Numerous substances can irritate the skin, including Chemicals (eg, acids, alkalis, solvents, metal salts) Soaps (eg, abrasives, detergents) Plants (eg, poinsettias, peppers) Chronic moisture (eg, from body fluids, urine, and saliva) Properties of the irritant (eg, extreme pH, solubility in the lipid film on skin), environment (eg, low humidity, high temperature, high friction), and patient (eg, very young or old) influence the likelihood of developing ICD.