Contact dermatitis from topicals tops list of adverse drug reactions

Boca Raton, Fla. - Contact dermatitis from topical medications is the most common type of adverse drug reaction, and allergic contact dermatitis is the most common and most important form of contact dermatitis induced by topical drugs, according to James S. Taylor, M.D., head of the industrial dermatology section of the department of dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland. "Patients with medicament contact dermatitis usually have a good prognosis, but with a propensity for relapse," Dr. Taylor said.