Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is skin inflammation caused by direct exposure to an irritant or allergen. Its main forms are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis: Skin inflammation caused by direct chemical, physical, or cumulative damage from an external substance. This form damages the skin directly and does not require immune sensitization.
Patch test: A diagnostic test that applies suspected allergens to the skin and checks for delayed reactions. Patch testing can identify the allergen responsible for allergic contact dermatitis.
Erythema: Redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow in superficial blood vessels. Redness is a common visible sign of contact dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis: A chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with skin-barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation. It can resemble contact dermatitis but is not defined by a specific contact exposure.
Allergic contact dermatitis: A delayed immune reaction in the skin after contact with a substance to which a person has become sensitized. This form is driven by a specific immune response to an allergen.
Occupational contact dermatitis: Contact dermatitis caused or aggravated by substances encountered at work. Repeated workplace exposure is a frequent cause of persistent disease.
Vesicle: A small, fluid-filled blister within or beneath the outer skin layers. Vesicles can develop in acute, especially allergic, contact dermatitis.
Seborrheic dermatitis: A common inflammatory skin condition affecting oil-rich areas such as the scalp and face. Its characteristic distribution and course differ from exposure-shaped contact rashes.
Skin barrier: The outer protective layer of skin that limits water loss and blocks entry of external substances. Barrier disruption increases susceptibility to irritants and allergen penetration.
Nickel allergy: An immune allergy to nickel that commonly causes skin reactions where nickel-containing objects touch the body. Nickel is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, especially from jewelry.

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