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Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. [1] Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are not contagious or life-threatening, but can be very uncomfortable.
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a form of contact dermatitis that is the manifestation of an allergic response caused by contact with a substance; the other type being irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Although less common than ICD, ACD is accepted to be the most prevalent form of immunotoxicity found in humans. [1]
Low humidity from air conditioning was found to be the most common cause of physical irritant contact dermatitis. [3] To the lay person a definition of low humidity being a physical irritant can be confusing because low humidity is a deficit (or absence) of an elemental substance, whereas all other irritants implicated in contact dermatitis are in concentrations of relative abundance.
Contact Dermatitis due to irritation is inflammation of the skin which results from a contact with an irritant. [2] It has been observed that this type of dermatitis does not require prior sensitization of the immune system. There have been studies to support that past or present atopic dermatitis is a risk factor for this type of dermatitis. [3]
Prevention of contact dermatitis can be made possible by avoiding substances that one is allergic to, such as by switching to a glove made using an alternative material if one has latex allergy. Topical moisturizing products which contain emollients and humectants repair the skin barrier and retain adequate moisture.
Protein contact dermatitis is a cutaneous condition, and was a term originally used to describe an eczematous reaction to protein-containing material in food handlers. [1] Usually affecting the hands or forearms, it manifests clinically as a subacute or chronic dermatitis that recurs frequently over time. [ 2 ]
Stasis dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, acute irritant contact eczema and infective dermatitis have been documented as possible triggers, but the exact cause and mechanism is not fully understood. [7] Several other types of id reactions exist including erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, Sweet's syndrome and urticaria. [3]
Contact dermatitis is typically treated by avoiding the allergen or irritant. [9] [10] Antihistamines may help with sleep and decrease nighttime scratching. [2] Dermatitis was estimated to affect 245 million people globally in 2015, [6] or 3.34% of the world population. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type and generally starts in childhood.