Contact Dermatitis Joan's Story - Joan Morais Cosmetics School

Contact Dermatitis

Irritant Contact Dermatitis is a skin irritation, a skin reaction from an exposure to an irritant to the skin. It is a repeated irritant reaction to something in the environment that is bothering the skin. It can be caused by so many factors like laundry soap, body wash, chemicals in a swimming pool and spa. It is unique to that individual.

Symptoms can be dry or chapped skin, itchy skin, scaly patches, red and swollen skin, sores or blister.

Contact Dermatitis from Swimming Pools and Spas (Hot Tubs)

Contact dermatitis caused by exposure to pool chemicals like chlorine is becoming more common as more children and adults swim and go in the spa (hot tub) especially in the summertime.

Joan’s Story

I’ve experienced contact dermatitis with poison oak many times. If a cat or dog walks in it and I pet them, I will get a skin reaction of swelling, itching, and then pus develops. I have the same skin reaction if I peel a mango and eat the mango off the peel. Mango peel contains urushiol also found in poison oak and poison ivy. “Prior exposure to poison ivy and poison oak, which are plants in the Anacardiacea family and contain high levels of urushiol, appear to be a risk factor for delayed hypersensitivity reactions to mango fruits.” Every year during mango season I’d eat mangos, and my face, lips, and eyes would swell up. It would take weeks to heal. I discovered it was a reaction from the mango peel when I was 50 years old and in Hawaii. My face swelled and I went to a natural grocery store across the street to see if they had something I could take. They asked if I had eaten mango and then told me about how people have skin reactions by coming in contact with mango peel. They gave me a homeopathic remedy and within 24 hours my skin was almost all healed. Ever since then, I have not had another skin reaction. I don’t cut mango or eat it off the peel. I can still eat mango but not touch the peel.

I am a lap swimmer and swim 3-4 times a week and then go into the spa (hot tub) after swimming. One time I was in the spa and was exposed to a mass dose of chemicals that were being put into the spa. A few days later, it affected my eye and the skin on my face with little blisters. This took a month to heal. A few months later I was in the spa and exposed again to strong chemicals entering the spa. I developed blisters on my skin and on my eyelid. My eyelid kept getting worse, a doctor prescribed me antibiotic ointment. This made it worse, see photo #2. I was then put on two rounds of oral antibiotic, one when I was in Italy and one in the USA. It never went away. I realized it was contact dermatitis when I compared it to my many exposures and reactions to poison oak and mango peel.

It had been 10 weeks, and I was not swimming during this time and the skin reaction on my eye lid was not getting better. I thought about the homeopathic remedy I took in Hawaii and decided to try that route. I researched my symptoms and got the homeopathic remedy Urtica urens. In 24 hours, my skin was almost 90% healed! This was such a relief after dealing with this for 10 weeks.

Finally, I got in to see a dermatologist. I only had some discoloration remaining on my eyelid. I told the dermatologist my story and showed him the homeopathic remedy that worked. He said it is an anti-inflammatory. He diagnosed it as contact dermatitis. If I start to have a reaction in the future, he prescribed Alclometasone Dipropionate ointment (this is better for the face and since it’s near the eye). Usually hydrocortisone is prescribed in a higher percentage or it is available over the counter in a lower percentage.

Now, I know how to protect my skin before and after swimming to prevent the skin reaction. I wish I would’ve known this before.

Is Swimming Worth It?

Absolutely! Swimming laps is my joy. After I swim, I feel invigorated, fresh, limber, strong, and happy. It is an excellent stretch out and builds strength in my body. I haven’t gone in the spa since my reaction. The pool is a saltwater pool and has fewer chemicals in it but not the spa. I will probably go in the spa again since I know how to protect my skin but only for a short time.

Photo #1 (no makeup) Skin rash still on eyelid 6 weeks after exposure.

Photo #2 (no makeup) Skin rash on eyelid after applying prescription antibiotic ointment.

Lessons Contact Dermatitis Taught Me

It is so vital to nourish and keep our skin in good condition. Our skin is an intelligent organ and plays many roles. It is our first line of defense against disease and other ailments. We need to pay attention and nurture our skin. If we feel the skin feeling a little dry, tight, or itchy after using a product, stop using it. Moisturize the skin daily and keep it hydrated. Protect it from the strong sun. It made me think of what people go through with any skin issues on their face from acne, blemishes, rosacea, rashes, eczema, to psoriasis on their face and how that affects our day. From my experience, pay close attention to your skin and trust your sense of what is going on, don’t wait to treat it. See a skin expert like a dermatologist. Don’t go on as long as I did and trust your sense. The sooner you treat it, the sooner it should heal.

Preventative Tips for Before Swimming

For the face, apply a moisturizing cream and/or sunscreen, and seal with a plant jelly or petroleum jelly and lip balm. For the body apply a moisturizing cream and/or sunscreen. For the hair, apply a little hair conditioner to coat the hair.

Preventative Tips for After Swimming

After being in a swimming pool or spa (hot tub), rinse off with fresh water or take a shower. Apply a hydrating and moisturizing cream to the face and body. Wash hair with a clarifying shampoo and moisturizing conditioner.

Formulate Swimming Care Products

Have you ever thought about formulating a collection of pre and post swim products? Here are some products that can be beneficial for the frequent swimmer or those going in the spa (hot tub).

Pre-Swim Products

Pre-Swim Plant Jelly as an occlusive to protect the skin.
Pre-Swim Lotion or Cream to hydrate and moisturize skin.
Pre-Swim Hair Conditioner to moisturize and protect hair.

Post-Swim Products

Post-Swim Moisturizing Body Wash
Post-Swim Cleanser to remove sunscreen
Post-Swim Replenish Face Mask
Post-Swim Moisturizing Lotion or Cream
Post-Swim Clarifying Shampoo to clarify and remove chlorine, other chemicals, and green hair discoloration.
Post Swim Moisturizing Conditioner to condition, moisturize, and restore shine.
Post-Swim Restore Hair Mask to restore manageability and deep condition hair.