Characterization of Visual Characteristics in Allergic Contact Dermatitis Using the Skincam® Tool

Contact dermatitis (CD) is a common inflammatory skin disease, affecting approximately 15-20% of the general population in industrialized countries and ranking first among occupational diseases in many European countries. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) typically presents as a severe skin inflammation with redness, edema, oozing and crusting. It is characterized by a delayed type IV hypersensitivity response mediated by allergen-specific T cells in sensitized individuals. Current diagnosis relies on clinical investigations by diagnostic patch testing with suspected allergenic chemicals. The patch test method aims at reproducing the eczematous lesions by applying occlusive patches containing the suspected allergens to the patient's healthy skin. It requires experienced medical staff to read the reaction. Newtones Technologies society has developed a new tool, the SkinCam®, able to capture high resolution cross and parallel images, allowing a quantification of color and relief of skin. This study aims to illustrate patch test results, describing skin appearance (color, roughness, shine), using photographs taken by the SkinCam®.