Dermatitis
Overview
Dermatitis is a general term that describes a
common skin irritation. It has many causes and forms and usually involves
itchy, dry skin or a rash. Or it might cause the skin to blister, ooze, crust
or flake off. Three common types of this condition are atopic dermatitis
(eczema), seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.
Dermatitis isn't contagious, but it can make
you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Moisturizing regularly helps control
the symptoms. Treatment may also include medicated ointments, creams and
shampoos.
Symptoms
Each type of dermatitis tends to occur on a
different part of your body. Signs and symptoms may include:
·
Itchiness (pruritus)
·
Dry skin
·
Rash on swollen skin
that varies in color depending on your skin color
·
Blisters, perhaps with
oozing and crusting
·
Flaking skin
(dandruff)
·
Thickened skin
·
Bumps in hair
follicles
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if:
·
You're so
uncomfortable that you're losing sleep or are distracted from your daily
routines
·
Your skin becomes
painful
·
You suspect that your
skin is infected
·
You've tried self-care
steps but your signs and symptoms persist
Causes
A common cause of dermatitis is contact with
something that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction — for
example, poison ivy, perfume, lotion and jewelry containing nickel. Other
causes of dermatitis include dry skin, a viral infection, bacteria, stress,
genetic makeup and a problem with the immune system.
Risk factors
Common risk factors for dermatitis include:
·
Age. Dermatitis can occur at any age, but
atopic dermatitis (eczema) is more common in children than adults, and it
usually begins in infancy.
·
Allergies
and asthma. People who have
a personal or family history of eczema, allergies, hay fever or asthma are more
likely to develop atopic dermatitis.
·
Occupation. Jobs that put you in contact with
certain metals, solvents or cleaning supplies increase your risk of contact
dermatitis. Being a health care worker is linked to hand eczema.
·
Health
conditions. Health
conditions that put you at increased risk of seborrheic dermatitis include
congestive heart failure, Parkinson's disease and HIV/AIDS.
Complications
Scratching the itchy rash associated with
dermatitis can cause open sores, which may become infected. These skin
infections can spread and may very rarely become life-threatening.
In people with brown and Black skin,
dermatitis might cause the affected area to darken or lighten
(post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation). It might take months
or years to return to your usual skin color.
Prevention
Wear protective clothing if you are doing a
task that involves irritants or caustic chemicals.
Avoid dry skin by adopting these habits when
bathing:
·
Take
shorter baths and showers. Limit
your baths and showers to 5 to 10 minutes. Use warm, rather than hot, water.
Bath oil also may be helpful.
·
Use
a gentle, nonsoap cleanser. Choose
unscented nonsoap cleansers. Some soaps can dry your skin.
·
Dry
yourself gently. After bathing,
gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
·
Moisturize
your skin. While your skin
is still damp, seal in moisture with an oil, cream or lotion. Try different
products to find one that works for you. Ideally, the best one for you will be
safe, effective, affordable and unscented. Two small studies showed that
applying a protective moisturizer to the skin of infants at high risk of atopic
dermatitis reduced the incidence of the condition by up to 50%.
Diagnosis
To diagnose dermatitis, your doctor will likely
talk with you about your symptoms and examine your skin. You may need to have a
small piece of skin removed (biopsied) for study in a lab, which helps rule out
other conditions.
Patch testing
Your doctor may recommend patch testing on
your skin. In this test, small amounts of different substances are applied to
your skin and then covered. The doctor looks at your skin during visits over
the next few days to look for signs of a reaction. Patch testing can help
diagnose specific types of allergies causing your dermatitis.
