Selected clinical and therapeutic aspects of atopic and contact dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis are two dermatoses associated with eczema and pruritus, accompanied by hypersensitivity reactions. However, the etiopathogenesis of these diseases is different, therefore also their diagnostic and therapeutic procedures vary. Atopic dermatitis, a skin-epidermal barrier defective disorder, is a more characteristic for children, although it also occurs in a small percentage of adults. Contact allergy, in which epidermal patch tests are the diagnostic tool, is diagnosed in children and in as many as 20% of adults. Atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis may coexist in the same patient. Etiologically different types of hand eczema often coexist. In addition, contact allergy may relate to substances used in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, such as emollients or, less frequently, antiseptics and glucocorticosteroids. For this reason, epidermal patch tests may be useful in this group of patients.