CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Dermatitis - contact - Management
How should I assess someone with contact dermatitis?
- If possible, identify the stimulus by taking a detailed history and examination, including:
- Occupational, recreational, and medical history, including family history of atopic dermatitis.
- The anatomical distribution of the rash.
- The amount of contact with the irritant or allergen.
- History of exposure to irritants, for example wet work or friction.
- Duration of contact.
- Time from contact to first presentation.
- Evolution of symptoms, for example one episode or recurrent episodes; does the skin clear completely between episodes?
- Establish whether the pattern of distribution of the dermatitis suggests contact with a particular allergen or irritant.
- Consider referral to a recognized centre for patch testing to exclude allergic dermatitis.
- Assess for any indication of secondary infection, for example rapid worsening of dermatitis, tenderness, increased erythema, heat, or discharge.
In depth
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement