Allergic contact dermatitis in children.

INTRODUCTION: Allergic contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease which accounts for up to 20% of all childhood dermatitis. Childhood allergic contact dermatitis is more frequent than previously thought and today early diagnosis is considered very important. Patch testing represents the gold standard method used to confirm the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. The knowledge of the most common allergens involved in allergic contact dermatitis in pediatric age is important considering that the first-line management of allergic contact dermatitis in children is to avoid the involved allergens.

AREAS COVERED: We reviewed the literature on PubMed® and SciVerse Scopus® medical database about allergic contact dermatitis and emerging contact allergens in children. In this review, we summarize the clinical characteristics, differential diagnoses, and epidemiology of allergic contact dermatitis in children, underlying the most recent pieces of evidence about the most frequent and emerging contact allergens.

EXPERT OPINION: We believe that persistent, well localized and recurrent eczematous lesions in children should suggest an allergic contact dermatitis, inducing physicians to refer patients for patch testing. Physicians should be acquainted with the current trends and the emerging contact allergens in children, in order to provide not only the best treatment but also the best management and prevention.