irritant contact dermatitis

noun

Medical Definition of irritant contact dermatitis

: inflammation of the skin that follows direct contact of an irritant (such as soap, acid, or fiberglass) with the skin and that is typically marked by a burning, red rash often with dry scales, crusting, and pustules Red, scaly skin patches are typical symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis. The redness can show up within minutes of contact or it can take days to become noticeable.— Allen Douma, The Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2000 — compare allergic contact dermatitis