Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis

 Itching and a burning sensation, redness, swelling, small blisters, scaling and/or cracks in the skin.

It can affect any area of the skin that has come into direct contact with the external agent (more typical of irritant contact dermatitis), or it may spread to other areas away from the initial site of contact (more common in allergic contact dermatitis). However, the two types of dermatitis can be clinically indistinguishable.

There are specific patterns, such as airborne contact dermatitis, in which lesions are located on the eyelids, neck, or the back of the hands. There are also phototoxic reactions that occur when the patient comes into contact with the allergen and is subsequently exposed to sunlight.

Generalized skin lesions may also appear in the context of systemic contact dermatitis, when the allergen is ingested, inhaled, or injected.