Duration
If the body reacts allergic to a certain detergent ingredient, the allergic symptoms usually persist as long as the body is exposed to the triggering substance. Only the avoidance of the allergen leads to a reduction of the symptoms.
Diagnosis
At first it is not so easy to deduce a possible trigger from skin symptoms such as redness, rash or itching. Especially since the time between allergen contact and the onset of allergic symptoms often lasts many hours. If skin symptoms occur repeatedly, it is therefore advisable to consult a dermatologist.
The dermatologist will take a close look at the rash and take a medical history, i.e. ask certain questions that may indicate whether the rash could be an allergic reaction. If the dermatologist suspects a contact allergy, it is advisable to carry out a specific skin test. This is called an epicutaneous test, also known as a patch test.
In this test, substances suspected of being responsible for the allergy are applied to the patient’s back. They are taped off with a special patch. Since contact allergies are late-type allergies, it can take up to 72 hours before an allergic reaction occurs.
Therefore the substances to be tested should be left on the skin for at least 48 hours before the test is evaluated. Then the patches are removed and the skin is examined for symptoms such as redness, rashes or swelling. The skin is examined again 24 hours later.
Usually, special test series are used in the epicutaneous test. These contain substances that are known to be frequent triggers of contact allergies. More rarely, epicutaneous tests are carried out with samples of the suspected allergy-causing substance brought by the patient. If skin symptoms such as redness or swelling occur during the epicutaneous test, it is possible to determine exactly which ingredients the body has reacted with an excessive immune response.
Course of disease
The course of a detergent allergy can actually only be positively influenced by avoiding allergens. If the body continues to be confronted with the allergen, there is no improvement of the symptoms. If the allergen is avoided, however, there is usually a significant reduction in skin symptoms within a relatively short time without permanent damage.
