16th July 2026

Irritant contact dermatitis

Clinical features

Irritant contact dermatitis is a non-allergic reaction which commonly affects the hands. It is due to repetitive exposure to irritants on the skin. Erythema is normally confined to the area of exposure to the irritant. In acute phase, it can present with erythema, swelling, papules and blisters. It usually occurs soon after the exposure, and severity is dependent on a few factors such as length of exposure, concentration and quantity of irritants. Frequent hand scrubbing, exposure to temperature extremes, and humidity can cause irritant contact dermatitis. It can happen because of the cumulative impact of multiple irritants.

Common sources of allergic contact dermatitis include 

• Detergent
• Cement 
• Organic solvent 
• Friction
• Hand sanitisers

Investigations

• Diagnosis is mainly from history taking and clinical examination. 
• Patch testing may be used to distinguish between allergic and contact dermatitis. 

Management

• Avoid all potential irritants 
• Emollient 
• Barrier creams +/- topical steroids.