Información de la revista
Vol. 107. Núm. 9.
Páginas 791-793 (noviembre 2016)
Vol. 107. Núm. 9.
Páginas 791-793 (noviembre 2016)
Case and Research Letters
Acceso a texto completo
Initial Assessment of Patients With Contact Eczema
Valoración inicial del paciente con eczema de contacto
Visitas
5270
A. Imbernón-Moyaa,
Autor para correspondencia
adrian_imber88@hotmail.com

Corresponding author.
, F.J. Ortiz-de Frutosb, A.M. Delgado-Márquezb, F. Vanaclocha-Sebastiánb
a Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
b Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
Este artículo ha recibido
Información del artículo
Texto completo
Bibliografía
Descargar PDF
Estadísticas
Tablas (3)
Table 1. Occupations Most Commonly Associated With Contact Eczema.
Table 2. The Characteristics of Irritant Substances.
Table 3. Signs of Atopy.
Mostrar másMostrar menos
Texto completo
To the Editor:

Eczema is an inflammatory skin reaction that can have different etiologies. It is characterized clinically by pruritus and polymorphous skin lesions that can progress successively through erythema, macules, papules, edema, vesicles or blisters, excoriation, erosions, scabs, flaking, hyperkeratosis, lichenification, and fissures.1 Histologically it is characterized by spongiosis; other findings include acanthosis, parakeratosis, and a lymphocytic perivascular infiltrate in the upper dermis that may show epidermotropism and that includes a variable number of eosinophils.2

Contact eczema develops when the skin surface comes into contact with an exogenous substance. Irritant contact eczema (ICE) accounts for 80% of cases and is due to a local toxic effect caused by single or repeated contact with irritant substances. It is limited to the area of exposure in the majority of cases. ICE most commonly affects hands (80%) and face (10%).3,4 Allergic contact eczema (ACE) accounts for the remaining 20%. This is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction triggered by contact with a substance to which the patient has previously become sensitized. ACE develops in the area of exposure and occasionally also at distant sites.5 The clinical manifestations can be similar in the 2 forms of contact eczema, and a detailed medical history and physical examination are therefore essential in the search for the main risk factors.1,3–9

In the literature, we have found no descriptions of a protocol for the initial clinical evaluation of this type of patient. The German clinical guideline for hand eczema proposes a detailed medical history and meticulous physical examination (grade A recommendation), paying particular attention to the site and morphology of the skin lesions.6 We therefore present our standard approach to the first consultation in the Eczema Unit of Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid, Spain:

  • a)

    Individual characteristics of the eczema1,3–9: initial site, disease duration, symptoms (pruritus, pain, soreness), clinical behavior and extension, clinical course (persistent or intermittent), exacerbations and remissions, previous episodes of eczema, aggravating factors, seasonal variations, previous treatments, and relationship with weekends, holidays, periods off work, and exposure to sunlight.

  • b)

    Predisposing factors:

    • Age and sex: ICE is more common in women, children, and the elderly.3,4,7

    • Past history of allergy and supporting additional tests.7

    • A personal or family history of atopic dermatitis, asthma, or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is associated with a higher risk of ICE.3,4,7

    • Past history of other dermatoses: Seborrheic dermatitis is associated with an increase in the levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1α, leading to a higher risk of ICE.3

    • Genetic factors: Polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-308 and mutations of the filaggrin gene probably constitute a risk factor for ICE.7

  • c)

    Factors related to exposure:

    • Past and present occupational and domestic exposure (Table 1)1,3–5: Determine the use of personal protection measures, such as gloves, goggles, face masks, and protective clothing.

      Table 1.

      Occupations Most Commonly Associated With Contact Eczema.

      Hairdressing 
      Bakery 
      Meat processing 
      Fishing 
      Health professionals (physicians, dentists, nurses, auxiliaries) 
      Veterinary surgeons 
      Cleaning 
      Florists 
      Metallurgical industry 
      Agriculture 
      Food processing and catering 
      Printing and painting 
      Mechanical engineering 
      Construction 

      Adapted from Cohen DE and Jacob SE,1 Cohen DE and de Souza A,3 Wilkinson SM and Beck MH,4 and Beck MH and Wilkinson SM.5

    • Exposure to irritant substances (Table 2).3,4

      Table 2.

      The Characteristics of Irritant Substances.

      Most common irritants: 
      Soaps 
      Detergents 
      Cleaning products 
      Water 
      Organic solvents 
      Oxidizing and reducing agents 
      Cutting oils 
      Acid and alkaline substances 
      Plants 
      Pesticides 
       
      Physical and chemical characteristics: 
      Molecule size 
      Ionization 
      Polarity 
      Solubility 
      Volatility 
      Potential 
      pH 
       
      Conditions of exposure: 
      Concentration 
      Volume 
      Duration of contact 
      Repetition 
       
      Environmental factors: 
      Temperature 
      Meteorological conditions 
      Friction 
      Humidity 
      Occlusion 
      Trauma 

      Adapted from Cohen DE and de Souza A3 and Wilkinson SM and Beck MH.4

    • Work in a moist environment: This is defined as exposure to water for more than 2hours a day, hand washing more than 20 times a day, or the use of gloves for more than 2hours a day.

