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Friday, April 17, 2009

Can a Skin Rash Develop From Something Carried in the Air?

QUESTION: Although I know you can get all sorts of rashes from touching certain substances, is it possible for a skin rash to develop from something that is carried in the air and comes in contact with your skin?

ANSWER: Yes, a wide variety of airborne particles, especially in the workplace, can cause contact dermatitis, with accompanying itching, stinging and burning sensations of the skin on the eyelids, cheeks, nose, neck, and other exposed areas.
Solid particles can pass under clothing, so even covered parts of the body may also be affected. Fiberglass dermatitis is a classic example.
But other culprits include rock wool fibers, dust from sewage, wood particles, cement, cellulose fibers, mica, food additives, urea formaldehyde insulation foam, alkaline vapors (from ammonia, for example) and acid particles.
All can produce lesions in the form of scratch marks, tiny papules, or discolored, thickened and raised areas of the skin. Such skin eruptions can appear suddenly and briefly or persist for long periods.
Typically they have a regular outline and appear on the face and neck if the offending material is a gas or vapor.
But they occur on other body parts when solid particles get under clothing. The diagnosis is made by patch test.
While antihistamines and corticosteroids are valuable for treatment, the best solution is prevention, wearing protective clothing, using exhaust fans to remove all airborne contamination, and avoiding such harmful environments when possible.
This may even require changing your job, in severe cases, since the same particles causing dermatitis can be especially harmful when inhaled.
Reactions could affect your respiratory system and its vital functions. When it is difficult to discover the relationship between a rash and its specific cause, you may find keeping a "rash diary" helpful in searching for the culprit.
At each appearance of a rash, reflect on all the activities of the past 24-48 hours, where have you been, what substances were in the vicinity, have there been any new materials brought into your environment. There are times when the answers to these questions are the only clues you and your physician will have to solve the mystery of a rash.


The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.