Dermatitis
Inflammatory disease of the skin / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash.[1] In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened.[1] The area of skin involved can vary from small to covering the entire body.[1][2] Dermatitis is often called eczema, and the difference between those terms is not standardized.
Dermatitis | |
---|---|
Other names | Eczema |
A moderate case of dermatitis of the hands | |
Specialty | Dermatology |
Symptoms | Itchiness, red skin, rash[1] |
Complications | Skin infection[2] |
Causes | Atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis[1][2] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptom[1] |
Differential diagnosis | Scabies, psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiformis, lichen simplex chronicus[3] |
Prevention | Essential fatty acids[4] |
Treatment | Moisturizers, steroid creams, antihistamines[2][5] |
Frequency | 245 million in 2015[6] (3.34% of world population) |
The exact cause of the condition is often unclear.[2] Cases may involve a combination of allergy and poor venous return.[1] The type of dermatitis is generally determined by the person's history and the location of the rash.[1] For example, irritant dermatitis often occurs on the hands of those who frequently get them wet.[1] Allergic contact dermatitis occurs upon exposure to an allergen, causing a hypersensitivity reaction in the skin.[1]
Prevention of atopic dermatitis is typically with essential fatty acids,[4] and may be treated with moisturizers and steroid creams.[5] The steroid creams should generally be of mid-to high strength and used for less than two weeks at a time, as side effects can occur.[7] Antibiotics may be required if there are signs of skin infection.[2] Contact dermatitis is typically treated by avoiding the allergen or irritant.[8][9] Antihistamines may help with sleep and decrease nighttime scratching.[2]
Dermatitis was estimated to affect 245 million people globally in 2015,[6] or 3.34% of the world population. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type and generally starts in childhood.[1][2] In the United States, it affects about 10–30% of people.[2] Contact dermatitis is twice as common in females as in males.[10] Allergic contact dermatitis affects about 7% of people at some point in their lives.[11] Irritant contact dermatitis is common, especially among people with certain occupations; exact rates are unclear.[12]