Review of allergic contact dermatitis: Scratching the surface

Table 1 Key points in allergic contact dermatitis history taking[18-20]

Topic	Details
Demographics	Age, sex, race, ethnicity
Past medical history	Personal history of atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis or other allergic diseases, co-morbidities, current medications, and medical device implantation (including dental implants such as braces, crowns, or fillings)
Family history	Atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or asthma
Occupational history	Current job description, materials handled at work, type and regularity of chemical exposures, previous employment history, and symptoms at work
Dermatitis specific history	Initial rash: date/duration, area(s) affected, symptoms, pattern/progression of eruption, frequency of recurrence, and treatments attempted
	Current rash: areas affected, severity, and changes during work week vs weekend
Home environment	Location (urban, suburban, or rural), pets (Dogs, cats, birds, rodents, livestock, etc.), house cleaning activities, and detergents used
Personal care	Hand washing frequency, deodorant, lotion, cream, perfume/cologne, hair styling aides, nail polish remover, makeup use, etc.
Sports/hobbies	Type of equipment used, indoor vs outdoor, and symptoms with activity
Jewelry/piercing/tattoos	Type, location and frequency of jewelry use, type and location of piercings, history of temporary or henna based tattoos