Irritant or allergic contact dermatitis usually presents as an eczematous process, clinically characterized by erythematoedematovesicous lesions with intense itching in the acute phase. Such manifestations become erythematous-scaly as the condition progresses to the subacute phase and papular-hyperkeratotic in the chronic phase. Not infrequently, however, contact dermatitis presents with noneczematous features. The reasons underlying this clinical polymorphism lie in the different noxae and contact modalities, as well as in the individual susceptibility and the various targeted cutaneous structures. The most represented forms of noneczematous contact dermatitis include the erythema multiforme-like, the purpuric, the lichenoid, and the pigmented kinds. These clinical entities must obviously be discerned from the corresponding "pure" dermatitis, which are not associated with contact with exogenous agents.
Erythema Multiforme-Like Contact DermatitisOf all noneczematous clinical variants, the erythema multiforme-like (or "contact erythema multiforme") is the most common. It can be elicited by different substances, particularly exotic woods, medicaments, and ethylenediamine (Table 3).
CausesWoods and plants. Among exotic woods, Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), pao ferro (Machaerium scleroxylon), and Eucalyptus saligna are relevant as occupational causes of erythema multiforme-like eruption in carpenters, foresters, and