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Contact Dermatitis: Allergic

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Atlas of Dermatology, Dermatopathology and Venereology

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Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis is a frequent condition with a life-long prevalence of approximately 15%. It is due to an inadequate delayed immune reaction to a normally nontoxic exogenous substance, usually a small molecule, to which the sensitized individual reacts with skin inflammation. This is restricted to the contact zone at the beginning of the disease; however, it may spread to the surrounding skin and remote areas in long-standing, very intense, or repeated disease phases. Depending on the allergen, modifying factors, age, gender, specific localization, and many more variables, the clinical features, course, and response to treatment are extremely variable. Patch tests are the main diagnostic measure to elucidate the responsible allergen, which has to be strictly avoided. The list of differential diagnoses is long. Occupational contact dermatitis requires specific measures at the workplace to eliminate the contact allergen or to change the place of the worker. Allergic contact dermatitis prevention programs are helpful, both in daily life and in many professions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Eckart Haneke

  2. Dermatology Practice Dermaticum, Freiburg, Germany

    Eckart Haneke

  3. Centro Dermatologia, Instituto CUF, Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal

    Eckart Haneke

  4. Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

    Eckart Haneke

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  1. Eckart Haneke
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Univ of Rochester School of Med, Rochester, NY, USA

    Bruce Smoller

  2. Khorramshahr, Iran

    Nooshin Bagherani

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Haneke, E. (2021). Contact Dermatitis: Allergic. In: Smoller, B., Bagherani, N. (eds) Atlas of Dermatology, Dermatopathology and Venereology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45134-3_32-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45134-3_32-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-45134-3

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