This form of eczema can be caused by a dizzying number of natural as well as household and workplace chemicals. The most infamous form of contact dermatitis is poison ivy, so called “rhus dermatitis” for the rhus allergen found within this plant. The onset of CE can evolve over time – I can diagnosis this condition from an over-the-counter product even after a patient’s been using it for years without incident. The immune system is exposed to a certain allergen several times until one day our body triggers an allergic response that can persist for a lifetime.

Certain clues for a contact dermatitis include a bilateral (both sides) rash. The most common locations affected are the neck and eyelids. Interestingly, these are areas most commonly exposed to foreign chemicals (usually from fingers-to-face contact).

Most chemicals able to provoke CE are small molecules that can penetrate human skin. Your immune system recognizes a foreign substance (“antigen”) and then mounts an immune response to it, resulting in itchy, scaling skin. The top 4 CE allergens within our New York practice are:

1. nickel (and nickel-plated objects)

2. fragrance,

3. neosporin

4. propylene glycol (a common preservative)

If you’ve been experiencing a recurrent rash that is intermittently worse, patch testing can be performed to determine the offending botanical, metal, or chemical. Short-term therapy can be given to quell an active rash, but the best solution is to avoid the offending chemical altogether.