Contact Dermatitis
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Dermatitis - on WebMD
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Contact Dermatitis Overview
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis is a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance.
Substances that cause contact dermatitis in many people include "poisonous" plants such as poison ivy, certain foods, some metals, cleaning solutions, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, industrial chemicals, and latex rubber.
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Contact Dermatitis
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Overview
More than half the people in the United States are sensitive to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. If you are sensitive, you can develop an itchy, blistering rash by coming into contact with these plants.
- Whether you are working or just enjoying the outdoors, look out for these plants:
- Poison ivy is generally found east of the Rocky Mountains, growing as vines or shrubs. The leaves can have either smooth or notched edges and are often clustered in groups of three.
- Poison oak is more commonly found west of the Rockies, usually as a small bush but sometimes as a climbing vine. Its leaves are smooth-edged and cluster in groups of three, five, or seven.
- Poison sumac is most often found in wet areas of the Southeast. The leaves are generally smooth and oval-shaped, with seven to 13 growing on each stem.
- The appearance of each of thes...
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Contact Dermatitis, Allergic »
The term contact dermatitis sometimes is used incorrectly as a synonym for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
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