A lot of times we often see the activities of individuals around us but don’t understand what they do what they do. Each activity that we do has a motivating factor and inspiration behind it. This includes choosing the products that we consume in our everyday life. Zome of us picks a product at the grocery store cause we like its packaging design, color, and flavor. We also consider the endorser of the product. Ingredients, good effects of the products, gentleness to our cutis, and product safety are also considered when choosing a product that we’d love to have in our everyday lives.
Our cutis looks like a canvas. When itchy rashes occur and form it’s noticeable. It looks like a drawing on paper especially if we have a fair complexion. People may have different interpretations when people see this, zome of which are erroneous yet there are also excellent conclusions. Commonly, we think that bad hygiene is the cause of rashes on our cutis. People may also assume that we do activities that involve bad routines for the sake of their brethren. However, if we only really try to understand their actions we would discover that the cause of their marks is the everyday essentials that they consume and apply cutaneously. Did you know that cleansers and cleansing frequently cause us to develop itchy rashes because of the chemicals and ingredients
Uncover the cutaneous effect of cleansers by reading the case reports below. This helps you to figure out the motivating factors of the patients in the cases below and comprehend the effects of consuming the cleansing products.
Irritant contact dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is caused by exposure to chemicals that damage the skin. This can be in the form of personal care products that we use. Mechanical, thermal, and climatic effects are also contributory cofactors in chronic irritant contact dermatitis. Moreover, inappropriate hygiene perceptions that can lead to extensive soap cleansing products, hot water usage, and exfoliative procedures can worsen/ exacerbate irritant contact dermatitis. (1) Manifestations and skin lesions differ as they depend on the type and exposure frequency, body region, and coexisting irritation such as hot water, friction, and individual susceptibility. (1)
Identifying the irritant is crucial in the diagnosis of irritant contact dermatitis. It is also the first step in curing it correctly since cessation or avoidance of the causative substance may relieve complaints. However, determining the irritant could be difficult unless the patient is questioned in detail. Hence the patient must be properly questioned and their detailed history must be thoroughly evaluated since most patients do not mention all the irritants they were exposed to. A detailed history may guide the clinician to appropriately diagnose, treat, and protect the patient from the side effects of unnecessary treatments. (1)
Irritants in Cleansers
1. potassium hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide in Arab soaps has been identified as an allergen in a Turkish case study. It resulted in developing irritant contact dermatitis in a 71-year-old woman. She has sensitive and dry skin and has a history of atopic dermatitis. Zhe complained about increased skin irritation and worsening skin problems. Zhe had scales, redness, and a swollen face and hands. Included in her symptoms were pruritus, stinging, oozing, and crusting of her skin. Zhe had been repeatedly prescribed to apply topical steroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors but they were not responsive to her skin problems. systemic steroids were also used but resulted in minimal limited improvements. Upon stopping the application of the prescribed drugs, dermatitis recurred. Through the diagnostic interview, it was discovered that the cause of her irritant contact dermatitis was exposure to potassium hydrochloride in Arab soaps. The patient was only using her self-made natural soap and prepared it by using a 1/1 dilution of Arab soap which typically contains 5-15% potassium hydroxide. Arab soaps are crafted for dishwashing and cleaning floors. They are recognized and advertised as a healthy and safe natural product in Turkey. The patient was using her self-prepared soap as a shampoo and hand soap she for years and hasn’t changed it. Moreover, when taking a bath, she’s using hot water and a hammam glove. When asked about the changes in her daily routine the patient reported that she was bathing daily and washing her hands more frequently than in the past due to the coronavirus advisory on TV programs. Her biopsy result confirmed that she had irritant contact dermatitis. Zhe was recommended to quit using Arab soap and use only synthetic detergent for personal hygiene. In addition, zhe was advised to abandon using hot water and hammam gloves. Her facial skin condition had been almost completely resolved after one week of applying an emollient cream and a barrier cream. (1)
2. Neem oil
