Dermatology

Dermatitis

Contact Dermatitis

What is contact dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis is a physiological reaction that occurs after skin comes in contact with certain substances.

About 80 percent of these reactions are caused by irritants to the skin. The remaining 20 percent of reactions are caused by allergens, which trigger an allergic response. In allergic reactions, the reaction may not be immediate, but may start after several days. Contact dermatitis caused by an irritant that is not an allergic response occurs from direct contact with the irritant.

Adults are affected by allergic contact dermatitis more than young children or the elderly.

What causes allergic contact dermatitis?

The most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis in adults and children include the following:

soaps
drool
different foods
detergents
harsh baby lotions
perfumes

Plants, as well as metals, cosmetics, and medications may also cause a contact dermatitis reaction:

poison ivy
Poison ivy, which is part of a plant family that includes poison oak and sumac, is the most common cause of a contact dermatitis reaction.

metals
Nearly 3,000 chemical agents are capable of causing allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel, chrome, and mercury are the most common metals that cause contact dermatitis:

Nickel is found in costume jewelry, belt buckles, and wristwatches, as well as zippers, snaps, and hooks on clothing.
Contact with objects that are chrome-plated, which contain nickel, will probably cause skin reactions in people sensitive to nickel.
Mercury, which is found in contact lens solutions, can cause problems for some sensitive individuals.

cosmetics

Many types of cosmetics can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Permanent hair dyes that contain paraphenylenediamine are the most frequent causes. Other products that may cause problems include dyes used in clothing, perfumes, eye shadow, nail polish, lipstick, and some sunscreens.

medications

Neomycin, which is found in antibiotic creams, is the most common cause of medication contact dermatitis. Penicillin, sulfa medications, and local anesthetics, such as novocaine or paraben, are other possible causes.

What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis?

The following are the most common symptoms of contact dermatitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

mild redness and swelling of the skin
blistering of the skin
itching
scaling and temporary thickening of skin

The most severe reaction is at the contact site. The symptoms of contact dermatitis may resemble other skin conditions. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment for contact dermatitis:
Specific treatment for contact dermatitis will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the reaction
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the reaction
your opinion or preference

The best treatment is to identify and avoid the substances that may have caused the allergic reaction. The following is recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, for mild to moderate reactions:

Thoroughly wash skin with soap and water as soon after the exposure as possible.
Wash clothing and all objects that touched plant resins (poison ivy/oak) to prevent re-exposure.
Use wet, cold compresses to soothe and relieve inflammation if blisters are broken.
For severe reactions, always contact your physician.

This page was last updated on: January 31, 2008.

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