Irritants can damage your skin in 2 ways. First, they have the capability to directly infect or damage cells and matrix of the skin. Second, it can also instill an inflammatory or allergic reaction in the skin, which can have a very bad effect on your skin because they may release destructive free radicals and also metalloproteinanses or MMP. MMP is an enzyme, which disintegrates the skin matrix by destroying the collagen and elastin present on the surface of the skin.

It has been seen that many a times the damage caused by the skin's reaction is far more than what was caused by the irritant. This fact holds true especially for people who have a sensitive skin. People with sensitive skin catch up inflammatory or allergic reactions when in contact with even the mildest of irritants. Whether you have a sensitive skin or not it is always advisable to avoid irritants, although people with sensitive skins must be extra careful. The inflamed or irritated skin is called Dermatitis.

The following table lists names of the irritants and the possible effects of those irritants.

Dermatitis
Primary Irritants	Example Exposure	Duration	Effect of Exposure
Strong Acids	Hydrochloric Acids Sulfuric Acids Nitric Acids	Brief	Severe Burns
Strong Caustics	Sodium Hydroxide Potassium Hydroxide	Brief	Severe Burns
Strong Solvents	Paint Remover Alcohol	Prolonged	Inflammation Acne

How to protect oneself from Dermatitis: -

• One should be aware of the hazards related to those harmful substances before working with them.

• Always check the ingredients of the product you are using and you should be aware of the emergency procedures that should be taken in case you meet with some accident.

• Always keep in mind that working with primary irritants is harmful so make sure that your skin doesn't come in direct contact especially when corrosive materials are involve.

• Usage of proper gloves, sleeves, aprons, shields and footwear, and barrier creams is advisable as an preventive measure.