Treatment and Control of Berloque Dermatitis

Berloque Dermatitis is a skin condition in which patients develop a brownish to reddish discoloration of the neck and sometimes the arms due to applying perfume or cologne to the skin. Sometimes the skin first turns red before changing to a brownish color. This condition can persist for years or even be permanent.

Many perfumes and colognes contain oil of bergamot, an extract of the peel of a specific orange grown in the South of France and the Calabria district of Italy. When this oil comes in contact with the skin and the skin is exposed to sunlight, the oil of bergamot causes the skin to discolor. With repeated exposures to sunlight, the discoloration becomes permanent.

Cosmetics such as Dermablend and Covermark work well to cover the area so it is not as noticeable.
Patients with berloque dermatitis should use a daily sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to help keep the condition from worsening. Also, perfume should no longer be applied to areas of the skin that get sun exposure.
Laser treatment may be an effective treatment in the future. At this time, we do not have this available. You may want to go to a laser center to seek their opinion.
Tretinoin (Retin-A) applied to the involved areas daily will improve this condition.
Daily application of Keralyt gel is a treatment for this problem.
Jessner's peels will improve Berloque dermatitis.

What is Grover's Disease?

Grover's disease, or transient acantholytic dermatosis, is a common itchy rash. The rash usually takes the form of small red bumps on the chest, stomach, back and sometimes the arms and legs. The cause of grover's Disease is unknown. What is known is that it usually occurs in white men over 40 years of age. THis rash is sometimes the rash is associated with sun exposure, heat and sweating. The rash can last for weeks to months. It usually disappears within one to two years. Possible treatments for Grover's Disease include but are not limited to:
Short periods of Corticosteroid creams and ointments applied to the skin often control the rash and itching. Dermatitis-Ltd has also been known to help some in the control of this condition.
Grover's Disease can be controlled but not cured. Avoidance of heat and heavy exercise can help control the rash. Applying talc baby powder to the areas several times a day will help prevent recurrences. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier will often help prevent flare-ups of Grover’s disease.

Atopic Dermatitis and Eczema

Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing skin disorder with an immunologic basis. The clinical presentation varies from mild to very severe. In the worst cases, atopic dermatitis may interfere with normal growth and development. Treatment consists of adequate skin hydration, avoidance of allergenic precipitants, topical anti-inflammatory medications, systemic antihistamines, and antibiotic coverage of secondary infections.
Although often used interchangeably, the terms eczema and atopic dermqtitis are not equivalent. Eczema is a reaction pattern with various causes, the most common pediatric cause being atopic dermatitis. Other causes of eczematous dermatitis include allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, nummular eczema, dyshidrotic eczema, asteatotic eczema, and lichen simplex chronicus. Eczematous reactions can be classified as acute, subacute, or chronic, depending on historical and physical characteristics.

CERCARIAL DERMATITIS

Cercarial dermatitis also called Swimmer's itch, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with certain parasites of birds and mammals. Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to infection with certain parasites of birds and mammals. These microscopic parasites are released from infected snails to swim in fresh and salt water, such as lakes, ponds, and oceans used for swimming and wading. Infection is found throughout the world. Swimmer's itch generally occurs during summer months.

Within minutes to days after swimming in contaminated water, you may experience tingling, burning, or itching of the skin. Small reddish pimples appear within 12 hours. Pimples may develop into small blisters. Itching may last up to a week or more, but will gradually go away.
Because swimmer's itch is caused by an allergic reaction to infection, the more often you swim or wade in contaminated water, the more likely you are to develop more serious symptoms. The greater the number of exposures to contaminated water, the more intense and immediate symptoms of swimmer's itch will be.

Be aware that there are other causes of rash that may occur after swimming in fresh and salt water.

Berlock Dermatitis

Berlock dermatitis typically occurs on the neck, face, and breast, with drop-shaped or quadrilateral patches or streaks, induced by sequential exposure to perfume or other toilet articles and then to sunlight. Berlock or Berloque dermatitis obtains its name from the German word berlock or the French berloque, meaning trinket or charm. Rosenthal coined the term in 1925 to describe pendantlike streaks of pigmentation on the neck, face, arms, or trunk. He suspected they were due to fluid droplets, unaware that Freund in 1916 had described hyperpigmented macules due to sun exposure after the application of eau de cologne. The phototoxic ingredient causing the pigmentation proved to be bergapten, a component of oil of bergamot, derived from the rind of Citrus bergamia, the bergamot lime. Several cases were reported in the 1950s and 1960s following increased use of perfumes containing oil of bergamot and the passion for sunbathing. Since the introduction of artificial oil of bergamot and the reduced use of the natural product in perfumes, berloque dermatitis has become rare.

