Contact allergy through jeans button and fragrances

Itchy rash under jeans button indicating contact allergy

02/13/2014

Contact allergies are relatively widespread in the population, but those affected are often unaware of the connection between skin irritations and contact with certain substances. On the one hand, the allergic reaction-unlike, for example, a pollen allergy-is delayed in time, and on the other hand, the allergens are often found in garments (such as jeans buttons or belt buckles) or other materials that are at first glance unsuspicious. Here are also purely natural substances or plant ingredients as possible triggers of contact allergy into consideration.

A contact allergy basically involves two phases: a sensitization phase and a phase of the acute allergic reaction. Sensitization to certain allergens occurs when they come in direct contact with the skin for a prolonged period of time. The substances react with the proteins of the skin and thereby sensitize the so-called T-lymphocytes. If a renewed contact with the allergen then takes place, there is an overreacting immune reaction, which appears as an itchy rash or contact dermatitis with redness, swelling and the formation of pustules, blisters and nodules (papules).

Contact allergy under the jeans button
For example, a contact allergy is more likely to form on the stomach at the level of the jeans button, as many people are allergic to nickel, which is included in most jeans buttons. Also belt buckles can cause similar complaints due to the contained nickel. Furthermore, contact allergies are increasingly due to ingredients of cosmetics, shower gel and perfume. As a rule, the symptoms disappear on their own once contact with the allergens has ceased. However, this presupposes that the triggering substances are first identified.

Contact allergy often difficult to recognize
Determination of allergens is one of the main problems in contact allergies. While skin irritations on the abdomen are still relatively easy to assign after wearing the new jeans, especially if the symptoms increase with repeated wearing of the trousers, in other cases the contact allergy is much more difficult. Especially since the time interval between the allergic skin reaction and the contact with the allergens makes the assignment significantly more difficult. „Between hours and days“ could be the reaction time, quoted the news agency „dpa“ the dermatologist Arno Köllner from the professional association of German dermatologists (BVDD). The contact allergy is therefore referred to as late-type allergy.

Allergens must be identified and avoided
If there is a suspicion of a contact allergy, according to Köllner, a dermatologist should urgently be consulted, who will then use an epicutaneous test to identify the triggering allergens. The substances are applied to the skin, fixed with patches and left there for one or two days. Afterwards, the doctor checks if there are any changes in the skin appearance among the respective samples. „In an allergy, the test reaction is already a small contact dermatitis“, explained Koellner. If the dermatologist detects an allergy, the patients receive a so-called allergy pass, in which the allergens are registered. In the pass, patients can also see where the corresponding substances are most common. After identification of the allergens, those affected should avoid contact with the substances immediately, as otherwise a very painful chronic contact dermatitis may develop, reports the news agency „dpa“ citing Thomas Fuchs of the University Medical Center Göttingen and the Medical Association of German Allergologists (AeDA). In this chronic form, skin thickens permanently, becomes chapped and itch unbearable.

In case of suspected contact allergy promptly to the dermatologist
Elsbeth Oestmann from the Charité Allergy Center in Berlin and the European Foundation for Allergy Research (ECARF) explained in the press release of the „dpa“, That patients should go to the first dermatologist at the first symptoms of an acute contact allergy, to avoid complications and to allow a rapid healing of the skin. Cortisone-containing creams are usually prescribed here, but they should generally only be used for a short time. Although there is „today a variety of preparations that no longer have the effects, as previously feared - for example, that the skin becomes thinner“, However, it is still important to adhere to the guidelines of the doctor, said Oestmann. By avoiding the allergens, the symptoms in most people but also without cortisone back. A treatment that completely prevents the occurrence of corresponding allergic reactions in the future, however, is not possible in the case of contact allergies, whereas in the case of pollen allergy, for example, the so-called hyposensitization definitely serves to overcome the allergy. If the contact with the triggering substances is consistently avoided, however, this can lead to the overshooting reaction of the immune system dwindling over the years and eventually not appearing at all.

Even natural cosmetics can trigger contact allergies
With regard to the contact allergies caused by cosmetics, Thomas Fuchs of the University Medical Center Göttingen explained in the communication of the „dpa“, that these can be triggered by natural cosmetics, since the latter also often contains contact allergens, for example in the form of natural essential oils. As examples of the natural allergens the expert named Propolis (bee resin), arnica, milking fat and mare's milk. There is also „Contact allergies on tea tree oil or chamomile flower extract“, added Oestmann. In general, patients with known contact allergy should take a close look at the ingredient list on the packaging, with the so-called INCI list, as a list of cosmetic ingredients, also providing consumers with an understandable translation of the named ingredients on the packaging. (Fp)