Overview
Dermatitis, in general, refers to an inflammation of the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis, specifically, is an inflammation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. This can be any chemical substance, including soaps, detergents, and fabric softeners. The reaction can look like a burn.
Infants experiencing irritant contact dermatitis will usually be fussy. There may be obvious skin irritation, including inflammation, swelling of the area, and warmth. The rash will be confined to the specific area that came into contact with the offending agent. The onset of the skin reaction in irritant contact dermatitis is immediate, as opposed to allergic contact dermatitis, where there is a delayed reaction in which the offending substance causes production of antibodies that cause the rash to develop.
