Allergies Contact Dermatitis Print How Contact Dermatitis Is Diagnosed By Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our editorial process Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Corinne Savides Happel, MD on March 02, 2020 linkedin Corinne Savides Happel, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with a focus on allergic skin disorders, asthma, and other immune disorders. Learn about our Medical Review Board Corinne Savides Happel, MD on March 02, 2020 Contact Dermatitis Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment In This Article Table of Contents Expand Self-Checks Labs and Tests Differential Diagnoses View All Your doctor can often reach a diagnosis of contact dermatitis based on your history and physical examination, but finding the exact cause might be more difficult. Contact dermatitis can be either irritant or allergic, only the latter of which can be confirmed with patch testing. If an irritant is to blame for your reaction, you'll need to work with your doctor to identify problematic substances so you can avoid them in the future. In some cases, additional testing to rule out other concerns—including skin infection—may be performed. Self-Checks Many times, people are able to self-diagnose contact dermatitis and then work to avoid their triggers. Narrowing the long list of possible irritants and allergens can help pinpoint the culprit(s). Make a list of your activities and any chemicals, household products, personal care products, cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, and anything else that may have touched your skin in the two weeks before you had a reaction (some allergens may have a delayed presentation). For some products, the reaction may only happen after sun exposure, so be sure to note that as well. Your job (such as hairstylist, construction worker) or hobby (such as gardening, ceramics) might help reveal the cause of your contact dermatitis. If a workplace trigger is suspected, it is important to take note of the effects of vacation, weekends, and varied work schedules on the rash. The location of the rash on the body may be an important clue as to the cause of the contact dermatitis. However, some parts of the body are more prone to develop a rash from contact dermatitis than others. Think about everything you come into contact with in your day. Site Possible Triggers to Consider Eyelids Cosmetics, nail polish or coatings, artificial nails, hair dye, hair care products, perfumed facial tissues or lotions Face Cosmetics, fragrances, hair dye, hair care products, sun care products, toys, balloons, rubber sponges Scalp Hair dye, hair care products Hands Occupational exposures to chemicals, cleaning products Neck Cosmetics, fragrances, hair care products, jewelry Underarms Antiperspirants, deodorants, chemicals from clothing or detergents, depilatory products, shaving products Legs Topical medications, shaving products, moisturizers, stockings (materials and dyes), poison oak/ivy Genital/rectal area Topical or suppository medications, latex condoms, diaphragms, douches, lubricants, spermicides, sprays, fragrances (including from toilet paper), soaps, bath products, ammonia from urine (in infants and incontinent adults), poison oak/ivy (transferred by hands) Triggers of Contact Dermatitis Labs and Tests The diagnosis of contact dermatitis should be considered when a person has any acute or chronic rash that typically itches, but may also sting or burn. The rash will appear red and may be slightly raised or bumpy. In its severe form, the rash classically has small blisters containing clear fluid, but can swell, crust, ooze or peel in other cases. There is no test for irritant contact dermatitis, but your doctor can test for causes of allergic contact dermatitis using a patch test. A patch test involves the placement of various chemicals on the back for approximately 48 hours (it is not the same as allergy skin prick testing). This typically is done with a pre-filled epicutaneous patch kit, such as the TRUE test. The TRUE test is the only FDA-approved test for contact dermatitis in the United States, although some allergists and dermatologists will develop more extensive patch test panels for their patients with chemicals purchased from Canada or Europe. The results of the test are interpreted at 48 hours after placement, and again at 72 or 96 hours after placement. A positive test is confirmed when there are blisters, redness, and/or mild swelling at the site of the particular substance in question after 72 or 96 hours. The site of the positive test usually itches, although the reaction size is typically limited to the site of contact and, therefore, is usually smaller than a dime. Patch Testing for Allergic Contact Dermatitis It may be difficult to determine the cause of contact dermatitis since products may contain many different chemicals and an individual may use many of these different products. For example, many perfumes, lotions, creams, and other toiletries may contain various fragrances that can cause contact dermatitis. A reaction to a cosmetic, hair dye, toiletry, or other product can develop even if you have used it for years without problems. Differential Diagnoses Your doctor will also consider whether your rash is due to a skin infection, systemic infection, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), dyshidrotic eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiformis, or mycoses fungoides. In some cases, your doctor may do a skin lesion biopsy or a culture to rule out psoriasis or infection by bacteria or fungi. A Word From Verywell Getting rid of an itchy rash can become a high priority. Knowing what triggers it is the first step in treatment and prevention. While your doctor will be able to test for common allergic causes, you will have to become a detective to tease out irritant causes. Bring any products you are concerned about with you to your doctor's appointment. Use the location of the rash and your list of activities and contacts so you can find out what to avoid in the future. How To Treat Contact Dermatitis Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fonacier L, Bernstein DI, Pacheco K, et. al. Contact dermatitis: A practice parameter update 2015. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015 May-Jun;3(3 Suppl):S1-39. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2015.02.009 Additional Reading Contact Dermatitis. Medline Plus.