Does contact dermatitis cause skin rash?

Contact dermatitis is skin inflammation triggered by contact with something that irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction. The rash may look red or darker than nearby skin, and it can feel itchy, dry, sore, bumpy, scaly, or swollen. Soap, fragrance, cleaning products, metals, cosmetics, gloves, and plant material are examples of possible triggers. A rash may be limited to the contact area, although it can spread beyond the original spot in some reactions. A skin rash has several possible causes, so its presence alone does not identify the trigger.

Stop using any new product that touched the area and rinse gently with lukewarm water if an irritant may still be present. Use a bland, fragrance-free moisturiser to support the skin barrier, and avoid scrubbing, hot water, and fragranced products until the skin settles. Make a note of products, work materials, jewellery, or plants that were in contact with the area before the rash began. This history can help a clinician identify patterns and advise whether testing for an allergy would be useful.

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or face, faintness, or a rapidly worsening widespread reaction. Arrange medical assessment if the rash is painful, blistering, oozing, crusted, near the eyes or genitals, or accompanied by fever. A clinician should also review a rash that keeps returning, interferes with sleep or daily activities, or does not improve after avoiding suspected triggers.

Ask which exposures are most plausible from the rash pattern, whether a patch test could help find an allergic trigger, and which moisturisers or topical treatments suit the affected body area. Mention your job, hobbies, regular skin products, and any previous reaction to gloves, jewellery, or medicines applied to the skin.