Final answer:
Irritant contact dermatitis is a type of skin inflammation caused by substances damaging the skin's outer layer, such as latex exposure or poison ivy. It involves a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, with treatments including moisturizers and corticosteroid creams.
Step-by-step explanation:
Irritant contact dermatitis is a form of skin inflammation that occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that directly damages the outer layer of skin. One of the most common forms of irritant contact dermatitis is from exposure to latex. Delayed-type hypersensitivity, such as the tuberculin reaction or contact with poison ivy, represents a cell-mediated immune response that usually takes one to two days after secondary exposure to reach a maximal reaction. These reactions are particularly driven by the Tââ cytokine-mediated inflammatory response, resulting in local tissue lesions or a rash. Conditions such as eczema are often associated with this kind of reaction and may present as dry, itchy patches of skin with potential swelling, flaking, and bleeding.
Treatments for irritant contact dermatitis and related hypersensitivity reactions typically involve the use of moisturizers, corticosteroid creams, and immunosuppressants such as cortisone, which help to reduce inflammation by inhibiting cytokine production.