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Home Topics A–Z Fingertip dermatitis
Authors: Dr Ane Beatriz M N Massaki, Dermatology Registrar, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Australia; A/Prof Rosemary Nixon AM, Dermatologist and Occupational Physician, Skin Health Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Copy edited by Gus Mitchell. June 2021
Fingertip dermatitis is a type of hand dermatitis in which eczematous changes affect the fingertip extending from the palmar aspect of the distal crease to the distal ventral aspect of the digit.
Fingertip dermatitis
Fingertip dermatitis can affect both sexes, all age groups, and all races.
Risk factors include:
The pattern of involvement will vary depending on the cause. It may involve just the thumb and index finger of one or both hands. For example, the thumb, index and middle finger of the non-dominant hand is typically affected when chopping garlic cloves, or the same fingers of the dominant hand in florists.
Symptoms of fingertip dermatitis may include itch, stinging, burning, or a slight numbness.
Fingertip dermatitis
Complications of fingertip dermatitis
Fingertip dermatitis is a clinical diagnosis based on history and skin examination. The cause of the dermatitis however may be harder to determine and investigations may include patch testing for allergic contact dermatitis and skin prick testing for protein contact dermatitis.
Fingertip dermatitis is often a chronic condition and requires long-term attention to avoid recurrence.
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