Dermatitis Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors & Treatment | Diseases List A-Z

What is Dermatitis?

Dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that is usually characterized by itching, dry skin, and redness. This skin condition often occurs as a result of an allergic reaction.

Apart from allergies, the use of skin care products containing alcohol or fragrances, as well as excessive sun exposure, can also trigger dermatitis.

Eczema or dermatitis is not a contagious disease. This condition can be experienced by anyone, both babies and adults.

Although dermatitis is not dangerous to health, this condition can interfere with comfort and hinder daily activities.

Symptoms of Dermatitis

Symptoms of dermatitis can vary depending on the type and severity. However, in general the following symptoms often appear:

• Dry and scaly skin
• Intense itching
• Red or inflamed rash
• Blisters or sores that ooze fluid (in contact dermatitis)
• Thickening or cracking of the skin due to repeated scratching
• Rough patches on irritated areas

In seborrheic dermatitis, the skin may appear oily or covered with white or yellow scales, especially on the scalp and face.

Remember, different types of dermatitis will have different symptoms. For complete information on types of dermatitis, you can read here:

• Contact Dermatitis
• Seborrheic Dermatitis
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Dermatitis Herpetiformis
• Nummular Dermatitis

Causes of Dermatitis

The causes of dermatitis can vary depending on the type. In general, dermatitis is triggered by environmental factors, genetics, or allergic reactions.

The following are the types of dermatitis and their causes:

1. Contact dermatitis

This condition occurs when the skin comes into contact with certain substances that cause allergic reactions or irritation.

Some common substances that trigger contact dermatitis include soaps, detergents, chemicals, or metals such as nickel.

Find out complete information about Contact Dermatitis – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment below.

2. Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease that often appears in childhood and can last into adulthood.

The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is not fully understood, but genetic factors and an overactive immune system play a major role.

3. Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis often affects oily areas of the skin such as the scalp, face, and chest.

The cause is thought to be related to a fungus that grows naturally on the skin and excessive oil production.

4. Stasis dermatitis

This type of dermatitis occurs due to poor blood circulation, especially in the legs, causing fluid to leak from the blood vessels and irritate the skin.

There is also Nummular Dermatitis – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment that you need to know.

5. Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a chronic skin condition characterized by itching in certain areas, such as the neck, wrists, forearms, legs, or groin area.

The exact cause of neurodermatitis is not always clear, but factors such as dry skin conditions or irritation can worsen symptoms.

6. Dermatitis herpetiformis

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic, extremely itchy skin condition characterized by the appearance of small blisters.

This condition is caused by the accumulation of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in the skin, which triggers an immunological reaction and causes lesions to form.

Dermatitis Risk Factors

Several risk factors can increase a person’s chances of experiencing dermatitis, including:

• If a family member has a history of dermatitis or other allergies, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, the risk of developing atopic dermatitis is higher.
• Exposure to irritants or allergens such as chemicals, harsh soaps, or dry air conditions can trigger contact dermatitis.
• Atopic dermatitis is more common in children, while seborrheic dermatitis is more common in infants and adults.
• Stasis dermatitis is more common in people who have circulation problems or blood vessel disease.
• Emotional stress and hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy or menopause, can worsen dermatitis symptoms in some people.

Research on Dermatitis

This research, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, has found a way to prevent Atopic Dermatitis (AD) by evaluating various interventions, such as the use of moisturizers, vitamin supplementation, the use of probiotics and prebiotics, to exclusive breastfeeding and avoidance of allergens such as dust mites.

The results of the study showed that early use of moisturizers accompanied by nutritional supplementation such as vitamin D and omega-3 can help prevent AD.

AD prevention also requires a holistic approach that focuses on skin care, nutritional support, and microbiome balance.

Interesting Facts
1. Dermatitis is not contagious, but this condition is triggered by genetic, allergic, or environmental factors.
2. Atopic dermatitis usually begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood.
3. Regular use of moisturizers can help prevent and reduce the symptoms of dermatitis.

