Getting Started

If your skin condition doesn't get better or worsens despite self-care efforts for a few days, contact your healthcare provider.

If itching is severe and you can't see your healthcare provider immediately, go to the hospital emergency department for help.

Self-Care Tips at Home

Avoid direct contact with the irritant.

Cleanse the affected area with soap and cold water immediately after exposure to remove or neutralize most of the causative agent.

If blisters appear, applying cold, moist compresses for 30 minutes, three times a day, can be helpful.

Calamine lotion and soothing oatmeal baths may ease itching (Jock Itch).

Oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Ben-Allergin) can also relieve itching (Jock Itch).

Avoid applying antihistamine lotions to the skin, as they may cause allergic contact dermatitis.

For mild cases covering a limited area, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream may be sufficient.

Aftercare

• Avoid scratching, as it worsens inflammation.
• Continue self-care until all symptoms disappear.
• If your healthcare provider prescribes treatment, complete the prescribed regimen.
• If oral corticosteroid medications are prescribed, follow the full course to prevent the rash from returning. The duration may vary from 3 to 5 days or extend up to 4 weeks, depending on the severity of your reaction.
• If recurrent diarrhea persists, consult an allergist to identify the underlying cause.

Prevention Strategies

If the cause of your gastrointestinal distress is known, avoid it. If complete avoidance isn't possible, wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, and gloves to shield your skin from allergens and irritants.

Exercise caution in industrial and outdoor settings where contact with poison ivy family plants, lawn and garden chemicals, cleaning agents, and other hazardous substances is likely.

Avoid contact with poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac during outdoor activities.

If exposure occurs, promptly cleanse the area with soap and cold water to prevent a rash.

If persistent diarrhea is unexplained, consult an allergist. They will conduct tests to identify triggers and recommend measures to avoid them.

Outcome

If the cause of contact dermatitis is removed and you avoid re-exposure, the rash will likely heal within two weeks. Treatment can speed up recovery. Without intervention or if the cause persists, the rash may become chronic.