People call it a rash but medically correct the disease should be called dermatitis. Either way, the skin gets tender and red after having touched something. An allergy or a damage of the protective layer of the skin can be the cause for it.
Dermatitis is a condition that makes the skin turn red and tender after being in contact with particular substances. In case of an allergy the immune system can be involved. The alternative cause is a damage of the protective skin layer which will allow the involved substance to irritate the skin. Some known substances include fragrances, soap and jewelry.
If the cause of dermatitis is an allergy, it means that the immune system assumed that the body was under attack after touching some foreign material and it releases a set of chemicals that causes the allergic reaction which results in an itchy rash called contact dermatitis. Alternatively the irritant can also enter the skin through damages of the protective layer of the skin. Common triggers for contact dermatitis include fragrances in cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, shampoos, soaps, citrus fruit, particularly the peel, latex rubber, chemicals used in tanning leather, nickel found in belt buckles and jewelry, hair dyes or straighteners, poison sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy as well as certain medicine applied on the skin. The skin of the affected person can form blisters or it can form a raised red area with rash. This means that the skin will itch and probably show a burning feeling. Whenever something is damaging or irritating the skin, the affected person can immediately see the rash. However the rash can take one to two days to appear if its underlying cause is an allergy. Usually, symptoms of an allergic dermatitis show up exactly on the spot of the skin which was in contact with allergens (foreign substances) and it is more itchy than painful. Dermatitis from skin damage tends to be more painful than itchy.
The affected person can treat the rash at home. As soon as the cause of the rash is identified (a foreign substance), it should not be touched again. A mild soap in combination with cold water should be used to wash the skin immediately if possible. This remove big parts of the substance and reduce the symptoms considerably. If the rash just appears on a small spot, hydrocortisone cream for relief can be used. The affected patient can apply moisturizers a multiple of times a day on the damaged skin to restore the protective layer. Also oral antihistamines can be used to relieve the itching. Unless a doctor suggests it, antihistamine lotion should be avoided since it can cause also an allergic reaction or skin irritation.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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