Treatment
The treatment for dermatitis varies, depending
on the cause and your symptoms. In addition to the lifestyle and home remedies
recommendations below, dermatitis treatment might include one or more of the
following:
·
Applying to the affected
skin corticosteroid creams, gels or ointments
·
Applying to the
affected skin certain creams or ointments that affect your immune system
(calcineurin inhibitors)
·
Exposing the affected
area to controlled amounts of natural or artificial light (phototherapy)
·
Using oral
corticosteroids (pills) or injectable dupilumab, for severe disease
·
Using wet dressings, a
medical treatment for severe atopic dermatitis that involves applying a
corticosteroid and wrapping it with wet bandages
Lifestyle and home
remedies
These self-care habits can help you manage
dermatitis and feel better:
·
Moisturize
your skin. Routinely
applying a moisturizer can help your skin.
·
Use
anti-inflammation and anti-itch products. Hydrocortisone cream might temporarily relieve your
symptoms. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, may help reduce
itching. These types of products are available without a prescription.
·
Apply
a cool wet cloth. This helps
soothe your skin.
·
Take
a comfortably warm bath. Sprinkle
your bathwater with baking soda or a finely ground oatmeal that's made for the
bathtub (colloidal oatmeal). Soak for 5 to 10 minutes, pat dry and apply
unscented moisturizer while your skin is still damp. A lotion of 12% ammonium
lactate or 10% alpha-hydroxy acid helps with flaky, dry skin.
·
Use
medicated shampoos. For dandruff,
use OTC shampoos containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar or
ketoconazole.
·
Take
a dilute bleach bath. This may help
people with severe atopic dermatitis by decreasing the bacteria on the skin. For
a dilute bleach bath, add 1/2 cup (about 118 milliliters) of household bleach,
not concentrated bleach, to a 40-gallon (about 151-liter) bathtub filled with
warm water. Measures are for a U.S. standard-sized tub filled to the overflow
drainage holes. Soak for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off before patting dry. Do
this 2 to 3 times a week.
Many people have had success using a dilute vinegar bath rather
than a bleach bath. Add 1 cup (about 236 milliliters) of vinegar to a bathtub
filled with warm water.
·
Avoid
rubbing and scratching. Cover
the itchy area with a dressing if you can't keep from scratching it. Trim your
nails and wear gloves at night.
·
Choose
mild laundry detergent. Because
your clothes, sheets and towels touch your skin, choose mild, unscented laundry
products.
·
Avoid
known irritants or allergens. Try to identify and remove allergens and other factors in
your environment that irritate your skin. Avoid rough and scratchy clothing.
·
Manage
your stress. Emotional
stressors can cause some types of dermatitis to flare. Consider trying stress
management techniques such as relaxation or biofeedback.
Alternative medicine
Many alternative therapies, including those
listed below, have helped some people manage their dermatitis. But evidence for
their effectiveness is mixed. And sometimes herbal and traditional remedies
cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
·
Dietary supplements,
such as vitamin D and probiotics, for atopic dermatitis
·
Rice bran broth
(applied to the skin), for atopic dermatitis
·
5% tea tree oil
shampoo, for dandruff
·
Aloe, for seborrheic
dermatitis
·
Chinese herbal therapy
If you're considering dietary supplements or
other alternative therapies, talk with your doctor about their pros and cons.
Preparing for your
appointment
You may first bring your concerns to the
attention of your family doctor. Or you may see a doctor who specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions (dermatologist).
Here's some information to help you get ready
for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Before your appointment, list your answers to
the following questions:
·
What are your
symptoms, and when did they start?
·
Does anything seem to
trigger your symptoms?
·
What medications are
you taking, including those you take by mouth as well as creams or ointments
that you apply to your skin?
·
Do you have a family
history of allergies or asthma?
·
What treatments have
you tried so far? Has anything helped?
What to expect from
your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions.
Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to
talk about in depth. Depending on what type of dermatitis you have, your doctor
may ask:
·
Do your symptoms come
and go, or are they fairly constant?
·
How often do you shower
or bathe?
·
What products do you
use on your skin, including soaps, lotions and cosmetics?
·
What household
cleaning products do you use?
·
Are you exposed to any
possible irritants from your job or hobbies?
·
Have you been under
any unusual stress or depressed lately?
·
How much do your
symptoms affect your quality of life, including your ability to sleep?
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