Allergic contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a form of contact dermatitis that is the manifestation of an allergic response caused by contact with a substance; the other type being irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).

Although less common than ICD, ACD is accepted to be the most prevalent form of immunotoxicity found in humans. By its allergic nature, this form of contact dermatitis is a hypersensitive reaction that is atypical within the population. The mechanisms by which these reactions occur are complex, with many levels of fine control. Their immunology centres on the interaction of immunoregulatory cytokines and discrete subpopulations of T lymphocytes.

The symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis are very similar to the ones caused by irritant contact dermatitis, which makes the first even harder to diagnose. The first sign of allergic contact dermatitis is the presence of the rash or skin lesion at the site of exposure. Depending on the type of allergen causing it, the rash can ooze, drain or crust and it can become raw, scaled or thickened. Also, it is possible that the skin lesion does not take the form of a rash but it may include papules, blisters, vesicles or even a simple red area. The main difference between the rash caused by allergic contact dermatitis and the one caused by irritant contact dermatitis is that the latter tends to be confined to the area where the trigger touched the skin, whereas in allergic contact dermatitis the rash is more likely to be more widespread on the skin.^{[failed verification]} Another characteristic of the allergic contact dermatitis rash is that it usually appears after a day or two after exposure to the allergen, unlike irritant contact dermatitis that appears immediately after the contact with the trigger.

Other symptoms may include itching, skin redness or inflammation, localized swelling and the area may become more tender or warmer. If left untreated, the skin may darken and become leathery and cracked. Pain can also be present. Dermatitis can occur anywhere on the skin, but is most common on the hands (22% of people), scattered across the body (18%), or on the face (17%).

The rash and other symptoms typically occur 24 to 48 hours after the exposure; in some cases, the rash may persist for weeks. Once an individual has developed a skin reaction to a certain substance it is most likely that they will have it for the rest of their life, and the symptoms will reappear when in contact with the allergen.

Common allergens implicated include the following:

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) arises as a result of two essential stages: an induction phase, which primes and sensitizes the immune system for an allergic response, and an elicitation phase, in which this response is triggered. During the induction phase, exposure to the allergic substance (allergen) leads to its processing and presentation by immune cells, priming the immune system for a response. In the elicitation phase, subsequent contact with the same allergen, T cells directly recognize the allergen resulting in an immune response at the contact site. The allergic reaction, being mediated directly by T-cells, is classified as a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. This classification differs from the more prevalent Type I hypersensitivity (e.g., hay fever), where allergens bind to antibodies, that subsequently trigger mast cells.

In contact allergies, the molecules responsible (allergens) are typically small and cannot be directly recognized by the immune system. These allergens can trigger a reaction only after they undergo a process called haptenization. During haptenization, the allergens bind to larger molecules (carrier proteins) naturally present in the skin. This complex of allergen and carrier protein is what the immune system detects as foreign, leading to an allergic response.