Diagnosis of Dermatitis

To diagnose dermatitis, a doctor will usually perform a physical examination of the affected skin area.

In addition, the doctor may also ask several questions about symptoms, medical history, and exposure to certain chemicals or substances.

If there is an indication of dermatitis, the doctor will usually perform a patch test to identify the specific allergen that causes the skin reaction.

The doctor will also take into account any family history of allergies or other atopic conditions. In addition to the patch test above, the doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to check for the type of skin inflammation.

Dermatitis Treatment

Dermatitis treatment aims to reduce symptoms, control inflammation, and prevent recurrence.

Some commonly used treatment methods include:

• Corticosteroid creams or ointments. These topical medications are used to reduce inflammation and itching of the skin, but should be used after consulting a doctor.
• Moisturizer. Dry skin can worsen dermatitis, so keeping your skin moisturized is important, especially for people with atopic dermatitis.
• Antihistamines. These medications can help reduce severe itching, especially if it is caused by an allergic reaction.
• Light therapy (Phototherapy). Used to treat severe cases of atopic dermatitis or when topical treatments do not provide satisfactory results.
• Antibiotics. If there is a secondary infection due to excessive scratching, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
• Antifungal treatment. In seborrheic dermatitis, treatment with antifungal creams or special shampoos is often recommended.

In addition to medical treatment, lifestyle changes such as avoiding stress, wearing soft clothing, and maintaining skin hygiene.

Avoiding various triggers of dermatitis is also mandatory to prevent recurrence. ib is done to prevent recurrence.

Dermatitis Medication Recommendations

There are several recommendations for dermatitis medications that can be used to relieve symptoms, such as:

• Hydrocortisone Cream 2.5% 5 g. An adrenocortical steroid drug that can be used to treat eczema, inflammation, redness, and itching. In addition, this drug can also treat skin infections such as allergic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, anogenital pruritus, and neurodermatitis.
• Benoson 0.1% Cream 5 g. Contains betamethasone to relieve inflammation from corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. For example, skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis.
• Topcort Cream 10 g. This medicine with desoximetasone content can help overcome inflammation and pruritus in dermatitis responsive to corticosteroids.
• Cinogenta Cream 10 g. This medicine with gentamicin sulfate and fluocinolone acetonide content can help overcome inflammation and itching. Both symptoms can appear in conditions of atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, localized neurodermatitis, and anogenital pruritus.
• Intercon Cream 10 g. This medicine contains mometasone furoate to relieve symptoms of inflammation and pruritus in corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Complications of Dermatitis

Untreated or poorly controlled dermatitis can cause complications, such as:

• Scratching skin affected by dermatitis can open the way for bacteria to infect the skin.
• Intense itching, especially at night, can cause difficulty sleeping.
• People with long-term dermatitis may experience changes in skin color in the affected area, either becoming darker or lighter.
• Skin affected by dermatitis can become more sensitive to irritation and injury, and take longer to heal.

Dermatitis Prevention

Although not all types of dermatitis can be prevented, several steps can be taken to reduce the risk of developing or avoid recurrence:

• If your skin is sensitive to certain ingredients, such as soap, detergent, or other chemicals, avoid using products that contain these substances.
• Dry skin is more prone to irritation. Therefore, use moisturizer regularly, especially after bathing.
• Choose a soap that is free from fragrances and harsh chemicals, to prevent skin irritation.
• Weather that is too hot or too cold can worsen sensitive skin conditions.
• Tight or rough clothing can cause friction and irritation to skin affected by dermatitis.
• Maintain humidity in the air at home so that your skin doesn’t dry out easily.
• Avoid taking long baths with hot water to prevent recurrence.

Proper prevention and careful management can help reduce symptoms and prevent dermatitis from getting worse.

That’s the explanation about dermatitis that you need to know.