Dermatitis – What is it, Causes and Treatments

Dermatitis – What it is, Causes and Treatments. Dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that causes redness, itching and blisters, and is not transmitted by direct contact or personal items. It can appear at any age and can affect any part of the body. The disease is curable and depends a lot on the type and cause, but in most cases, treatment is based on drugs and creams prescribed by a dermatologist. In addition to Dermatitis , there are other dermatoses that have very similar symptoms and lesions. Each of them requires a little attention, so that you always have the correct diagnosis.

What is Dermatitis:

Dermatitis simply means inflammation of the skin, but it encompasses a number of diseases. In most people, the early stages of dermatitis are characterized by red, dry, itchy skin . More serious dermatitis can result in coarse scales, painful cracks, or blisters that ooze fluid. Since many things can irritate the skin , a doctor will try to narrow the diagnosis down to a specific category of Dermatitis , even though treatment is similar for most types of skin irritation and inflammation .

Types of Dermatitis:

• Contact Dermatitis : includingallergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis typically causes a pink or red rash. Pinpointing the exact cause of contact dermatitis can be difficult.
• Allergic Contact Dermatitis: It is a skin allergyfrom something that touches the skin , even if only briefly. An example of allergic contact dermatitis is poison ivy. It only has to touch the skin for a brief moment to cause dermatitis. Many other plants can cause allergic contact dermatitis , such as certain flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Other causes of allergic contact dermatitis include: fragrances, hair dyes, metals, rubber, formaldehyde (used as a preservative in many products), and skin care products.
• Irritant Contact Dermatitis: This is caused when a rough substance aggravates the skin by repeatedly contacting it. The most common example of irritant dermatitis is dry and damaged skin due to excessive hand washing. In this case, the irritant is the water that is drying and damaging the skin with repeated exposure.
• Nummular Dermatitis: Consists of distinctive red, coin-shaped plaques that are most commonly seen on the legs, hands, arms, and torso. It is more common in men than in women and the maximum age of onset is 55 to 65. Living in a dry environment or taking very hot showers can cause this condition.
• Atopic Dermatitis: , or eczema, causes the skin to itch, swell, swell, and sometimes blister. This type of eczema usually runs in families and is often associated with allergies, asthma, and stress. Defects in the skin barrier, allowing moisture and germs, can also come into play.
• Seborrheic Dermatitis: , called cradle cap in infants, consists of greasy, yellowish, or reddish scale on the scalp, face, or genitals. When it’s on the face, it’s typically in or near the eyebrows, or along the sides of the nose. Seborrheic dermatitis can be made worse by stress. Seborrheic dermatitis on thescalp of adults is also known as dandruff.
• Stasis Dermatitis: This is caused by poor circulation in the legs and can happen in people with varicose veins, congestive heart failure, or other conditions that cause chronic swelling of the legs. The veins in the lower legs are unable to return blood efficiently, causing blood to pool and fluid build-up and swelling. This swelling leads to skin irritation, especially around the ankles.

What are the Symptoms of Dermatitis:

Dry, reddened, itchy skin indicates some type of dermatitis , or inflammation of the skin, of which there are many types:

• A red rash that is limited to the area of ​​skin exposed to an irritant is most likely contact dermatitis .
• Red, itchy, circular patches of full, scaly, or encrusted skin suggest Nummular Dermatitis , common in older people who have dry skin or live in
• dried.
• Greasy, yellowish scales on the scalp and eyebrows, behind the ears and around the nose indicate seborrheic dermatitis ; In babies it is called a cap.
• Scaling, sometimes, ulcerated skin that appears inside the legs and around the ankles, may indicate stasis dermatitis .
• Extreme and persistent itching can signal atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema). Often, however, the itchiness simply results from dry skin .

What are the Treatments for Dermatitis:

The first step in treating dermatitis is to identify and eliminate the cause. Milder skin inflammation responds well to room temperature baths, followed by application of fragrance-free moisturizing lotions or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.

• Seborrheic dermatitis may respond to anti-dandruff shampoo. These products may contain tar, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, sulfur or selenium, any of the
• which can be effective.
• Once the chemicals that cause contact dermatitis are identified, treatment will be based on avoidance, symptom relief, and other coping mechanisms.
• To help clear the nummular dermatitis lesions , application of a moisturizer and corticosteroid cream may be recommended.
• If you suffer from Stasis Dermatitis , wearing support stockings and elevating your legs to reduce swelling may be advised. Also, the underlying condition that is causing the
• leg swelling must be controlled. If an open ulcer becomes infected, antibiotics may be needed.

How can I Prevent Dermatitis:

Most cases of dermatitis develop in people with sensitive skin and can be prevented by simply avoiding the irritant. If you feel you are at risk, consider these preventive steps:

• Wear loose clothing and natural fibers; Untreated cotton is ideal.
• Have heat, not hot, baths or showers and use mild soap or a soap replacement cream.
• Hydrate your skin after a shower using an unscented lotion or cream.
• Avoid identified triggers such as plated jewelry, especially in your ears, to prevent nickel-related rashes. Surgical steel or gold earring pieces from
• 14 carats are usually better choices.
• Don’t wear a bracelet that holds against your skin for long periods; Friction and sweat build-up can cause skin rashes.
• Consider using a humidifier at home and at work to keep the air from getting too dry.