A substance or agent that causes contact allergies or triggers an allergic reaction when it touches the skin.
From 'contact' (from Latin 'contactus,' touched) plus '-ant' (agent that performs an action). A modern medical term formed to describe substances responsible for contact dermatitis.
Poison ivy, nickel, and latex are common contactants that trigger allergies in millions of people—dermatologists use this precise term to identify which substances cause your skin reactions!
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