People with eczema know that controlling your eczema trigger is a key to controlling your condition. Many types of eczema are controlled simply by limiting or avoiding exposure to certain triggers. While you may be able to control your exposure in your home, it may be more difficult when you are at work. What if the only way you can earn money at work is to be exposed to your eczema trigger?

Occupational irritant contact dermatitis, a form of eczema, is triggered when you are exposed to an irritant in the work place. Contact dermatitis is commonly red, inflamed, and itchy. It is also painful in most cases. It flares up at the skin’s point of contact with the irritant. However, it can spread from this point depending on how severe your exposure was and how your immune system reacts.

There are more than 3000 known allergens and irritants that are known to cause eczema, but only 25 of these are responsible for most cases. People may have more than one trigger, but they are still able to limit their exposure and control flare ups. However, occupational irritant contact dermatitis occurs when you become increasingly sensitized to one irritant that you cannot avoid.

While you are working and exposed to the specific irritant, you will find that your eczema happens more often and more severely. At your first exposure, you may not even have a reaction. Overtime, the irritant will attack your skin through a skin weakness believed to exist in people susceptible to contact dermatitis. As the irritant begins to damage your skin your immune system recognizes the attack and releases chemicals to counteract the damage. Unfortunately, these chemicals are known to cause eczema at the point of contact. As you are exposed to the irritant overtime, you immune system will start to react more quickly and severely. This is called sensitization and it is why your condition will worsen the more you are exposed to your trigger.

Most occupational irritants are not among the 25 common triggers. This does not mean it will be difficult to identify your specific trigger. If you work around chemicals, hazardous materials, unusual metals, or if something regularly touches the afflicted skin then these are your primary suspects. For example, cleaning professionals are often irritated by cleaning solvents. Woodworkers react to certain varnishes. Beauty professionals often find that their trigger is nail varnish.

If you are suffering from an occupational eczema your first step should be to talk to your employer or employer’s safety representative. It is very likely that your employer has addressed this issue before and will have protection recommendations best suited for your situation. They may also have special protective gear to help you or may offer to pay for protective gear. No matter what, your employer should be aware of your situation.

The next thing you should do is protect yourself. Regularly wash your exposed skin and practice good hygiene to remove irritants from your skin’s surface. Try to cover your exposed skin with gloves, aprons, hats, goggles, and any other protective gear. Be wary of rubber and latex protective gear as this may be an irritant. Also, try to improve your skin’s natural barrier function using lotions such as oatmeal, aloe vera, and zinc regularly.

If you do have a flare up, you will use the normal treatments for irritant contact dermatitis. Your best option is to use both medical and natural therapies. You should also look into long term techniques to detoxify your body and strengthen your immune system and skin.

It is never fair to be exposed to the irritants or allergens triggering your occupational contact dermatitis simply to earn a living. If you want to control and prevent your condition it is important that you keep your employer informed, protect your skin, and stay otherwise healthy. Once you identify your eczema trigger, take precautions to limit your exposure, and develop a healthy treatment program then you will find that you have eczema flare ups less frequently and you heal more quickly.

To learn more about eczema and ways to treat eczema, check out Blake Helton’s authoritative articles on the above mentioned links.

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