Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Histopathological and Immunohistopathological Features of Irritant and Allergic Contact Dermatitis

  • Chapter
Textbook of Contact Dermatitis

Abstract

A detailed description of the histopathological features of allergic contact dermatitis can be found in most textbooks of dermatopathology. Surprisingly, however, the histopathological signs of irritant contact dermatitis are scarcely mentioned or even omitted. The best way to fill this gap is to describe the lesions observed at the sites of positive patch test reactions (allergic or irritant). This choice has two advantages: (a) the histopathological signs reflect a practical situation, encountered daily in the patch test clinic; (b) a positive patch test reaction is a clear-cut, unmodified reaction: the direct consequence of the application of a substance on previously intact skin. This is quite different from clinical situations, in which many additional parameters can play a confounding role, such as: (a) unknown duration of the disease, (b) lesions in relation to scratching, (c) infections, and (d) lichenification. The only possible drawback to using patch test reactions is the role played by occlusion. This might be especially true for allergic reactions and is the reason for this description also based on open (unoccluded) reactions, the use of which is becoming commoner in many clinics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Kerl H, Burg G, Braun-Falco O (1974) Quantitative and qualitative dynamics of the epidermal and cellular inflammatory reaction in primary toxic and allergic dinitrochlorobenzene contact dermatitis in guinea pigs. Arch Dermatol Forsch 249: 207–226

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ackerman AB, Ragaz A (1982) A plea to expunge the term “eczema” from the lexicon of dermatology and dermatopathology. Arch Dermatol Res 272: 407–411

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Braun-Falco O Wolff HH (1971) Zur Ultrastruktur der menschlichen Epidermis bei der allergischen Epicutantestreaktion. Arch Dermatol Forsch 240: 23–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wolff HH, Braun-Falco O (1971) Zur Ultrastruktur dermaler Veränderungen bei der allergischen Epicutantestreaktion des Menschen. Arch Dermatol Forsch 240: 219–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Angelini G, Vena GA, Filotico R, Tursi A (1990) Mast cell participation in allergic contact sensitivity. Contact Dermatitis 23: 239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hannuksela M, Salo H (1986) The repeated open application test ( ROAT ). Contact Dermatitis 14: 221–227

    Google Scholar 

  7. Thune P, Eeg-Larsen T (1984) Contact and photocontact allergy in persistent light reactivity. Contact Dermatitis 11: 98–107

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lachapelle JM (1973) Comparative histopathology of allergic and irritant patch test reactions in man. Current concepts and new prospects. Arch Belg Dermatol 28: 83–92

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mahmoud G, Lachapelle JM (1985) Evaluation expérimentale de l’efficacité de crèmes barrière et de gels antisolvants dans la prévention de l’irritation cutanée provoquée par des solvants organiques. Cah Med Tray 22: 163–168

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Achten G, Oleffe J (1966) Tests épicutanés et dermatoses professionnelles. Etude histologique. Bull Soc Fr Dermatol 73: 49–52

    Google Scholar 

  11. Metz J (1972) Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen in allergischen und toxischen Epicutantestreaktionen des Menschen. Arch Dermatol Forsch 245: 125–146

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nagao S, Stroud JD, Hamada T, Pinkus H, Birmingham DJ (1972) The effect of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid on human epidermis. An electronmicroscopic study. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh.) 52: 11–23

    Google Scholar 

  13. Willis CM, Stephens CJM, Wilkinson JD (1989) Epidermal damage induced by irritants in man: a light and electron microscopic study. J Invest Dermatol 93: 695–699

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Willis CM, Stephens CJM, Wilkinson JD (1989) Preliminary findings on the patterns of epidermal damage induced by irritants in man. In: Frosch PJ, Dooms-Goossens A, Lachapelle JM, Rycroft RJ, Scheper RJ (eds) Current topics in contact dermatitis. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 42–45

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  15. Medenica M, Rostenberg A (1971) A comparative light and electron microscopic study of primary irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol 56: 259–271

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nater JP, Hoedemaeker PHJ (1976) Histopathological differences between irritant and allergic patch test reactions in man. Contact Dermatitis 2: 247–253

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Avnstorp C, Balslev E, Thomsen HK (1989) The occurrence of different morphological parameters in allergic and irritant patch test reactions. In: Frosch PJ, Dooms-Goossens A, Lachapelle JM, Rycroft RJ, Scheper RJ (eds) Current topics in contact dermatitis. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 38–41

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Ferguson J, Gibbs JH, Beck JS (1985) Lymphocyte subsets and Langerhans cells in allergic and irritant patch test reactions: histometric studies. Contact Dermatitis 13: 166–174

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Christensen OB, Daniels TE, Maibach HI (1986) Expression of OKT6 antigen by Langerhans cells in patch test reactions. Contact Dermatitis 14: 26–31

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Brasch J, Mielke V, Künne N, Weber-Matthiesen V, Bruhn S, Sterry W (1990) Immigration of cells and composition of cell infiltrates in patch test reactions. Contact Dermatitis 23: 238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kanerva L, Ranki A, Lauharanta J (1984) Lymphocytes and Langerhans cells in patch tests. An immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study. Contact Dermatitis 11: 150–155

    Google Scholar 

  22. Willis CM, Young E, Brandon DR, Wilkinson JD (1986) Immunopathological and ultrastructural findings in human allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 115: 305–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Willis CM, Wilkinson JD (1990) Changes in the morphology and density of epidermal Langerhans cells (CD1+ cells) in irritant contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 23: 239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Scheynius A, Fischer T (1986) Phenotypic difference between allergic and irritant patch test reactions in man. Contact Dermatitis 14: 297–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Avnstorp C, Ralfkiaer E, Jorgensen J, Lange Watzin G (1987) Sequential immunophenotypic study of lymphoid infiltrate in allergic and irritant reactions. Contact Dermatitis 16: 239–245

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Jean-Marie Lachapelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, St. Thomas’s Hospital, SE1 7EH, London, UK

    Richard J. G. Rycroft

  2. Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark

    Torkil Menné

  3. Hautklinik der Städtischen Kliniken Dortmund, Abteilung Dermatologie, Universität Witten/Herdecke, Beurhausstraße 40, 44123, Dortmund, Germany

    Peter J. Frosch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lachapelle, JM. (1995). Histopathological and Immunohistopathological Features of Irritant and Allergic Contact Dermatitis. In: Rycroft, R.J.G., Menné, T., Frosch, P.J. (eds) Textbook of Contact Dermatitis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03104-9_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03104-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-03106-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03104-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation