A dermatotoxin or dermatoxin (from ''derma'', the
Greek word for skin) is a
toxic chemical that damages
skin,
mucous membranes, or both, often leading to tissue
necrosis
Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated dige ...
. Dermatoxins can be drugs, natural chemicals, or synthetic chemicals.
The severity of the effects of a dermatoxic agent is strongly dependent on the dose, route of exposure, rate at which it spreads, and the health of the afflicted individual.
It can produce
allergic contact dermatitis, changes that lead to
skin cancer,
chemical burns,
irritant dermatitis,
photodermatitis,
phototoxicity, changes to pigmentation, and
urticaria.
Examples of dermatoxic substances
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T-2 toxin
*
Sterigmatocystin
*
Sulfur mustard
Mustard gas or sulfur mustard is a chemical compound belonging to a family of cytotoxic and blister agents known as mustard agents. The name ''mustard gas'' is technically incorrect: the substance, when dispersed, is often not actually a gas, b ...
*
Psoralen
*
Cantharidin
See also
*
Vesicant
References
External links
*
Dermatoxins
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