What is contact dermatitis?

What is contact dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis is a generic medical term that refers to skin inflammation caused by any type of irritant. Upon direct contact with the irritant, the skin develops into an itchy red rash that usually goes away within a few hours. Over time and with more exposure to the irritant, the red skin rash may worsen into scaly, crusty skin or watery blisters. Contact dermatitis usually affects only the skin that directly came into contact with the irritant. The skin usually heals on its own within a few weeks after contact.