Contact Dermatitis
Find the allergen, and the rash resolves.
Contact dermatitis is a reaction to something the skin has touched — either an irritant that damages the barrier directly, or an allergen the immune system has learned to recognise. Nickel, fragrance, preservatives, hair dye and rubber accelerators are among the most common culprits.
- 3 visits
- Patch test
- None
- Downtime
- Allergen identification
- Focus
- 2–6 wks
- Clearance
- Comprehensive patch testing
- Allergen avoidance planning
- Topical corticosteroids
- Barrier repair
Diagnosed first, treated second.
The rash is the symptom; the exposure is the disease. Patch testing identifies the responsible agent so it can be avoided, which is what makes this one of the most definitively treatable conditions in dermatology.
- 01Comprehensive patch testing
- 02Allergen avoidance planning
- 03Topical corticosteroids
- 04Barrier repair
- 05Workplace review
- Rash confined to one contact area
- Reaction to jewellery or cosmetics
- Occupational hand dermatitis
- Eyelid or facial dermatitis
- Eczema that resists standard treatment
How the treatment works
A sequence, not a single appointment — each step informs the next.
- 01
Exposure history
Work, hobbies, cosmetics and jewellery are reviewed against the pattern of the rash.
- 02
Patch testing
A standard and extended series is applied and read across several days.
- 03
Avoidance plan
A written list of the allergen and its hidden synonyms in products.
- 04
Skin recovery
Anti-inflammatory therapy and barrier repair while the skin settles.
Results measured, not promised.
What to expect
- 01The specific trigger identified
- 02Rash may clear when the trigger is avoided
- 03A practical product-avoidance list
- 04Occupational exposures managed
- 05No more unexplained flares
Results, treatment timing and recovery vary by diagnosis and individual factors. This page is educational and does not replace a medical consultation or guarantee an outcome. Suitability and alternatives are confirmed during assessment.
Begin with a diagnosis,
not a guess.
Share a few details and the clinic will reply with available consultation times for contact dermatitis — one-to-one with Dr. Arely.
- Response
- Within 24 hours
- Consultation
- One-to-one, 45 min
- Assessment
- Trichoscopy included
- Location
- Dr. Arely Clinic
Frequently asked
Small amounts of standard allergens are applied to the back and read at 48 and 96 hours.
Allergic contact dermatitis often improves substantially when the relevant allergen is identified and consistently avoided; irritant exposures and mixed eczema may need ongoing barrier care.
Yes. Sensitisation can occur at any age, even to products used for years.
Yes — irritant reactions are dose-related damage; allergic reactions are immune-mediated.