From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Protein contact dermatitis

Medical condition

Field	Value
specialty	Dermatology

Protein contact dermatitis is a cutaneous condition, and was a term originally used to describe an eczematous reaction to protein-containing material in food handlers. Usually affecting the hands or forearms, it manifests clinically as a subacute or chronic dermatitis that recurs frequently over time. Niels Hjorth and Jytte Roed-Petersen coined the phrase "protein contact dermatitis" in 1976.

Signs and symptoms

Protein contact dermatitis appears as urticarial or vesicular skin reaction within minutes of contact with the causative protein on previously afflicted skin; nonetheless, chronic or recurring eczema is the most frequently reported clinical picture. The most common affected areas are the hands (fingers, wrists, and forearms), although dermatitis can also occur on the face and neck (caused by airborne particles) in certain cases.

Certain foods have been linked to a few occurrences of chronic paronychia, which is accompanied by erythema and edema of the proximal nail folds.

Causes

Protein contact dermatitis is typically caused by food-related, proteinaceous etiologic agents, such as cereal grains, flours, enzymes, and proteins from vegetables and animals.

Mechanism

Similar to immunologic contact urticaria, the pathophysiology is a type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by allergen-specific IgE within a previously sensitized individual. Although the precise mechanism underlying protein contact dermatitis is yet unknown, it may resemble that of atopic dermatitis, especially given that a delayed IgE-mediated reaction may be caused by IgE receptors on epidermal Langerhans cells.

Diagnosis

Patch tests are typically negative, so the diagnosis is made using the results of a prick test with the allergen, which is thought to be the gold standard. Certain antibodies may occasionally be found in the patient's serum.

Treatment

Usually, the eruption heals quickly when the causative material is avoided. Corticosteroid ointments or lotions expedite the healing process in extreme situations.

References

Rapini, Ronald P.. (2007). "Dermatology: 2-Volume Set". Mosby.
(2013). "Protein contact dermatitis — case report". FapUNIFESP (SciELO).
(1976). "Occupational protein contact dermatitis in food handlers". Wiley.
Goossens, An. (2021). "Clinical Contact Dermatitis". Springer International Publishing.
(1992). "Role of foods in the pathogenesis of chronic paronychia". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
(1995). "Protein contact dermatitis: myth or reality?". Oxford University Press (OUP).
(2012-04-06). "Occupational food-related hand dermatoses seen over a 10-year period". Wiley.
Hannuksela, Matti. (2006). "Contact Dermatitis". Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

contact-dermatitis

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Protein contact dermatitis — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report