The Contact Allergen Management Program (CAMP) was developed by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) to help patients with contact dermatitis avoid allergens. The database contains full ingredient lists for more than 5000 common products. Health care providers can input patients’ contact allergens into the CAMP website, which then eliminate all products that contain these allergens (plus cross-reactors and synonyms) from its database and generates a list of safe products. While this service has been available for years, the ACDS recently released a companion mobile app.
This article reviews both the CAMP website for providers and the companion mobile app for patients (Table). 
After logging into the ACDS website, providers are presented with a video tutorial on how to use CAMP. This video is informative, albeit slightly long, and a good place to start for anyone not familiar with CAMP.
Allergen Search is the most commonly used feature on the website. From this page, providers can update patients’ prior allergen list by entering the allergen ID codes or create a new list by selecting from the most common allergens (Figure 1). Advanced Search is available for uncommon allergens, however, it does not automatically include synonyms and cross-reactors. Advanced Search is designed for professionals with knowledge of contact allergens.
Safe Product Lists are available after selecting the patient’s allergens. The provider can display products from some or all of 8 product categories. This list can then be printed or e-mailed to a patient from the CAMP website. The patient handouts contains educational information on allergic contact dermatitis, the patient’s allergen search codes (which can be used to update their list in the future), and the list of safe products which can be anywhere from a few pages to over a 100 pages depending on the product categories selected.
Additional features are also available on the website. Product Search allows the user to search for a specific product by manufacturer, product type, or name and see a list of ingredients. Narratives List allows the provider to learn more educational information about specific allergens. Cross Reactor Listing allows the provider to see cross-reactors for common allergens.
While the CAMP website is a very helpful resource, one limitation was access to the information provided. A 100-page handout of all contact allergens is not very practical to use at the store; thus, a companion mobile app was created to conveniently display this information on Android and iOS devices.
After downloading the app, the patient must input the allergen ID codes from their safe product list that was given to them by their ACDS provider. Patients are first brought to a listing of 8 broad product categories (Figure 2). Once touched, the app reveals more specific subcategories and individual products. Safe product lists can be long and, while users can search to narrow the list, it might also be useful to know what products are contraindicated. Users can also search for a specific product or brand to see if it contains their allergen. Patients can create a favorite list of specific products for quick access. Visually, for the most part the app is well designed with a crisp blue color scheme.
The principle limitation of this CAMP program is the allergen ID code system. For a patient to first receive their allergen ID codes, they must visit an ACDS provider and are encouraged to write their codes down for safekeeping. While this appears to be a necessity to recruit members to join the ACDS, it severely limits the audience of this app. Patients cannot add new allergens to their list without revisiting an ACDS provider and obtaining a new allergen ID code. Due to the cost of $300/year, not all dermatologists are ACDS members. Furthermore, it can be difficult for patients to identify ACDS members. There is a membership directory on the website, but the search function did not work well in practice. It would also be beneficial for patients to be able to find an ACDS provider from within the CAMP mobile app.
Overall, CAMP is a must have for any provider who routinely sees patients with contact dermatitis. The product database is one of the most extensive available and provides patients with the information they need to avoid allergens. The companion mobile app is highly functional, a significant improvement over paper handouts, and essential for patients with contact allergies.
Mr Hawkins is a fourth-year medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, and the developer of numerous web and mobile health care applications at Wake Forest School of Medicine, including DermPatientEd.com.
The Contact Allergen Management Program (CAMP) was developed by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) to help patients with contact dermatitis avoid allergens. The database contains full ingredient lists for more than 5000 common products. Health care providers can input patients’ contact allergens into the CAMP website, which then eliminate all products that contain these allergens (plus cross-reactors and synonyms) from its database and generates a list of safe products. While this service has been available for years, the ACDS recently released a companion mobile app.
This article reviews both the CAMP website for providers and the companion mobile app for patients (Table). 
After logging into the ACDS website, providers are presented with a video tutorial on how to use CAMP. This video is informative, albeit slightly long, and a good place to start for anyone not familiar with CAMP.
Allergen Search is the most commonly used feature on the website. From this page, providers can update patients’ prior allergen list by entering the allergen ID codes or create a new list by selecting from the most common allergens (Figure 1). Advanced Search is available for uncommon allergens, however, it does not automatically include synonyms and cross-reactors. Advanced Search is designed for professionals with knowledge of contact allergens.
Safe Product Lists are available after selecting the patient’s allergens. The provider can display products from some or all of 8 product categories. This list can then be printed or e-mailed to a patient from the CAMP website. The patient handouts contains educational information on allergic contact dermatitis, the patient’s allergen search codes (which can be used to update their list in the future), and the list of safe products which can be anywhere from a few pages to over a 100 pages depending on the product categories selected.
Additional features are also available on the website. Product Search allows the user to search for a specific product by manufacturer, product type, or name and see a list of ingredients. Narratives List allows the provider to learn more educational information about specific allergens. Cross Reactor Listing allows the provider to see cross-reactors for common allergens.