    • Leisure activities and hobbies.

    • Use of skincare products, perfumes, cosmetics, metals, topical medicines.

We also present our standard procedure for complete physical examination:

  • Description of the eczematous lesions1,3–6,9: site, pattern (acute, subacute, chronic), distribution (single, patchy, linear, diffuse, disseminated), morphology, intensity, size, palpation, ulceration, scabs, signs of superinfection, hyperkeratosis, and lichenification.

  • Complete dermatologic examination, including scalp, intertriginous areas, palms, soles, and nails.

  • Thorough inspection for clinical signs of dermatophytosis, psoriasis, and atopy (Table 3).1,3–5,10

    Table 3.

    Signs of Atopy.

    Xerosis 
    Ichthyosis vulgaris 
    Keratosis pilaris 
    Follicular prominence 
    Hyperlinearity of the palms and soles 
    Double palpebral fold 
    Palpebral hyperpigmentation associated with edema and lichenification 
    Horizontal folds in the central region of the anterior neck 
    Thinning or absence of the lateral portion of the eyebrows 
    White dermographism 
    Pityriasis alba 
    Lichenification on the dorsum of the hands and fingers and of the anatomical snuffbox 
    Areolar eczema 
    Digital pulpitis 
    Juvenile plantar dermatitis 
    Atopic cheilitis 
    Prurigo simplex 

    Adapted from Cohen DE and Jacob SE,1 Cohen DE and de Souza A,3 Wilkinson SM and Beck MH,4 Beck MH and Wilkinson SM,5 and Bieber T and Bussmann C.10

A number of differential diagnoses must be considered in patients with a pruritic erythematous skin rash with eczematous lesions, including seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, erythematous rosacea, asteatotic eczema, dyshidrotic eczema, dermatitis herpetiformis, lichen simplex, dermatophytosis, scabies, and mycosis fungoides.1–5

The information obtained can help to guide the choice of diagnostic procedures required, such as patch tests, prick tests, culture, and skin biopsy.1–9 In conclusion, the aim of this article has been to present the initial clinical evaluation guideline used in our center in the hope that it will help dermatologists in their evaluation of patients with contact eczema. The medical history and dermatologic examination will orient the diagnosis and the search for the etiology, will establish the relevant additional tests, and will facilitate patient education. The German guideline recommends secondary prevention measures in high-risk groups through avoidance of exposure to known irritants and allergens by the use of appropriate skin protection (level B evidence).6 Finally, the role of the dermatologist is essential in the identification of high-risk patients and the adoption of appropriate primary and secondary measures of prevention.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

References
[1]
D.E. Cohen, S.E. Jacob.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis.
Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, pp. 135-145
[2]
R.B. Johnston.
Weedon's Skin Pathology Essentials.
3rd ed., Elsevier Limited, (2012),
[3]
D.E. Cohen, A. de Souza.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis.
Dermatology, pp. 249-259
[4]
S.M. Wilkinson, M.H. Beck.
Contact Dermatitis: Irritant.
Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, pp. 1071-1096
[5]
M.H. Beck, S.M. Wilkinson.
Contact Dermatitis: Allergic.
Rook's Textbook of Dermatology, pp. 1097-1202
[6]
T.L. Diepgen, K.E. Andersen, O. Chosidow, P.J. Coenraads, P. Elsner, J. English, et al.
Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hand eczema.
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges, 13 (2015), pp. 1-22
[7]
A. Schnuch, B.C. Carlsen.
Genetics and Individual Predispositions in Contact Dermatitis.
Contact Dermatitis, pp. 13-42
[8]
A. Josefson, G. Färm, B. Meding.
Validity of self-reported nickel allergy.
Contact Dermatitis, 62 (2010), pp. 289-293
[9]
D.I. Bernstein.
Contact dermatitis for the practicing allergist.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract, 3 (2015), pp. 652-658
[10]
T. Bieber, C. Bussmann.
Atopic Dermatitis.
Dermatology, 3rd ed., pp. 203-217

Please cite this article as: Imbernón-Moya A, Ortiz-de Frutos FJ, Delgado-Márquez AM, Vanaclocha-Sebastián F. Valoración inicial del paciente con eczema de contacto. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2016;107:791–793.

Copyright © 2016. Elsevier España, S.L.U. and AEDV
Descargar PDF
Idiomas
Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
Opciones de artículo
Herramientas
es en

¿Es usted profesional sanitario apto para prescribir o dispensar medicamentos?

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?