Dermatitis

Question 1

What is dermatitis?

Answer 1

inflammation of the skin

Question 2

What are the two types of dermatitis?

Answer 2

1) allergic contact dermatitis

2) irritant contact dermatitis

Question 3

What is allergic contact dermatitis?

Answer 3

inflammation of skin resulting from a type 4 hypersensitivity

Question 4

What causes allergic contact dermatitis?

Answer 4

many allergens: synthetic products like dyes, parabens, perfumes, latex; alloys; natural products like poison oak

Question 5

What kind of lesions occur in allergic contact dermatitis?

Answer 5

range from mild erythema with edema to vesicles or large bullae

Question 6

What is irritant contact dermatitis?

Answer 6

inflammation of the skin due to chemicals irritating it, not from allergens, ex. fibreglass, cleaning chemicals, plants

Question 7

What are the types of irritant contact dermatitis?

Answer 7

• subjective (no signs but patient c/o symptoms)
• acute (from single exposure)
• chronic (continued exposure, when irritant removed the reaction continues
• chemical burns

Question 8

What can be helpful in determining the causative agent behind dermatitis?

Answer 8

location and pattern of lesions

Question 9

How is contact dermatitis treated?

Answer 9

• remove allergen or irritant
• if minor: wash area, apply antipruritic cream, bandage, may use topical corticosteroids
• if moderate or extreme: wet dressings, oral antihistamines, systemic corticosteroids