Contact Dermatitis: Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms and Treatment
Learn about contact dermatitis, its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options. Discover how to prevent and manage skin irritation effectively.
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Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
Contact dermatitis is the skin’s reaction to a substance, organism, object or chemical in the environment that irritates the skin, causing an itchy rash. It is to be noted that skin reactions can occur after a single exposure or repeated exposures over time. From a baby to an adult, contact dermatitis can affect anyone at any age.
Further, there are two types of contact dermatitis – allergic and irritant. In allergic contact dermatitis, the body has an allergic reaction to a substance (common allergens like jewellery metals, fragrances, cosmetic products and preservatives) it does not like. Also, it can take several days for an itchy rash to develop after exposure.
On the other hand, the painful rash appears quickly in response to an irritating substance (like soaps, detergents, cleaners and acid) in case of irritant contact dermatitis. Notably, people suffer from irritant contact dermatitis more often than allergic contact dermatitis.
Causes of Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis occurs when the body comes in physical contact with an allergen or an irritant. The immune system gets activated when the body does not like something that touches the skin. Swelling and inflammation on the skin indicate that white blood cells (WBCs) are responding to the allergen or the irritant that can cause an itchy rash.
Let’s delve deeper to know about the most common allergic contact dermatitis causes:
Metals like nickel
Medications, such as antibiotics
Preservatives or chemicals
Plants or parts of a plant, such as poison ivy
Skin care products with fragrances
Further, the following are the most common causes of irritant contact dermatitis:
Acids
Body fluids like urine and saliva
Cleaning products
Hair dyes
Nail polish remover or other solvents
Plants, such as poinsettias and peppers
Paints and varnishes
Resins, plastics and epoxies
Soaps or detergents
Risk Factors
Owing to the nature of job, contact dermatitis risk may be higher in the following people:
Agricultural workers
Construction workers
Cleaners
Cooks and others who work with food
Florists
Hair stylists and cosmetologists
Healthcare workers, including dental workers
Machinists
Mechanics
Scuba divers or swimmers, owing to the rubber in face masks or goggles
Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis symptoms include a rash on the skin that is:
Bumpy with a small cluster of pimples or blisters
Flaky or scaling
Itchy
Oozing fluid or pus
Painful with a burning or stinging sensation
Red to purple or darker than the natural skin tone
Swollen, hive-like or elevated from the skin surrounding it
While contact dermatitis can be experienced anywhere on the skin coming into contact with an irritant or an allergen, the most common places include:
Armpits
Face, neck and scalp
Feet and legs
Genitals, including penis, vaginal area and vulva
Hands, fingers and arms
Lips, eyelids and cheeks
Diagnosis
To diagnose contact dermatitis, a doctor will require a patient’s complete medical history. Also, he/she will perform a physical exam and review symptoms.
For confirming allergic contact dermatitis, the doctor may recommend a patch test. In this test, a sticky patch coated in common allergens is placed on the skin. When the patch is removed, the doctor will be able to see if allergens on the patch have triggered an allergic reaction on the skin. In rare cases, the doctor might perform a skin culture or biopsy involving a tissue sample from the rash to confirm a diagnosis.
Besides, it is to be noted that there is no test available to identify the cause of irritant contact dermatitis. However, the doctor will ask about the patient’s environment, any changes to the normal skin care routine, things he/she came into contact with, and the location and size of the rash.
Treatment Options
To treat contact dermatitis, whether allergic or irritant, doctors suggest to:
Avoid or minimise exposure to things that caused the rash
Take medicines like over-the-counter anti-itch creams, topical or oral antihistamines, and corticosteroid creams to relieve swelling and itching
Managing and Preventing Contact Dermatitis
The following steps can be taken to prevent contact dermatitis:
Use jewellery made of hypoallergenic materials like surgical steel or gold for ear and body piercings
Wash the skin right away after coming into contact with poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac
Use a mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water
Wash any clothing or other items that may have come into contact with a plant allergen
Wear face masks, gloves, goggles and other protective items when using household cleansers
Apply an iron-on patch to cover metal fasteners next to the skin in order to avoid a reaction to jean snaps
Apply a barrier cream or gel to provide a protective layer for the skin
Regularly apply moisturisers to help restore the skin's outermost layer
Consider bathing a pet after a walk if there is a possibility of it coming into contact with an allergen or irritant
When to Seek Medical Help?
Book an appointment with the doctor if the rash:
Gets itchy and disturbs the sleep or daily routine
Is widespreadDoes not get better within three weeks
Involves the mouth, face, eyes or genitals
Notably, seek immediate medical assistance when:
Blisters are oozing pus
Fever occurs
It gets hard to breathe after inhaling burning weeds
The eyes or nasal passages hurt after inhaling smoke from burning poison ivy
There is a possibility of an ingested substance damaging the lining of the mouth or digestive tract
Potential Complications
When the affected area is repeatedly scratched, it can lead to an infection. This can make the affected area wet and oozing, creating a good place for bacteria or fungi to grow.
Besides rashes, uncommon, serious complications can occur owing to an allergic reaction. A person may experience hives (discoloured, raised, itchy skin welts), swelling deep under the skin or anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction that causes airways to swell and potentially close, creating a medical emergency).
Consult Top Allergist and Clinical Immunologist
Consult Top Allergist and Clinical Immunologist
Dr. Aijaz Muzamil
Ent Specialist
46 Years • MBBS, Ms ENT
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru
Dr. Akhila Hb
Paediatrician
10 Years • MBBS, MD ( PAEDIATRICS), Fellowship in Asthma and Allergy
Bengaluru
Apollo Medical Center, Marathahalli, Bengaluru
(50+ Patients)
Dr. Anand Ravi
General Physician
2 Years • MBBS
Bengaluru
PRESTIGE SHANTHINIKETAN - SOCIETY CLINIC, Bengaluru
Dr. Roopesh Yarappa
General Physician
11 Years • MBBS, MD
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru
Dr. Ramalinga Reddy
General Physician
5 Years • MBBS MD General medicine
Bengaluru
PRESTIGE SHANTHINIKETAN - SOCIETY CLINIC, Bengaluru
