Blister beetle dermatitis

Blister beetle dermatitis is a cutaneous condition that occurs after contact with any of several types of beetles, including those from the Meloidae and Oedemeridae families.^[1]: 449 Blister beetles secrete an irritant called cantharidin, a vesicant that can get onto humans if they touch the beetles.

Blister beetle dermatitis
Specialty	Dermatology

The term "blister beetle dermatitis" is also occasionally and inappropriately used as a synonym for Paederus dermatitis, a somewhat different dermatitis caused by contact with pederin, an irritant in the hemolymph of a different group of beetles, the rove beetles.^[2]

Symptoms and signs

After skin comes in contact with cantharidin, local irritation begins within a few hours.^[3] (This is in contrast to Paederus dermatitis, where symptoms first appear 12–36 hours after contact with rove beetles.)^[4] Painful blisters appear, but scarring from these epidermal lesions is rare.^[5]

Diagnosis

Treatment

See also

• List of cutaneous conditions
• Skin lesion