CAUSES OF CONTACT DERMATITIS

Elucidation of the cause can be difficult, and if the eczematous contact dermatitis goes on and on, the "broadening of the base," spoken of by Stokes (ref 2.), occurs, and new allergic reactions may enter the picture, not uncommonly induced by overtreatment with anesthetic medications (as for example, the "caines," antihistamines such as pyribenzamine, or antibiotics such as neomycin or furacin, or penicillin, or sulfa). Hypersusceptibility to otherwise comparatively inert substances may prolong the eczema. Not the least of theses is apprehension on the part of the patient that there is no cure.