What is contact dermatitis?

We often hear about contact dermatitis in the dermatological field as well as in all other departments. Contact dermatitis is a common disease. Skin tests such as patch or prick tests are very suitable to investigate the causes of allergies. The skin tests are very useful to treat patients and we subject to examine the patients who need the tests. Not all facilities are available for skin tests because special knowledge and experience are also needed to run the tests. Our staff in Niigata University work together with non-specialists, who are then involved with the skin tests and examination for patients. Due to this experience they are able to recognize and diagnose different allergies and contact dermatitis. We support facilities that are not available to provide the skin tests and don’t have enough equipment.
In some cases, we ask for cooperation with the companies or makers of products that have caused contact dermatitis and allergies found from running the elements patch testing. There are several cases our tests led to change in both cosmetic and daily products.  

Patch Testing Schedule

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Target Diseases

• Allergic contact dermatitis
  (For instance, intractable eczema in faces from cosmetic products, intractable hand eczema which often occurs with hairdressers, cooks, farmers, and housewives, and dermatitis from ointments and disinfectants)
• Possible metal allergy such as palmoplantar pustulosis, lichen planus, anodic eczema
• Possible complication of contact dermatitis, such as rosacea-like dermatitis
• Food Allergy
• Anaphylaxis

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