clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

Patient will usually reveal a history of contact with an allergen (1).

Symptoms generally occur 1-2 days after exposure, but may also appear from several hours to several days post-exposure (1)

  • acute / early stages - pruritus, erythema, dryness, and scaling, but vesicles and bullae can develop
  • chronic stages - dryness, scaling, fissuring

Areas where skin is thinnest often affected first eg. around eyes before the rest of the face; back of hands and web spaces before palms

If a topical product is the cause (e.g., medicines, cosmetics, adhesive tape), reactions usually have a well demarcated border (2) 

Skin changes often subside gradually within 2-3 weeks after elicitation (3)

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