Angry back - Altmeyers Encyclopedia - Department Allergology

Synonym(s)

Excited skin syndrome; false positive epicutaneous reaction

Occurrence of false positive epicutaneous test reaction due to increased sensitivity, e.g. epicutaneous testing for florid disease

Glucocorticoid externa in indifferent bases such as 0.5-1.0% hydrocortisone ointment, 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate cream (e.g. Alfason), 0.1% betamethasone ointment (e.g. Betagalen, Betnesol), 0.25% prednicarbate ointment(e.g. Dermatop), mometasone furoate ointment(e.g. Ecural).

If necessary, more moderate adjustment to an oral antihistamine such as levocetirizine (e.g. Xusal) 1 tbl/day or desloratadine (e.g. Aerius) 1 tbl/day. Increased effect is shown under i.v. administration, e.g. with dimetinden (e.g. Fenistil) 4-8 mg/day i.v.
In the case of extensive findings, short-term internal use of glucocorticoids in low doses such as prednisolone (e.g. Decortin H) 20-40 mg/day, rapid stepwise dose reduction according to clinical findings.

Cockayne SE (2000) Angry back syndrome is often due to marginal irritants: a study of 17 cases seen over 4 years. Contact Dermatitis 43: 280-282
Duarte I (2002) Excited skin syndrome: study of 39 patients. Am J Contact Dermat 13: 59-65