Allergic contact dermatitis

Essentials

  • It is often not possible to differentiate allergic contact dermatitis from other types of dermatitis on the basis of clinical presentation alone.
  • The diagnostic cornerstones are clinically established eczema, contact allergy and temporally-related exposure to the allergen in question.
  • The possibility of allergic contact dermatitis should be borne in mind where dermatitis is not resolving despite appropriate treatment.

Aetiology

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Investigations

  • Patch testing is usually not indicated if the history clearly identifies the causative allergen, for example nickel.
  • The diagnostics of skin contact allergy and allergic dermatitis use epicutaneous tests (patch testing (Diagnostic tests in dermatology)) Dynamed, which demonstrate possible sensitisation to allergens.
  • However, a positive test result does not always prove the causal relationship with the patient’s dermatitis.
  • Testing is carried out and interpreted by a dermatologist.

Treatment

  • The definitive treatment of allergic contact dermatitis is the avoidance or removal of the allergen (personal protective equipment, changing substances or methods used at the workplace, change of employment).
  • Topical glucocorticoid creams
  • Systemic treatments for eczematous conditions are used in chronic and difficult cases at the discretion of a dermatologist.

Topical treatment

  • Treatment of allergic contact dermatitis in hands: see (Hand dermatitis).
  • Moderately potent to potent glucocorticoid creams Dynamed once or twice daily until the skin has healed, for 2–6 weeks as appropriate to the severity of dermatitis. A follow-up appointment is indicated if the condition has not resolved.
  • In acute vesicular dermatitis relief can often be obtained with moist compresses (10–20 minutes twice or thrice daily).

Systemic treatment

  • In cases of severe and spreading allergic contact dermatitis a short course of systemic glucocorticoids Dynamed may be indicated, e.g. prednisolone 20–40 mg once daily for 1–2 weeks.
  • Antimicrobials are very rarely needed in allergic dermatitis, and they do not replace topical treatment. If the rash is clearly infected (picture (Chronic hand dermatitis)), an antimicrobial may be indicated (cephalexin 500 mg three times daily for 7–10 days).

Evidence Summaries

Immediate contact dermatitis

  • Unlike allergic dermatitis (delayed allergy), this is based on an immediate, IgE-mediated allergy
  • Contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis
  • Redness, pruritus and/or urticaria develop immediately (less than 30 minutes) at the site of the allergen contact. Allergens include natural rubber (latex), cat or dog (dander or hair), root and other vegetables.
  • Clearly more rare than allergic contact dermatitis, but in its chronic state its appearance may resemble that of allergic dermatitis.

Specialist consultation

  • Consult a dermatologist in particularly severe and extensive cases as well as chronic forms of the conditions
  • Patch testing and the verification of diagnosis
  • A suspicion of occupational allergic contact dermatitis or hand dermatitis

References

1. Brar KK. A review of contact dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2021;126(1):32–39.  [PMID:33091591]
2. Tam I, Yu J. Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Children: Recommendations for Patch Testing. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2020;20(9):41.  [PMID:32548648]
3. Chu C, Marks JG Jr, Flamm A. Occupational Contact Dermatitis: Common Occupational Allergens. Dermatol Clin 2020;38(3):339–349.  [PMID:32475512]
4. Johansen JD, Aalto-Korte K, Agner T et al. European Society of Contact Dermatitis guideline for diagnostic patch testing - recommendations on best practice. Contact Dermatitis 2015;73(4):195-221.  [PMID:26179009]
5. Fonacier L, Bernstein DI, Pacheco K et al. Contact dermatitis: a practice parameter-update 2015. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2015;3(3 Suppl):S1-39.  [PMID:25965350]
6. Boonstra MB, Christoffers WA, Coenraads PJ et al. Patch test results of hand eczema patients: relation to clinical types. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015;29(5):940-7.  [PMID:25220568]
7. Johnston GA, Exton LS, Mohd Mustapa MF ym. British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of contact dermatitis 2017. Br J Dermatol 2017;176(2):317-329.  [PMID:28244094]
8. Bepko J, Mansalis K. Common Occupational Disorders: Asthma, COPD, Dermatitis, and Musculoskeletal Disorders. Am Fam Physician 2016;93(12):1000-6.  [PMID:27304769]
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