This summary was compiled from the tweets posted by @MatthewBowdish, an allergist/immunologist, who attended the 2012 Western Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (WSAAI) meeting. The tweets were labeled #WSAAI. The text was edited and modified by me.Contact dermatitis
Dr. Lisa Beck discussed contact dermatitis:
The current thinking is that children have just about as much allergic contact dermatitis as adults. Over 4,500 chemicals can cause allergic contact dermatitis. It is impossible to have that many patch tests!
Patch test
There are 2 major challenges with patch testing: 1. Is it really positive?, 2. Are the positives clinically relevant? Nickel sensitization is common, and 60% of patch tests may show positive nickel response.
This is a good resource for work-specific skin patch panels: www.dermnetnz.org
Dr. Beck recommends 3 visits for patch testing (M/W/F) and a review of the skin area at least 30 minutes after the patches are taken off.
Systemic steroids need to be stopped 2-3 weeks prior to patch test. Topical steroids do not need to be stopped.
Prevent exposure
There is an iPhone app that will allows you to scan product barcode to see if it is listed in the CARD - Contact Allergen Replacement Database: http://preventice.com/card/default.aspx
CARD tells you if known allergens are present in products.
Treatment
Treatment of allergic contact dermatitis includes avoidance, topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, oral steroids, and methotrexate.
This summary was compiled from some of the tweets posted by @MatthewBowdish . The tweets were labeled #WSAAI and they reached more than 3,000 people. I would strongly encourage you to post updates on Twitter from the CME conferences that you are planning to attend in the future. Here is how to do it: Twitter for Physicians: How to use Twitter to keep track of the latest news and scientific meetings, and share information with colleagues and patients.
Disclaimer: The text was edited, modified, and added to by me.
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