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Another Great Imitator: Allergic Contact Dermatitis Differential Diagnosis, Clues to Diagnosis, Histopathology, and Treatment
- Source :
- Current Treatment Options in Allergy. 2:333-348
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2015.
-
Abstract
- Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a type IV (delayed) hypersensitivity reaction that has a wide spectrum of presentations that often imitate or overlap with other cutaneous eruptions. Differential diagnoses to consider include infections, skin lymphoma-malignancies, inflammatory dermatoses, nutritional deficiencies, and mechanical causes of tissue damage. We discuss clues to the diagnosis of ACD, such as pruritus, localization to the area of skin contact with the allergen, recurrence with repeat exposures, and supportive skin biopsy histology. Epicutaneous patch testing remains the gold standard for diagnosing ACD. Definitive treatment is contact allergen avoidance and, when indicated, dietary restriction. With these measures, most patients will improve clinically. In cases where avoidance measures and interim topical therapies fail, ultraviolet light therapy or systemic immunosuppression may be considered. Key points 1. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a type IV (delayed) hypersensitivity reaction with a range of clinical presentations. 2. Mimickers of ACD include infections, skin lymphoma-malignancies, inflammatory dermatoses, nutritional deficiencies, and mechanical causes of tissue damage. 3. Allergen avoidance, which might include dietary restriction, is the definitive treatment for ACD.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
Allergy
medicine.diagnostic_test
Ultraviolet light therapy
business.industry
medicine.medical_treatment
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Atopic dermatitis
medicine.disease_cause
medicine.disease
Dermatology
Hypersensitivity reaction
Allergen
Skin biopsy
Immunology
medicine
Immunology and Allergy
Differential diagnosis
business
Allergic contact dermatitis
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 21963053
- Volume :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Current Treatment Options in Allergy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........2420e451c14bd34eb173c0b8df273f86
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-015-0064-y