Contact dermatitis symptoms can occur in different parts of the body and in different varieties. Contact dermatitis is most common on the hands and face. Particular attention should be paid to specific anatomical areas, such as the eyelids, neck, scalp, armpits, lower extremities, and anogenital region.

Complaints may begin within 24 hours after exposure to chemicals, and at first, red, fluid-filled vesicles form, and then vesicles and scaly lesions appear. If contact continues in contact dermatitis, skin thickening, hardening, scaling and clefts will develop over time due to repetitions.

Contact dermatitis may present with different complaints depending on the body area where it is seen.

Contact Dermatitis Symptoms

Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis are usually limited to the site of contact. However, complaints may occur outside the contact area. It can spread to other parts of the body through the fingers.

Patients with chronic eczema or dermatitis should be evaluated for allergic contact dermatitis.

Patients with oral wounds may have allergic contact dermatitis to dental filling materials, as well as an allergic reaction to odor, perfume or cleaning products by causing itching, redness and rashes under the armpits or on the scalp.

Swelling and swelling of the face and neck may occur in response to substances such as permanent hair dye or tattoo, henna.

Rubber accelerator chemicals used in the manufacture of rubber gloves can cause dermatitis on the hands or chemicals in the shoes can cause foot lesions.

Hair and nail cosmetics can cause fingertip dermatitis.

Due to reactions to chemicals used in bone cement and metallic implants, serious reactions such as skin rash and itching may occur after the operation.

Localized itching, redness and swelling that occur only in a certain place may be due to topical drugs. If the drugs are taken orally or intravenously, itching, redness, scaling and even more serious wounds may occur all over the body.

As a result of exposure to certain plants, swelling and blistering may occur in areas of contact, such as the face and hands. It can be seen especially often with plants such as poison ivy or the Japanese wax tree, Toxicodendron succedanium.

What Causes Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Adults?

Today, the increasing number of chemicals cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people, while most people do not react to the allergens in these chemicals. However, some people may become allergic to something they previously tolerated for years. The skin can become allergic to a substance due to multiple exposures to the sun, or sometimes just one exposure to the sun.

One of the most common sources of allergic contact dermatitis is nickel. Metals are one of the most common causes of contact allergens. Although reactions to organic salts of gold, chromium, cobalt and mercury are quite common, nickel, which is used in many places, is the most common cause of metal allergies. The prevalence of nickel-induced allergic contact dermatitis in the general population ranges from 4.5% to 8.6%.

Nickel is abundant in jewelry, buttons, zippers, coins, keys, scissors, children’s toys, cell phones, handheld computers, metal tools and many other products. A nickel test kit can also be useful for patients to identify nickel-letting objects at home or in the workplace.

Prolonged contact with the skin should be avoided, as the metal components of jewelry (including some yellow and white gold jewelry) and clothing are the most common sources of nickel.

Contact with Nickel Metal

Nickel can cause an allergic dermatitis in areas that come into contact with the metal. For example, it can cause itching, redness and fluid-filled sores in the ears or fingers. Nickel can be taken from the digestive system, as it contains nickel in foods, apart from contact. When foods with high nickel content are consumed a lot, it can cause exacerbation of eczema, as well as complaints such as stomachache, bloating, diarrhea or constipation in the digestive system. Apart from these, other complaints such as headache, postprandial dyspnea and cystitis, vaginitis can be seen. These patients, called systemic nickel allergy, may experience allergic contact dermatitis due to nickel contact, as well as symptoms in the digestive system and other organs.

Although cosmetics and personal care products contain large amounts of chemicals, only a few chemicals are responsible for most allergic contact dermatitis.

A few chemicals in my perfumes, preservatives, auxiliaries, glues, sunscreens, hair dyes, and make-up are responsible.

Topical medications, eg pain relievers, antibiotics or anti-itch preparations. These can cause an allergic reaction or even worsen the initial problem and are often misdiagnosed as an infection. After the use of topical drugs, widespread redness and rashes can be seen on the body.

Sunscreens usually produce a rash, itching, urticaria-like rash that may appear hours or days after exposure to sunlight.

Rubber materials can cause immediate allergic reactions such as itching, burning or dry mouth due to chemicals that increase the flexibility and durability of latex, especially in healthcare workers or those working in rubber-related jobs. It should also be noted that it can cause itching, urticaria and anaphylactic shock in some people.

As a result of exposure to certain plants, swelling and blistering may occur in areas of contact, such as the face and hands. It can be seen especially often with plants such as poison ivy or the Japanese wax tree, Toxicodendron succedanium. After contact with plants and sometimes with the juice secreted from plants, complaints in the form of itching, redness and crusting and scaling may occur in the body.