Surgery-Related Contact Dermatitis

Editor: V. Dimov, M.D., Allergist/Immunologist, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Clinical Associate Professor, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Contact dermatitis can be either irritant or allergic. Surgery can induce both.

Exposure to irritants or allergens can happen before, during or after surgery:

1. Preoperative Contactants: Antiseptics, Skin pen markers, Anesthetics
2. Operative Contactants: Gloves, Metals
3. Postoperative Contactants: Sutures, Tissue adhesives, Staples, Topical antibiotics, Wound dressings (bandages)



Surgery-Related Contact Dermatitis: Contact Irritants and Allergens (click to enlarge the image).

Common causes of contact dermatitis (contactants) are remembered by the mnemonic:
AAAAA BMS

Antiseptics - Not in TRUE/NACDG 65 patch!
Adhesives - Not in TRUE/NACDG 65 patch!
Anesthetics
Antibiotics
Accelerants in rubber gloves
Bandages
Metals
Sutures



Surgery-Related Contact Dermatitis: Contactants Mnemonic (click here to enlarge the image).

References:

Surgery-Related Contact Dermatitis: A Review of Potential Irritants and Allergens
https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(17)30168-X/abstract

Published: 04-25-2019
Updated: 04-25-2019