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Dermatitis – 5

Narrator: This is NIH Health Matters. I’m Joe Balintfy. Poison ivy and nickel are two common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Dr. Steven Katz at the NIH explains that people can come in contact with those allergens and not get a rash, but later do show symptoms.

Katz:  That's the definition of an allergy. In other words, you must have been exposed to something first before you become allergic. So many people say, "Oh, I can't be allergic to penicillin. This can't be a penicillin rash. I've had penicillin a hundred times." Well, you have to have had it before, before you can develop that type of rash.

Narrator:  For details on dermatitis, visit www.niams.nih.gov.  Health Matters is produced by the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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This page last reviewed on May 30, 2012

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