Irritant contact dermatitis due to topical medicaments or antimicrobials

**Definition:** Irritant contact dermatitis caused by repetitive or prolonged skin contact with topical medicaments and antimicrobials containing e.g. benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, alcohols, 5-fluorouracil, dithranol, chlorhexidine, quaternary ammonium compounds or tretinoin. Their irritancy is usually mild and sometimes part of their therapeutic action.