Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory response of the skin that produces skin changes after contact with a specific allergen (allergic contact dermatitis) or irritant (nonallergic contact dermatitis). It is also called a T lymphocyte-mediated dermatitis (type IV hypersensitivity).

Specific allergen that cause contact dermatitis in many people include "poisonous" plants such as poison ivy, certain foods, some metals, cleaning solutions, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, industrial chemicals, and latex rubber.

A person who has contact dermatitis will get sign and symptom of pruritus and burning, erythema at the point of contact, edema, vesicles with drainage, as well as sign of infection.


Nursing intervention for client with diagnose of contact dermatitis will include :

• Elevation the extremity to reduce edema
• Maintaining a cool environment
• Apply cool and wet dressing and tepid bath
• Protection of the affected area from trauma
• Prevention of scratching and rubbing of the affected area
• Assisting with skin testing to determine allergen
• Encourage client to avoid contact with the allergen and harsh soaps
• Encourage client to avoid using heating pads or blankets
• Administering (as prescribed) antibiotic, antipruritic, antihistamine, and corticosteroids.