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Irritant and Airborne Contact Dermatitis

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The Toxicant Induction of Irritant Asthma, Rhinitis, and Related Conditions

Abstract

Understanding and recognizing contact dermatitis is a vital tool in any healthcare provider’s armamentarium. Making the correct diagnosis will not only lead to the appropriate treatment of your patient but also save the healthcare system excessive, unnecessary costs. Contact dermatitis is an eczematous reaction that encompasses two major forms: irritant and allergic. While clinical appearance can often be indistinguishable, the pathophysiology, etiology, and history are often very different. Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) can be thought of as a direct toxic effect on the skin by an irritant while allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a hypersensitivity reaction to an allergen.

Airborne contact dermatitis can be caused by various substances that come into contact with the skin via an aerosolized or an airborne form. Both ICD and ACD are included in this category. Together, irritant and airborne contact dermatitis comprise a majority of the diseases that have been labeled as occupational contact dermatitis (OCD). Each year, OCD leads to the indirect and direct costs of nearly a billion dollars in lost wages and medical expenses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    Payton A. Kuhlenbeck B.S. & Tanner J. Parrent M.D.

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  1. Payton A. Kuhlenbeck B.S.
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  2. Tanner J. Parrent M.D.
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Correspondence to Tanner J. Parrent M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA

    William J. Meggs

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Kuhlenbeck, P.A., Parrent, T.J. (2013). Irritant and Airborne Contact Dermatitis. In: Meggs, W. (eds) The Toxicant Induction of Irritant Asthma, Rhinitis, and Related Conditions. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9044-9_7

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