In people with darker skin, the inflammation of skin can cause darker skin color (pigmentation). This is mild dermatitis of the forearm of an infant. This image displays scale and redness typical of dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). This image displays a child with irritant dermatitis from use of a deodorant. This image displays severe inflammation and blistering from an irritating chemical. Irritation has caused rough, scaly, and lighter skin areas around the mouth. Contact dermatitis is typically displayed as areas of redness that are not well-defined with small scabs from scratching. This image displays a child that has an allergic reaction to a plant (see red areas on the thigh) with staining from the plant berries still on the hands.
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Irritant Contact Dermatitis  A parent's guide to condition and treatment information

Picture of Irritant Contact Dermatitis: In people with darker skin, the inflammation of skin can cause darker skin color (pigmentation). Divider line
In people with darker skin, the inflammation of skin can cause darker skin color (pigmentation).
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Signs and Symptoms
The most common location for irritant contact dermatitis is the hands, although any body surface can be affected, including the genitals.

Irritant contact dermatitis may appear as pink-to-red lesions. Sheets of skin (plaques) become scaly and crack in areas of long-term (chronic) exposure. If the lesions appear quickly (acutely), patches and plaques may have a sharp border at the exposed areas. On the fingertips, you might see peeling of the skin, cracks, and scaling.
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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