Q I'm in my 40s in Dong-gu, Incheon, attending a Korean medicine clinic for contact dermatitis. What symptoms mean I should go to a dermatologist or ER immediately?
A If the affected area spreads widely with blisters and oozing, or turns yellow with pus, severe pain, and heat, it may be a secondary infection requiring dermatology care. If the face or area around the eyes swells, or you have trouble breathing and feel dizzy, go to the ER immediately.
Detailed Answer
Contact dermatitis is usually confined to the contact area, but in the following cases conventional medical care is needed without delay. If the affected area spreads extensively with blisters and oozing, or yellow pus or crusts form accompanied by pain, heat, and fever, a bacterial secondary infection should be suspected. In particular, if the face or area around the eyes swells severely, or systemic symptoms such as swelling of the lips and tongue, difficulty breathing, and dizziness appear, it may be an acute allergic reaction, so you must go to the ER immediately.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we consider it important to distinguish stages that can be managed sufficiently with Korean medicine treatment from stages that first require the prompt intervention of conventional medicine. When warning signs like the above appear, we advise postponing Korean medicine treatment and first receiving dermatology or emergency care, and after the condition has stabilized, it is safe to continue with treatment that prevents recurrence.
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