Dermatitis kontak (DK) merupakan penyebab kelainan kulit dan pruritus yang kerap dijumpai pada populasi geriatri. Regenerasi kulit yang melambat dan masa pemulihan yang lebih panjang pada kulit yang menua mempengaruhi manifestasi klinis dan keparahan DK pada geriatri. Risiko kejadian dermatitis kontak alergik (DKA) meningkat dengan riwayat pajanan terhadap bahan sensitizer yang telah terjadi sepanjang usia dan peningkatan penggunaan berbagai obat topikal. Namun penurunan respons imun pada geriatri, sebenarnya menurunkan risiko DKA. Dermatitis kontak iritan (DKI) tidak memerlukan fase sensitisasi dan risikonya meningkat pada populasi geriatri akibat perubahan struktur dan fungsi proteksi kulit. Diagnosis DKI mudah ditegakkan pada kontak iritan kuat, misalnya asam kuat, karena gejala timbul beberapa menit setelah pajanan. Diagnosis menjadi sulit ditegakkan pada kontak iritan lemah yang menyebabkan dermatitis kronik atau subakut, misalnya pada cuci tangan berulang. Pengobatan DK meliputi penghindaran bahan iritan dan alergen, penggunaan pelembab, kortikosteroid topikal, dan bahan imunosupresif nonsteroid. Pencegahan juga merupakan bagian penting dari tatalaksana DK pada geriatri (MDVI 2011; 38/1:29-40)

Kata kunci: Dermatitis kontak, geriatri, iritan, alergen.

      Contact dermatitis (CD) is a significant cause of skin disease and pruritus in geriatric patients. The slower turnover rate of aged skin and prolonged recovery time after barrier insults influence the clinical manifestation and severity of CD in elderly. Geriatric risk for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is increased by longer exposure history to potential sensitizers and an increased use of topical moisturizers and medications. However, certain factors, such as a diminished immune response, actually decrease the risk of ACD. Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) does not require sensitization and the risk is increase in elderly due to changes in structure and barrier function. The diagnosis of ICD is easily made when contacted to potent irritants, such as an acid splash, which manifest symptoms within minutes of exposure. The diagnosis is considerably more difficult to make, however, when contacted to minor irritants, causing subacute to chronic dermatitis, such as because of frequent hand washing. Treatment of CD consists of avoiding the known irritants or allergens, using moisturizers, topical corticosteroids or, nonsteroids immunosuppressive agents. Prevention plays an important role in management CD among elderly. (MDVI 2011; 38/1:29-40)

Key words: Contact dermatitis, elderly, irritans, allergens.