Toxicodendron or Rhus Dermatitis

Toxicodendron dermatitis, also called Allergic phytodermatitis or Rhus dermatitis is an allergic contact dermatitis that occurs from exposure to members of the plant genus Toxicodendron. In North America , this includes poison ivy, poison oak, and, much less frequently, poison sumac. Usually the skin is involved; however, the eyes, airway, and lungs may be involved if exposed to smoke from burning plants. In susceptible individuals, lesions generally appear within 12-24 hours, although they have been noted to arise earlier. New lesions may continue to appear for up to 2-3 weeks.

What is Allergic Contact Dermatitis?

Allergic contact dermatitis will trigger an immunologic response that causes inflammation called a skin allergy. Examples of substances that cause allergic contact dermatitis include poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, dyes, fragrances, leather, rubber compounds (gloves and shoes) and nickel (jewelry accessories). Itching and burning are common symptoms in both types of contact dermatitis. Typically the symptoms of contact dermatitis include redness, swelling and oozing. If left untreated, contact dermatitis can result in dry, thickened, cracked skin. The webs of the fingers, back of the hands and forearms are common sites of contact. Local contact with an allergen followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) can cause photoallergic dermatitis.

Solar Dermatitis

Sun rash or solar dermatitis occurs most often in the spring and summer and is more prevalent among those with pale skin and red hair. For them, exposure to sunlight results in a rash which may recur throughout the summer.

A sun rash is seen as small, reddish blisters or small or large spots in areas that have been exposed to sunlight. Some areas, for example, the face, can be spared. This rash usually appears after minutes' or hours' exposure to the sun and can be extremely itchy.

It is commonly seen in children and young women and tends to be recurrent. Those who suffer from it get relief only during the winter. The condition usually disappears as they get older and reach their 40s or 50s.

There is one preventive treatment that can be offered.The only remedy is to use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). The SPF indicates how effectively the cream protects you from harmful light. People who suffer from sun rash or sun spots should start with a cream with an SPF of 15 to 25 and higher (eg Uvistat Ultrablock).You may be able to use a cream with a lower SPF after one or two weeks when the skin has had time to get used to sunlight.

Photoallergic dermatitis or drug-induced photosensitivity dermatitis can be caused by the action of sunlight on skin exposed to certain chemicals. Some substances such as perfume or soap can make the skin extra sensitive to the sun.Photoallergic dermatitis can be prevented by avoiding contact with the substances that cause it. Drug-induced photosensitivity occurs when an individual develops a rash on exposure to the sun while taking a certain drug. Medicines that may cause this include: thiazides (diuretics), tetracyclines (antibiotics), NSAIDS (painkillers), etc. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to provide advice about medicines that are likely to cause this reaction.

Based on a text by Dr Per Grinsted

Exfoliative Dermatitis

Exfoliative dermatitis is a severe inflammation of the entire skin surface due to a reaction to certain drugs, or as a result of complications from another skin condition. In some cases, lymph node cancer (lymphoma) can cause generalized exfoliative dermatitis. Often, however, no cause can be found.
The most common symptoms of generalized exfoliative dermatitis ioclude:
~extreme redness of the skin
~scaling
~thickened skin
~itching
~swollen lymph nodes
~fever
~loss of fluids and proteins through the damaged skin

The symptoms of generalized exfoliative dermatitis may resemble other dermatologic conditions somit's always best to consult a physician for diagnosis.
Diagnosis includes careful elimination of known causes, such as certain drugs (i.e., penicillin and barbiturates). In addition, your physician may check for other skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, as well as for lymphoma, which may be the cause of the generalized exfoliative dermatitis condition.

Severe cases of generalized exfoliative dermatitis may require hospitalization while the person is being treated with antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and nutritional supplements.
If certain drugs are causing the condition, eliminating them usually clears up generalized exfoliative dermatitis condition.
If another skin condition or lymphoma causes generalized exfoliative dermatitis, treating that condition usually clears up generalized exfoliative dermatitis condition.

Other treatments may include:
~heated blankets to keep the patient warm
~cool baths
~petroleum jelly applied to skin, followed by gauze
~corticosteroids