Medicine Online
Any medical inquiries? Search MOL for answers:
HEALTH TOPICS
Home > Health Topics > Topics beginning with I > Irritant Contact Dermatitis - Contact Dermatitis > Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Medical References
Diseases & Conditions
Women's Health
Mental Health
Men's Health
Healthy Choice News
Site Map Links
Medical Tips
Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news

Irritant Contact Dermatitis - Contact Dermatitis


Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Contact dermatitis is a bumpy patch of red, itchy, flaky skin. It occurs when someone has an allergic reaction after coming into contact with something that irritates his or her skin. The substance that irritates the skin is known as an allergen, and it triggers the allergic reaction.

What is going on in the body?

Contact dermatitis occurs when someone has been exposed to a substance that irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction. People are more likely to have contact dermatitis if they have sensitive skin or a pre-existing skin condition.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

Some of the more common allergens that trigger contact dermatitis include the following:

  • soaps
  • fabric softeners
  • perfumes
  • cosmetics
  • nickel, which may be found in jewelry, zippers, buckles, hair ornaments, and other accessories
  • deodorants
  • plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac
  • rubber, such as in shoe linings or latex gloves
  • hair dyes, especially permanent dyes containing paraphenylenediamine, or PPD
  • dyes used in clothing, which may contain PPD
  • certain local anesthesia medications, including benzocaine, which is chemically related to PPD
  • neomycin, an antibiotic commonly found in over-the-counter antibiotic ointments
  • chromates, which are chemicals commonly found in cement, leather, paints, matches, and anti-rust products

  • HomeSitemap Contact UsAdvertisingPress RoomGive Us Your FeedbackRead Our Terms & Conditions and Our DisclaimerPrivacy Statement