Contact Dermatitis and Other Contact Reactions

Abstract

Contact dermatitis typically is an eczematous reaction, usually to a substance applied to the skin surface. It may have an allergic cause, or it may be irritant (nonallergic). The archetype of the allergic form is poison ivy dermatitis, while soap dermatitis is a typical example of irritant contact dermatitis. Of course, there are many forms of allergic contact dermatitis that differ prominently from poison ivy reactions, and irritant dermatitis is extremely diverse in cause and often in presentation. Both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis are very common They often complicate other forms of eczema, which can be confusing to the inexperienced. However, recognition is critical to success in managing such patients.