Many adverse events can occur when the skin comes in contact with external agents. Eczema is one of them. The eczema can be either allergic or irritant in nature. Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) accounts for approximately 80% of all contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) accounts for the remaining 20%. ACD is a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction that is elicited when the skin comes in contact with a chemical to which an individual has previously been sensitized. The classic picture of contact dermatitis is a well-demarcated erythematous vesicular (in the acute form) and/or scaly patch or plaque (in the chronic form) lesion, with well-defined margins corresponding to the area of contact. It requires an appropriate level of suspicion for the possibility of an allergen to elicit a contact dermatitis. Treatment is based on avoidance of the allergen associated with corticosteroids and antihistamines. The authors present a case of allergic contact dermatitis to football shin guards in a 12 year-old boy who regularly practiced soccer.

FUNDAMENTOS: A alopecia androgenética é a causa mais comum de perda progressiva de cabelo. Geralmente ocorre em doentes com predisposição hereditária para esse tipo de alopecia e com androgénios circulantes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos de pacientes com alopecia androgenética pertencentes ao sexo feminino. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se estudo clínico transversal e descritivo em grupo de mulheres com alopecia androgenética observadas na consulta de tricologia entre 2004 e 2006. Os dados foram analisados com base na estatística descritiva e no teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Foram estudadas 200 mulheres com diagnóstico clínico de alopecia androgenética. Em 68% das pacientes foi detectada história familiar e, na maioria das mulheres, a alopecia era frontobiparietal. De acordo com os dados analíticos estudados, 17% delas tiveram níveis baixos de zinco e 9% de albumina e ferritina. Em 20% foi detectada alteração no estudo hormonal. CONCLUSÃO: A alteração analítica mais detectada nas mulheres estudadas com alopecia androgenética foi a alteração hormonal.

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is the most frequent cause of progressive hair loss. It usually affects individuals with genetic predisposition and sufficient circulating androgens. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical and epidemiology aspects of androgenetic alopecia in females. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed. The sample comprised a group of women with androgenetic alopecia seen in trichology consultation from 2004 to 2006. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 200 women with clinical diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia were studied. Family history was detected in 68% of patients, and the most common site was frontoparietal hairline. The laboratory tests showed that 17% of females had low zinc and 9% low albumin and ferritin levels. Twenty percent of patients presented changes in hormone levels. CONCLUSION: The most common laboratory finding in the patients studied was hormone changes.