Drug Dermatitis

Sensitization and ensuing dermatitis from drugs contained in local applica­tions to the skin are very common in adults – I doubt if they are as common in infants and children. I have used coal tar for literally thousands of pa­tients and ammoniated mercury in hundreds, and have seen just three cases of sensitization to tar and two to mercury. However, the indiscriminate use of all sorts of salves, often bought “over the counter” without prescrip­tion and without having any idea of what they contain, is to be condemned. If one is fearful that a child may be sensitive to some drug, it is a simple matter to do a patch test with it be­fore using it on the eczema. Some of the more common sensitizing drugs are mercury, resorcin, sulfur, benzocaine, various proprietary “antifungus” preparations, salicylic acid, es­sential oils (used in some proprietary salves to make them smell better), penicillin, and sulfadiazine.