What you need to know about atopic dermatitis

Stiff dermatitis or itchy skin after swimming is an allergic reaction to certain parasites that commonly infect animals that live in water. Accordingly, the microscopic parasites cause hard dermatitis and itchy skin when entering the skin, leading to allergic reactions for swimmers in polluted environments of fresh and salt water. Compared to other times of the year, itchy skin after swimming is more common during the summer months.

1. What causes atopic dermatitis for swimmers?

The adult parasite thrives in the blood of infected poultry or mammals, especially those that live in or near water such as ducks and swans. The adult parasites that produce eggs are then passed in the feces of infected poultry or mammals. The eggs then hatch into microscopic larvae, looking for specific aquatic snail species to infect.
Once infected with snails, they will live off the host's blood before maturing into adults. They then produce another type of microscopic larvae that will cause atopic dermatitis.
Usually, when infected snails release larvae into the water, they swim in search of a bird or aquatic mammal. In general, humans are not perfect hosts for the parasites, but they can still burrow into the skin, causing allergic reactions and itchy rashes. Since the larvae cannot survive in the human body, they will eventually die on the skin.

2. What are the symptoms of atopic dermatitis?

Most cases of itchy skin after swimming will describe their condition as an itchy rash caused by swimming pool water. Here are some of the most common symptoms of post-swimming skin itch:
Burning, itching or tingling sensation in the affected area of ​​the skin Small, itchy blisters Red, painful blisters In the case of a larval infection, you You may experience unusual tingling, burning, or itching a few minutes or days after swimming. The more you scratch, the more this action will lead to a rash and possibly small blisters. Constant scratching can lead to other bacterial infections. However, the itching should subside after a few days or within a week.
Even so, you may develop more severe symptoms if you regularly swim in contaminated water. The more exposure to contaminated water, the more frequent and intense the swimmer's itch.

3. How to diagnose itchy skin after swimming?

There are certain types of skin reactions similar to dermatomyositis or post-swimming itch that can make it difficult to tell if yours is the case. For example, an insect bite, jellyfish sting, or a bacterial infection can cause similar symptoms on your skin.
Furthermore, there is no specific test for atopic dermatitis. Accordingly, to diagnose itchy skin in swimmers, your doctor may ask you specific diagnostic questions to determine the allergy as follows:
When did the itching start? Did you go swimming in the last 24 hours? Do other people exposed to water develop and develop similar symptoms? Additionally, your doctor may ask about your medical history, notable allergies, and whether you're taking any special medications or supplements.

4. How to treat atopic dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin or itchy skin caused by swimming can be treated with simple home remedies, including:
Use a topical corticosteroid cream Apply Baking Soda Powder Cool Massage with oatmeal or Pure salt However, the itchy area will often cause you to scratch hard and will create conditions that lead to a bacterial skin infection. Such conditions may require treatment with antibiotics, antibiotic-containing skin creams, or ointments. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor if your symptoms persist, new symptoms such as blisters, discharge or high fever appear.
In a nutshell, post-swimming itch or pruritus is an itchy rash that can occur after you've been swimming or wading outdoors most commonly in freshwater ponds, but occasionally in water. salty. The cause of the disease is an allergic reaction to a parasite that lives in water birds and some animals that burrow into the skin. Although itchiness after swimming can be uncomfortable, because humans are not suitable hosts, the parasites will die afterward, which usually clears up on its own within a few days. In the meantime, you can control the itch with regular over-the-counter skin medications and limit scratching to prevent infection.
References: cdc.gov, mayoclinic.org, webmd.com

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