While the CAMP website is a very helpful resource, one limitation was access to the information provided. A 100-page handout of all contact allergens is not very practical to use at the store; thus, a companion mobile app was created to conveniently display this information on Android and iOS devices.
After downloading the app, the patient must input the allergen ID codes from their safe product list that was given to them by their ACDS provider. Patients are first brought to a listing of 8 broad product categories (Figure 2). Once touched, the app reveals more specific subcategories and individual products. Safe product lists can be long and, while users can search to narrow the list, it might also be useful to know what products are contraindicated. Users can also search for a specific product or brand to see if it contains their allergen. Patients can create a favorite list of specific products for quick access. Visually, for the most part the app is well designed with a crisp blue color scheme.
The principle limitation of this CAMP program is the allergen ID code system. For a patient to first receive their allergen ID codes, they must visit an ACDS provider and are encouraged to write their codes down for safekeeping. While this appears to be a necessity to recruit members to join the ACDS, it severely limits the audience of this app. Patients cannot add new allergens to their list without revisiting an ACDS provider and obtaining a new allergen ID code. Due to the cost of $300/year, not all dermatologists are ACDS members. Furthermore, it can be difficult for patients to identify ACDS members. There is a membership directory on the website, but the search function did not work well in practice. It would also be beneficial for patients to be able to find an ACDS provider from within the CAMP mobile app.
Overall, CAMP is a must have for any provider who routinely sees patients with contact dermatitis. The product database is one of the most extensive available and provides patients with the information they need to avoid allergens. The companion mobile app is highly functional, a significant improvement over paper handouts, and essential for patients with contact allergies.
Mr Hawkins is a fourth-year medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, and the developer of numerous web and mobile health care applications at Wake Forest School of Medicine, including DermPatientEd.com.
The Contact Allergen Management Program (CAMP) was developed by the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) to help patients with contact dermatitis avoid allergens. The database contains full ingredient lists for more than 5000 common products. Health care providers can input patients’ contact allergens into the CAMP website, which then eliminate all products that contain these allergens (plus cross-reactors and synonyms) from its database and generates a list of safe products. While this service has been available for years, the ACDS recently released a companion mobile app.
This article reviews both the CAMP website for providers and the companion mobile app for patients (Table).
After logging into the ACDS website, providers are presented with a video tutorial on how to use CAMP. This video is informative, albeit slightly long, and a good place to start for anyone not familiar with CAMP.
Allergen Search is the most commonly used feature on the website. From this page, providers can update patients’ prior allergen list by entering the allergen ID codes or create a new list by selecting from the most common allergens (Figure 1). Advanced Search is available for uncommon allergens, however, it does not automatically include synonyms and cross-reactors. Advanced Search is designed for professionals with knowledge of contact allergens.
Safe Product Lists are available after selecting the patient’s allergens. The provider can display products from some or all of 8 product categories. This list can then be printed or e-mailed to a patient from the CAMP website. The patient handouts contains educational information on allergic contact dermatitis, the patient’s allergen search codes (which can be used to update their list in the future), and the list of safe products which can be anywhere from a few pages to over a 100 pages depending on the product categories selected.
Additional features are also available on the website. Product Search allows the user to search for a specific product by manufacturer, product type, or name and see a list of ingredients. Narratives List allows the provider to learn more educational information about specific allergens. Cross Reactor Listing allows the provider to see cross-reactors for common allergens.
While the CAMP website is a very helpful resource, one limitation was access to the information provided. A 100-page handout of all contact allergens is not very practical to use at the store; thus, a companion mobile app was created to conveniently display this information on Android and iOS devices.
After downloading the app, the patient must input the allergen ID codes from their safe product list that was given to them by their ACDS provider. Patients are first brought to a listing of 8 broad product categories (Figure 2). Once touched, the app reveals more specific subcategories and individual products. Safe product lists can be long and, while users can search to narrow the list, it might also be useful to know what products are contraindicated. Users can also search for a specific product or brand to see if it contains their allergen. Patients can create a favorite list of specific products for quick access. Visually, for the most part the app is well designed with a crisp blue color scheme.
The principle limitation of this CAMP program is the allergen ID code system. For a patient to first receive their allergen ID codes, they must visit an ACDS provider and are encouraged to write their codes down for safekeeping. While this appears to be a necessity to recruit members to join the ACDS, it severely limits the audience of this app. Patients cannot add new allergens to their list without revisiting an ACDS provider and obtaining a new allergen ID code. Due to the cost of $300/year, not all dermatologists are ACDS members. Furthermore, it can be difficult for patients to identify ACDS members. There is a membership directory on the website, but the search function did not work well in practice. It would also be beneficial for patients to be able to find an ACDS provider from within the CAMP mobile app.
Overall, CAMP is a must have for any provider who routinely sees patients with contact dermatitis. The product database is one of the most extensive available and provides patients with the information they need to avoid allergens. The companion mobile app is highly functional, a significant improvement over paper handouts, and essential for patients with contact allergies.
Mr Hawkins is a fourth-year medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, and the developer of numerous web and mobile health care applications at Wake Forest School of Medicine, including DermPatientEd.com.
