Contact Allergy to Topical Medicaments, Part 1: A Double-edged Sword.

Topical drugs are used to treat a variety of cutaneous and noncutaneous conditions. Direct application to the skin can result in adverse cutaneous effects, including allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In this article, we review medicament ACD with a focus on acne and rosacea medications, antimicrobials, antihistamines, and topical pain preparations.