Symptoms

Contact dermatitis usually occurs on areas of your body that have been directly exposed to the reaction-causing substance — for example, along a calf that brushed against poison ivy or under a watchband. The rash usually develops within minutes to hours of exposure and can last two to four weeks.

Signs and symptoms of contact dermatitis include:

• A red rash
• Itching, which may be severe
• Dry, cracked, scaly skin
• Bumps and blisters, sometimes with oozing and crusting
• Swelling, burning or tenderness

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

• The rash is so uncomfortable that you are losing sleep or are distracted from your daily activities
• The rash is sudden, painful, severe or widespread
• You're embarrassed by the way your skin looks
• The rash doesn't get better within three weeks
• The rash affects your face or genitals

Seek immediate medical care in the following situations:

• You think your skin is infected. Clues include fever and pus oozing from blisters.
• Your lungs, eyes or nasal passages are painful and inflamed, perhaps from inhaling an allergen.
• You think the rash has damaged the mucous lining of your mouth and digestive tract.