Dermatitis: in a nutshell

Dermatitis is defined as an inflammation of the skin that can have a variety of causes and take several forms. It is the general medical term for conditions characterized by reddened skin, irritation, swelling, and itching. Dermatitis causes a scattered rash as a reaction toward external or internal factors, and is categorized into different types, including irritative, allergic, eczematous and inflammatory dermatitis, with the most common forms being irritative or allergic.

Description

Dermatitis is a reaction of the skin to external (allergens, whether chemical or physical) or internal (release of inflammatory factors) triggers. It causes the sudden inflammation of the skin, which becomes irritated, red and itchy. In some cases, swelling, scaling, blisters, boils, erosions, and scabs can also occur. Dermatitis can be temporary or persistent, depending on its cause and intensity.

Causes

The most common forms of dermatitis are:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema): very common in childhood, atopic dermatitis causes redness and blisters in the skin folds. It occurs in areas such as in the elbows, behind the knees and in the neck, where moisture within skin folds increases irritation.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: skin inflammation is accompanied by intense scaling. It commonly appears on the scalp (causing dandruff, or cradle cap in infants), and on the face.
• Contact dermatitis: caused by contact with stinging substances (such as nettles); irritants (such as detergents and other chemicals) or insect bites. It is very irritating and can cause blisters to form in the affected area.
• Allergic dermatitis: occurs following contact with an allergen. For example, allergic dermatitis may occur at the earlobes from a nickel allergy triggered by costume jewelry.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dermatitis vary depending on its cause. Generally, however, the varying forms of dermatitis have some similarities. They all cause a sudden skin rash with redness, scaling, blisters, boils, erosions, and scabs. The intensity and irritation of the rash will vary from person to person, but some will experience considerable itching and feelings of burning making them want to scratch. Scratching dermatitis can cause lacerations, wounds and increases the risk of infection.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis generally requires the observation of symptoms during a dermatologic examination. In suspected cases of allergic dermatitis, the dermatologist can conduct allergology tests, such as the patch test, through which the substances that caused it can be identified.

Treatment

Treatment of dermatitis differs depending on its cause and it is therefore always best to consult a dermatologist before beginning any sort of therapy. Generally, however, there are a selection of commercially available soothing that can temporarily relieve inflammation and itching, including Soothing Cream, with zinc oxide and magnesium silicate.
More specifically, eczema and allergic dermatitis can be treated with cortisone-based products for a limited period of time.
In some cases, phototherapy can also be used to intervene, whereby the controlled use of UV rays can alleviate some of the most troublesome dermatitis symptoms.

Prevention

There are no specific measures to prevent the occurrence of dermatitis in its various forms. However, avoiding bathing and washing too frequently can help protect the skin, as excessive cleansing and soaps gradually deplete the skin of the outer layers that protect it. Avoid the use of traditional body lotions and instead moisturize dry skin with self-hydrating ointments such as Extreme Emollient Ointment. Finally, it is always a good idea to wear cotton clothing, avoiding anything made of synthetic fibers.