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Last reviewed: 17 Mar 2025
Last updated: 17 Nov 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Other diagnostic factors

  • hyperhidrosis
  • recurrent eruptions
  • pain

Risk factors

  • exposure to irritants
  • atopy
  • metal allergy
  • hyperhidrosis
  • emotional stress

Diagnostic tests

Tests to consider

  • skin biopsy
  • potassium hydroxide (KOH)
  • patch testing
  • skin scraping

Treatment algorithm

Contributors

Authors

Peggy A Wu, MD, MPH, FAAD

Professor of Clinical Dermatology

University of California Davis

Sacramento

CA

Disclosures

PAW declares that she has received royalties for contributing to UpToDate. She is also a contributor for a National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline although she receives no compensation for this.

Victor Huang, MD, FAAD

Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology

Dermatology

University of California Davis

Sacramento

CA

Disclosures

VH declares that she has received royalties for contributing to UpToDate and has served on an advisory board for the Opzelura in the treatment of vitiligo.

Acknowledgements

Dr Peggy Wu and Dr Victor Huang would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Andrea Bershow, Dr Erin M. Warshaw and Dr Sabra M. Lofgren, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

AB, EMW and SML declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Kachiu Cecilia Lee, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor

Department of Dermatology

Brown Medical School

Providence

Rhode Island

Disclosures

KCL declares that she has no competing interests.

Gerard Guillet, MD

Professor of Dermatology

Department of Dermatology and Allergology

University Hospital Poitiers

Poitiers

France

Disclosures

GG declares that he has no competing interests.

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