Final answer:
Contact dermatitis (option c) is an acute or chronic skin inflammation caused by exposure to agents such as chemicals or allergens and is a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, leading to symptoms like redness and itching.
Step-by-step explanation:
An acute or chronic skin inflammation caused by exposure to a chemical, mechanical, physical, or biological agent is known as contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis can occur through exposure to various agents, such as latex (latex allergy), and is considered a type IV hypersensitivity reaction. It is one of the most common skin disorders alongside others such as eczema and acne.
When the skin comes into contact with an irritant or allergen, the body's immune response triggers an inflammatory response, leading to symptoms such as redness, itching, and blistering. For example, exposure to poison ivy can lead to contact dermatitis, where upon secondary exposure, memory helper T cells become reactivated and produce inflammatory cytokines, which stimulate macrophages and cytotoxic T cells to induce an inflammatory lesion.