NEUTRALIZATION AS A THERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLE IN CONTACT DERMATITIS

In a previous communication¹ I presented some generally accepted facts regarding contact dermatitis. From these facts there was established a new viewpoint as to the causation of contact dermatitis—namely, that it has a toxic chemical origin. This etiologic aspect has been neglected both in principle and in therapy. This neglect has been primarily due to the fact that the concept of an allergic causation has been accepted as true without even the admission that it was really only a theory.

The idea that contact dermatitis is primarily the manifestation of a toxic chemical reaction between the skin and the causative agent has led to a different approach, particularly from the standpoint of therapy.

Four different points of attack can be conceived as applying to this problem of chemical neutralization of a cutaneous irritant. First, direct chemical neutralization may be used. Thus a corrosive and irritant alkali can