Skin Disorders Guide

Diagnostic Hallmarks

Distribution: areas of solvent exposure or maceration (weak irritant), areas conforming to patient history of specific contact (strong irritant)
Discontinuation of exposure leads to improvement

Presentation
The relatively common problem of irritant contact dermatitis occurs because of environmental damage to the outer layers of the epidermis. Two types of irritant contact dermatitis are recognized that resulting […]

Almost any skin disease can become secondarily eczematized. Three factors determine the circumstances under which this is likely to happen. First, those patients who are genetically atopic (20% of the population) are particularly likely to initiate the itch-scratch cycle in the presence of almost any dermatologic condition. Second, lesions that occur in areas of sweat […]

Diagnostic Hallmarks

Distribution: cheeks, arms, legs, and groin (infants), feet and antecubital and popliteal fossae (children, adolescents), hands, feet, ankles and groin (adults)
Presence of the itch-scratch cycle
Minor Criteria - atopy, xerosis, keratosis pilaris, pityriasis alba, and two prominent lower eyelid folds

Clinical Presentation

The distribution pattern, appears to be determined by irritant factors that lead to […]

Diagnostic Hallmarks

Distribution
(a) location of the lesions suggests a specific contactant
(b) unilateral or asymmetrical distribution suggests external causation
Shape of the lesions suggests a specific contactant to the clinician
Removal of the suspected contactant leads to resolution of the dermatitis
Positive patch test

Clinical Presentaion
The lesions of allergic contact dermatitis are quite different in appearance from those of irritant contact […]