Contact dermatitis is an itchy, bumpy skin rash caused by contact with a variety of chemicals. The most well-known examples of contact dermatitis are poison ivy, oak and sumac. With the increasing use of cosmetics, perfumes, moisterizers, sunscreens and hair dye, contact dermatitis to these, and other chemicals, is becoming more common.
Contact dermatitis is not due to a true allergy, and no allergic antibodies are involved. Instead, the reaction is caused by various cells of the immune system. The diagnosis is made using patch testing, a procedure very different from skin testing.
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What should be done if reaction occurs? Stop treatment?