Contact dermatitis

Question 1

What is Contact dermatitis?

Answer 1

Contact dermatitis is a skin reaction that occurs when your skin touches a substance that irritates or causes an allergic reaction. It can cause the skin to become red, sore, inflamed, itchy, or swollen

Question 2

What causes Contact dermatitis?

Answer 2

Aetiology
- Irritant type – direct response of skin to chemical damage
- **Allergic type **– delayed hypersensitivity reaction

Risk factors include occupations or hobbies with a higher risk of exposure to irritants e.g. agricultural workers, hairdressers, florists

Question 3

What is the pathophysiology of Contact dermatitis?

Answer 3

Pathophysiology –
- Irritant – release of proinflammatory cytokines in response
to direct chemical damage
- Allergic – T-cell mediated
inflammation due to repeated
exposure to the allergen”

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of Contact dermatitis?

Answer 4

Signs and symptoms - similar to eczema so check if they touched anything:
* Pruritic rash
* Hyperpigmented leathery patches on
brown or black skin
* Dry, cracked, scaly areas on white skin
* Bumps and blisters, with possible
oozing and crusting
* Burning sensation, tenderness,
swelling

Question 5

What is diagnosis and conventional treatment for Contact dermatitis?

Answer 5

Diagnosis and
conventional treatment:
Case history
Patch test
Steroid creams”