Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a skin condition that involves a red, itchy rash. It happens when your skin touches something that causes a reaction. Contact dermatitis is most common on your hands. You can also get it on your face and feet. 

There are 2 types of contact dermatitis:

• allergic contact dermatitis
• irritant contact dermatitis

Some types of contact dermatitis are also called eczema.

Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis happens when you have an allergic reaction to a trigger touching your skin. This trigger is called an allergen. 

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis happens when your skin reacts to a substance in the environment. An ‘irritant’ is a substance that damages the skin when it comes into contact with it. 

You can develop irritant contact dermatitis after you have been exposed to an irritant over months or years. 

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type of contact dermatitis.

There are many possible causes of contact dermatitis. The substances that trigger contact dermatitis vary from person to person.

Examples of causes of allergic contact dermatitis include:

• metals — nickel, chromium and cobalt
• fragrances (including perfumes), cosmetics and hair dyes
• medicines applied to the skin
• plastics and chemicals
• rubber gloves
• plants

Irritant contact dermatitis may be caused by:

• water (from washing your hands too many times)
• hand sanitisers, soaps and detergents 
• moisturisers containing perfumes and fragrances
• oil and grease
• acidic substances
• industrial chemicals
• nail polish remover

Triggers at your work can cause allergic or irritant contact dermatitis.

You should see your doctor if you are:

• worried you have contact dermatitis
• having treatment for contact dermatitis and it is not getting better
• feeling unwell or have a fever and have a rash

You and your doctor will discuss possible causes of your contact dermatitis, including prescription, over-the-counter and alternative medicines, cosmetics and personal care products. 

Diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis

To diagnose allergic contact dermatitis, your doctor will refer you to a dermatologist. The dermatologist will use patch testing (Opens in new tab) to diagnose and identify the specific allergen causing your allergic contact dermatitis. 

This is how patch testing works:

1. Your doctor will put sticky patches with small amounts of triggers on your skin (usually on your back) for 2 days.
2. After 2 days, your doctor will remove the patches and check to see if there is a reaction.
3. You will usually return to your doctor within 7 days after the patches are removed so that your doctor can check your skin for a later onset reaction.

If you develop a reaction to the allergen, your doctor will diagnose you with allergic contact dermatitis. 

Diagnosing irritant contact dermatitis

Your doctor can diagnose irritant contact dermatitis by examining your skin and asking you questions about your medical history and what you were exposed to.

The main treatment for contact dermatitis includes avoiding contact with the allergen or irritant. Your rash should slowly go away once you avoid the trigger.

If you have severe dermatitis, your doctor may recommend:

• prescription medicines (for example corticosteroids or non-steroidal tablets or creams) for a short time
• antihistamine medicine
• light therapy with ultraviolet (UV) light
• medicines that suppress your immune system 

It is possible to have different types of contact dermatitis at the same time. You may need to avoid several different allergens or irritants. 

If you have allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, your skin can become infected.

Sometimes contact dermatitis can become a long-term (chronic) condition. Ongoing symptoms such as itching, discomfort and sleep problems can affect daily activities. 

Preventing contact dermatitis depends on where your symptoms are and how easily you can avoid your triggers.

Try to avoid direct skin contact with any irritants or allergens that you know cause contact dermatitis, and avoid contact with strong cleaning products.

These tips may help prevent contact dermatitis and protect your skin:

• For general protection, wear gloves. 
• Remove your gloves often because sweating can make contact dermatitis worse.
• Take short showers.
• Try to avoid using soaps and detergents.
• Use moisturisers regularly to keep your skin healthy. 
• If you work with chemicals, your workplace should provide protective gloves that are appropriate for what you are being exposed to. 
• If your symptoms are on the skin of your feet, keep your feet cool and dry by changing socks regularly and avoiding footwear that causes sweating.

Tell your employer if something at work is causing you to have contact dermatitis.

The Australian College of Dermatologists offers information about irritant contact dermatitis (Opens in new tab).

Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has answers to frequently asked questions about allergic contact dermatitis (Opens in new tab).

Visit Safe Work Australia to learn more about work-related contact dermatitis (Opens in new tab).

Languages other than English

Safe Work Australia (Opens in new tab) offers information about safety at work in many community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Kids Research Institute Australia has a program with information about healthy and safe skin (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.