Some people do not develop allergic contact dermatitis to a particular substance until years of exposure. Contact dermatitis, as the name implies, is dermatitis caused by the skin coming in contact with an irritating substance. The resulting inflammation is usually confined to the area of skin that actually touched the substance.
Irritant reactions tend to occur immediately after the skin is exposed to the substance.
Allergic reactions may not occur until exposed a second time. The following are some of the other symptoms associated with contact dermatitis. The symptoms of contact dermatitis may resemble other dermatologic conditions. Consult a physician for diagnosis. Due to the range of irritants that can cause contact dermatitis, diagnosing the condition is often complicated.