For a year, it has been the routine of a healthy 71-year-old Japanese female to wash her face using a soap containing neem oil. The woman was healthy though had a 2-month history of depigmented lesions. The woman had not changed any of the other cosmetics she was using. Though she did not have itchiness or erythema she observed zome depigmentation on her skin. On the first visit of the patient to the researchers’ department, they also observed depigmented patches on her entire cheek and anterior neck, face, and hand’s dorsum. The patient was advised to discontinue using the soap-containing neem oil. Upon doing so, repigmentation occurred and further depigmentation was controlled even without any treatment. To speed up her repigmentation she was advised to apply topicals during her follow-up visit after 3 months. 9 months and 15 months after the patient’s first visits the repigmentation increased. One year after the patient’s first visit the hands’ repigmentation was slower than that of the face. 24 months after the patient’s first visit, leukoderma on her right cheek had recovered in most areas. Repigmentation on her lower left cheek also occurred. It was concluded that the patient had leukoderma due to the neem oil soap because the leukoderma patches occurred in the areas where the soap was used. Moreover, the repigmentation began immediately after the discontinuation of the use of soap. (2)
3. surface-active detergents
One of the authors, in the following cases is Yoshinari Isobe, a dermatologist in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. He has promoted the avoidance of using surface-active detergents in daily living among atopic dermatitis patients and the general public to prevent and avoid atopic dermatitis and its remission. It has been known that atopic dermatitis is treated by avoiding contact with surface-active detergents being used daily (3)
In November 2010, a 50-year-old male gas station office worker visited Isobe Clinic in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. He complained about sleeping difficulty due to the itchiness all over his body. He had a history of chronic prurigo that was resolved through a steroid ointment. A biopsy on the patient’s right abdominal skin was performed, however, from November 2010, through April 2013, they were unable to detect any particular pathogens. Eventually, the patient was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis due to the chronic and repetitive itchy rash he had. To manage dermatitis, the patient was asked to avoid using or exposing his skin to synthetic surface-active detergent-containing materials such as cleansing soap, household detergents, shampoo, conditioner, cosmetic cream, and lotion. He was also told to avoid using natural soap. The patient was instructed to bathe his hair and body with warm or tepid water only. He was also told to apply an ointment and zome drugs. However his skin condition skin did not immediately improve, and after a few months of treatment, his rash was exacerbated in January 2011. Hence the patient was again advised to strictly avoid using detergent-containing material and to use laundry zoap without detergents. The avoidance strategy effectively helped to improve his skin rash because it became less itchy. After one and a half years, his skin rash and itchiness were resolved. For two years his dermatitis was symptomless. After a few years, his itchy skin rash recurred in March 2014 when his wife began to use the detergent-containing synthetic cleansing soap. (3)
Another case of dermatitis that’s caused by surface-active detergents was the experience of a 48-year-old woman who was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis when she was just in high school. Zhe applied steroid ointment for around 40 years to control the skin rash, but she would still occasionally complain about having itchiness all over the body. Before controlling her recent skin rash recurrence, she used shampoo and body soap from a hotel. Since then her face has become swollen due to severe and itchy rashes. It also had a secondary infection and scratch injury. In October 2007 the patient went to Isobe Clinic. Zhe was instructed to avoid using synthetic surface-active detergents and natural soap. Zhe was instructed to use ointment and different drugs for medications. After a month, by the end of November 2007, her skin condition improved. The patient continued to abandon detergent and soap usage. After a few years, in July 2014, her skin was maintained in good condition even without the use of steroids. (3)
Commonly our reference for identifying our cutaneous marks are the most recent activities that we do. We tend to look at the labels of the products that we consume to know their ingredients or look at the articles from websites to discover their content derails. However, there are certain instances when we also have to consider the historical activity and the experience of the individuals to understand their case. This includes the moment they started having their itchy rashes and looking at the external and internal factors that the patient was exposed to particularly the content that they absorbed.
In certain circumstances, we have to consider previous chronicles to identify an individual’s reason and motivation for choosing and consuming a product. Most of the time if consumers’ chronicles about a product resonate with us and we find its content endearing to us we are compelled to have it. Looking at all these factors will help us to understand the layers that cover the real cause of our cutaneous concern.
Discover the causes ❤
References:
- (1) Fidan C, Karataş A. Irritant Contact Dermatitis Caused by Arab Soap: A Case Report. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 2021;15(3): 639-641. doi: 10.21763/tjfmpc.826744
- (2) Takayama E, Yoshioka A. A case of leukoderma probably caused by a soap containing neem oil. J Cutan Immunol Allergy. 2021;4:175–177. https://doi.org/10.1002/cia2.12192
- (3) Isobe Y., Deguchi H., Aoyama R., Takahashi H.,Tsutsumi Y. Harmful Effects of Synthetic Surface-Active Detergents against Atopic Dermatitis. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine Volume 2015, Article ID 898262, 5 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/898262
📝 January 9, 12, 13, 2024
Oil Therapy 