Contact Dermatitis in Children

Abstract

From the birth, children’s skin is exposed to numerous environmental stimuli and can therefore be affected by various pictures of contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis of the napkin area is linked to various factors (friction between skin and diaper, maceration of skin, occlusion, urinary pH, urine, and feces). The eruption does not generally manifest before the third week of life, with a peak between the seventh and twelfth week. The dermatitis is evident on convex surfaces in direct contact with the diaper. It nearly always responds to treatment and resolves when diapers are no longer used. Contact cheilitis and perioral dermatitis, linked to irritant contact with food, can develop above all in the first 2-3 years of life. The irritation can also be induced by saliva, especially if the child continually licks the lips and surrounding skin. Contact sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis are common in children and more frequent than believed. The frequence of contact allergy increases with the age, related to increased exposure to environmental allergens (metals, pharmaceutical products, skin care products and cosmetics, toys, shoes and sport equipment, tattoos). Patch testing in pediatric patients is considered safe; the general view is that children can tolerate the same patch test concentration as adults.