Blood vessels
(Telangiectasias)
Fungal infections of
skin, nail, and hair
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis can be divided into allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Allergic contact is caused when your skin comes into contact with an allergen that sets off an immune reaction in your skin that manifests as an itchy, sometimes blister-like, rash. The rash can sometimes appear hours to days after exposure to the allergen. Some examples are nickel allergy in earrings and poison ivy. Patch testing can be performed to help diagnose which allergen may be causing your contact dermatitis.
Irritant contact dermatitis produces a similar itchy rash but is caused by excessive contact with irritants, rather than an allergy. Irritants include frequent hand washing and water, detergents, soaps, solvents, acids, alkalis, and friction. Irritant contact dermatitis may affect anyone, providing they have had enough exposure to the irritant, but those with atopic dermatitis are especially sensitive. Most cases of hand eczema are due to contact with irritants.
Vanguard Dermatology's Dr. Michael Shapiro is a member of the American Contact Dermatitis Society and the practice offers patch testing to our patients.