ABSTRACT
Irritation, or irritant dermatitis, previously considered a monomorphous
process, is now understood to be a complex biologic syndrome, with a diverse
pathophysiology, natural history, and clinical appearance. Thus, the clinical
appearance of irritant contact dermatitis varies depending on multiple external
and internal factors. The exact mechanisms of irritant action are incompletely
understood, but it seems likely that there is an immunologic-like component
to the irritant response. The actual types, with reference to major characteristics
in the clinical appearance, are listed in Table 11.1.
