Contact dermatitis is a physiological reaction that occurs after
skin comes in contact with certain substances. The majority of
these reactions are caused by irritants to the skin. The
remaining reactions are caused by allergens, which trigger an
allergic response. In allergic reactions, the reaction may not
start until after several days. Contact dermatitis caused by an
irritant that is not an allergic response occurs from direct
contact with the irritant. Adults are most commonly affected by
allergic contact dermatitis, but it can affect persons of all
ages. The most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis in
adults and children include the following: - Different foods -
Harsh baby lotions Plants, as well as metals, cosmetics, and
medications may also cause a contact dermatitis reaction: -
Poison ivy Poison ivy, which is part of a plant family that
includes poison oak and sumac, is the most common cause of a
contact dermatitis reaction. Nearly 3,000 chemical agents are
capable of causing allergic conta