break down the barrier, such as detergents, water, acids, and alkalis, while allergic types arise from sensitizing substances like those above. Writing down the contact area and when symptoms appeared helps narrow down the causative substance.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, alongside finding and avoiding external causative substances, we guide patients to reduce flour-based foods, greasy foods, excessive drinking, and spicy, stimulating foods that build up damp-heat inside and make the skin sensitive. We see that building a robust internal state that reacts less sensitively even when contacting the same metals or detergents is the foundation of skin stability.
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