Overview
Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin. It can appear as dry, itchy, red, scaly, or swollen skin, and sometimes the skin may ooze, crack, or thicken over time. Different forms of dermatitis have different triggers and patterns, but many share the symptom of itch.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms vary by type and by skin tone, but often include itching, dryness, rash, redness or darker patches, scaling, and skin sensitivity. In some people, small bumps, blisters, crusting, or weeping can occur. Long-term scratching may lead to thickened skin, broken skin, or pain.
Causes and Risk Factors
Dermatitis can develop for different reasons. Atopic dermatitis is linked with a weakened skin barrier and an overactive immune response, while contact dermatitis happens when the skin reacts to an irritant or allergen such as soaps, fragrances, metals, plants, or workplace chemicals. Family history of eczema, asthma, or allergies, dry climates, frequent handwashing, stress, and skin infections can increase risk or trigger flares.
Who Is Affected
Dermatitis can affect people of any age, including babies, children, and adults. Atopic dermatitis often starts in early childhood, while contact dermatitis can happen at any age after exposure to a trigger. People with sensitive skin, certain jobs involving wet work or chemicals, or a personal or family history of allergic conditions may be more affected.
Prevention
Prevention depends on the type of dermatitis, but skin protection is important for many people. Using gentle skin care, avoiding known triggers, limiting harsh soaps and fragrances, protecting the skin from irritants, and keeping the skin moisturized may help reduce flares. For contact dermatitis, identifying and avoiding the substance causing the reaction is especially important.
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare professional usually diagnoses dermatitis by asking about symptoms, skin care products, work or home exposures, and by examining the skin. In some cases, patch testing may be used to look for allergic contact dermatitis. Testing may also be needed if infection, another skin condition, or a different cause of rash is suspected.
Treatment Categories
Treatment depends on the type, location, severity, and likely trigger. Care may include regular moisturization, avoiding triggers, skin-protective measures, and medicines recommended by a healthcare professional to reduce inflammation or itching. If the skin is infected, treatment for infection may also be needed.
Living With It
Many people with dermatitis have periods when symptoms improve and times when they flare. Keeping track of triggers, following a simple skin care routine, and avoiding scratching as much as possible can help limit skin damage. Ongoing symptoms can affect sleep, mood, school, and work, so support from a healthcare professional can be useful.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care if a rash is severe, very painful, spreading, keeps returning, or does not improve with basic skin care. Also get medical advice if the skin becomes cracked, bleeds often, oozes, develops yellow crusts, or if itching is affecting sleep or daily life. Infants, people with widespread rash, and anyone unsure of the cause should be assessed.
When It May Be an Emergency
Get urgent medical help if there are signs of a serious allergic reaction such as trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, fainting, or rapidly worsening widespread rash. Urgent care is also important if there is fever with a severe rash, severe pain, signs of spreading skin infection, or involvement of the eyes.