Author: Dr Ian Coulson, Consultant Dermatologist and Editor-in-Chief (2025).
Edited by the DermNet content department
This young lad has developed a rash over the tops of his feet.
There is a well-demarcated, symmetrically distributed rash on the tops of both feet.
The features are highly suggestive of an allergic contact dermatitis to a footwear constituent.
Footwear consists of a complex collection of potential allergens including chromate (used as a leather tanning agent), adhesives and tackifiers (used to stick components together), rubber, biocides, and dyes.
The offending component will be within the part of the footwear adjacent to where the eczema has arisen. In this case, he was allergic to the adhesive used to glue the sandal strap.
