Connubial Contact Dermatitis

When the term sexually transmitted disease is used, one may think of syphilis, AIDS, gonorrhea, or even herpes. But how often does this term suggest contact dermatitis or urticaria? Case reports of such can be so fascinating that they are not easily forgotten. Some rare types of reactions, for example, anaphylaxis to seminal fluid, have received considerable notoriety, but connubial contact dermatitis and urticaria may not be as rare as one might assume. Reactions related to close contact or sexual activity might include poison ivy dermatitis and other types of contact dermatitis, contact irritant reactions (Fig. 17.1), various results of trauma, and allergic and nonimmunologic contact urticaria.