When To Call A Professional

Call your doctor whenever you are troubled by an area of skin that is red and very itchy, or skin that is cracked, blistered or painfully dry. Even if you are certain that your skin problem is "just a case of poison ivy," your doctor may be able recommend a prescription medication that will relieve your symptoms better than over-the-counter remedies.

Prognosis

For most cases of ICD or ACD, the outlook is excellent, as long as you can identify the substance that triggered your contact dermatitis and avoid it in the future.

Additional Info

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse 1 AMS Circle Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 Phone: (301) 495-4484 Toll-Free: (877) 226-4267 Fax: (301) 718-6366 TTY: (301) 565-2966 http://www.niams.nih.gov/

American Academy of Dermatology 930 E. Woodfield Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173-4927 Phone: (847) 330-0230 Toll-Free: (888) 462-3376 Fax: (847) 330-0050 http://www.aad.org/

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 4676 Columbia Parkway Mail Stop C-18 Cincinnati, OH 45226 Toll-Free: (800) 356-4674 Fax: (513) 533-8573 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/