Contact dermatitis: A great imitator

Contact dermatitis (CD) refers to a group of cutaneous diseases caused by contact with allergens or irritants. It is characterized by different stages of an eczematous eruption and has the ability to mimic a wide variety of dermatologic conditions, including inflammatory dermatitis, infectious conditions, cutaneous lymphoma, drug eruptions, and nutritional deficiencies. Irritant CD and allergic CD are the two main presentations of the disease. The diagnosis is based on a detailed history, physical examination, and patch testing, if necessary.
Source: Clinics in Dermatology - Category: Dermatology Authors: Source Type: research