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Dermatitis and Eczema
What is dermatitis?
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, and may also called eczema. Symptoms include itching, redness, warmth, swelling, cracking, pain, scaling and crusting. Skin can crack, bleed and ooze, depending on the severity of the reaction. Dermatitis can occur from exposure to the environment (such as dry weather), chemicals (such as harsh soaps), allergens (such as nickel) and physical trauma (such as abrasion).
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Are there different types of dermatitis?
Yes. There are many types such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, and nummular dermatitis. Although symptoms are similar, each type has characteristic features. Atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis are considered common in the general population, and contact dermatitis is associated with occupational skin disease.
What is atopic dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis (often called eczema) is a chronic condition, recurring many times during a person’s life. Some people with atopic dermatitis have a personal and family history of allergies (such as hay fever or asthma). Atopic dermatitis may also be related to a person’s immune response to substances that are normally considered harmless. A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is based on medical history, symptoms, and may also include atopy patch testing.
What is contact dermatitis?
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin at the area of contact. There are two types of contact dermatitis – irritant and allergic. Your physician may diagnose irritant or allergic contact dermatitis from your medical history, occupation, symptoms, and patch testing. Treatment of both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis is based on avoiding contact with the substance(s) that caused the reaction.
Irritant contact dermatitis occurs in response to irritating substances such as household cleaners, harsh soaps and industrial solvents. Your skin can react to these substances within minutes or hours, and stops reacting soon after they are gone.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs from a person’s immune response to contact allergens, such as fragrances, preservatives, nickel, gold, and many others. Allergic reactions to contact allergens develop hours or days after exposure, and may take weeks to heal. A personal or family history of other allergies may increase a person’s chance of developing this skin condition.
Irritant contact dermatitis occurs in response to irritating substances such as household cleaners, harsh soaps and industrial solvents. Your skin can react to these substances within minutes or hours, and stops reacting soon after they are gone.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs from a person’s immune response to contact allergens, such as fragrances, preservatives, nickel, gold, and many others. Allergic reactions to contact allergens develop hours or days after exposure, and may take weeks to heal. A personal or family history of other allergies may increase a person’s chance of developing this skin condition.
What is seborrheic dermatitis?
Seborrheic dermatitis is usually associated with red and flaking patches of skin. It is often found on the scalp ( dandruff ), as well as the nose, eyebrows, ears, and chest where hair follicles occur. Seborrheic dermatitis may be associated with an unusual immune reaction to a fungal infection. It can occur in healthy infants, children and adults, as well as patients with compromised immune systems. Infections, dry weather, oily skin, stress and other factors can make seborrheic dermatitis worse.
Can I tell what type of dermatitis I have?
No. Dermatitis symptoms such as redness, itching, warmth, swelling, scaling, cracking or pain are common and not specific. Your doctor will probably use your symptoms, medical and occupational history, and specific testing to determine what type of dermatitis you have.
How can I help my doctor diagnose my skin condition?
Keep a “diary” of when your symptoms appear, get worse or improve. It also helps to write down where your symptoms occur on your body, and how long they last. If you notice that your skin gets worse after certain activities, record the reaction and the activity in as much detail as possible.
Workers in some occupations are more likely to develop allergic contact dermatitis, so it’s important to describe your work to your doctor. If you handle chemicals during the day, make a list of these or find their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
Workers in some occupations are more likely to develop allergic contact dermatitis, so it’s important to describe your work to your doctor. If you handle chemicals during the day, make a list of these or find their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
How is dermatitis treated?
Successful treatment of dermatitis symptoms depends on getting an accurate diagnosis from your physician. Depending on the type of dermatitis and the severity of skin reactions, a physician may prescribe corticosteroids, antifungal agents, antihistamines, barrier creams, and moisturizers for your skin, shampoos with salicylic acid, selenium, zinc, or coal tar, and oral medications. These treatments are intended to treat your symptoms and improve your skin’s condition.
Because there is often no cure for dermatitis, your physician should discuss ways to avoid allergen and/or irritant contact, and how to take better care of your skin. In addition, reducing stress can improve your immune system response and help restore your skin’s normal integrity [Choi et al, 2005].
Because there is often no cure for dermatitis, your physician should discuss ways to avoid allergen and/or irritant contact, and how to take better care of your skin. In addition, reducing stress can improve your immune system response and help restore your skin’s normal integrity [Choi et al, 2005].
These general guidelines are intended for educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for specific questions about skin care.