Dermatotoxicology Monographs I. Cutaneous Irritation: Factors Influencing the Response to Irritants

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Abstract
Irritant contact dermatitis (referred to as toxic dermatitis) has not been recently reviewed in toxicologic journals. Most of the contact dermatitis literature deals with the allergic variety. In fact, irritant dermatitis (irritation) is far more common than allergic dermatitis. Furthermore, care of the patient with irritant dermatitis presents greater difficulties for the clinician, since the patient must often continue to function with ubiquitous environmental irritants (e.g., soaps, detergents, solvents) at home or work. The most common reaction consists of a local inflammatory response characterized by erythema and/or edema, or a corrosive reaction characterized by local tissue destruction or necrosis. To qualify as an irritant, a chemical substance should evoke inflammation upon initial exposure, or upon repeated exposure to an identical site (cumulative irritation). Virtually any chemical, including water, may qualify as an irritant; this depends largely upon the concentration and method of exposure to the test substance. Chemical properties of irritants, vehicles for irritants, concentrations of irritants, surface area and patch test unit are some of the factors influencing responses.

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