by Julie Gabriel

Created on: January 31, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

Do you have a red, sore itchy rash after wearing that new bracelet? Are your eyes itchy and scratchy from that new mascara that supposedly stimulates lash growth? All these tears and itchiness could result from allergic contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to something irritating, be it the nickel-containing jewelry, fragrance or other substances, with which you've had contact.

Contact allergies today are more common than ever before, possibly because of the overabundance of chemicals in use in various areas of our lives. In some people, the immune system becomes so easily triggered, it produces acute reaction even to minor irritants making our lives a misery.

If the culprit is an allergy, the skin doesn't usually react to the first exposure. It can take many exposures for the skin to become sensitive.

Sometimes, the sensitivity to certain chemicals runs in families. If one parent is allergic, the child has a one in four chance of developing an allergy. If both parents are allergic, it is likely that two out of three children will be allergic also, scientists say.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter lists the top ten causes of contact dermatitis that were recently identified by clinical researchers:

Nickel, commonly found on jewelry clasps or buttons

Gold, usually worn as jewelry

Balsam of Peru, a fragrance used in skin care products and perfume

Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines

Neomycin sulfate, a topical antibiotic

Synthetic fragrance mix

Formaldehyde, a preservative that can be found in paper products, paints, building materials, medications, household cleaners and fabric finishes

Cobalt chloride, a metal found in medical products, hair dye, antiperspirants, and in snaps, buttons and tools

Bacitracin, a topical antibiotic

Quaternium-15, a preservative found in skin care products and in industrial products such as paints, polishes and waxes Your primary doctor or a dermatologist often can base a diagnosis on your skin's appearance and your recent history of contact with allergens and irritants. If no allergen or irritant is apparent, and your symptoms become chronic, patch testing may be advised. In this procedure, small amounts of different allergens are applied, usually to your back to see how your skin reacts.

Don't expect overnight results, though. Even with strict allergen or irritant avoidance, contact dermatitis may take weeks or months to clear up.

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