Dermatitis is an inflammatory condition of the skin caused by external substances and agents coming into contact with the skin, as opposed to eczema which is principally a constitutional disease in which outside factors do not play a primary part.

However, in certain cases the terms “dermatitis” and “eczema” are interchangeable since eczema can also be due to both internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) factors.

There are basically two types of dermatitis:

Irritant dermatitis - caused by substances irritating the skin due to constant contact, for example prolonged contact with water, soaps and detergents, chemicals, acids, abrasives, oils, solvents and alkalis. The rash is usually confined to the contact area.

Allergic Dermatitis - where the person becomes sensitised to the offending substance (allergen) - this is a cell-mediated immunological reaction. In this case the dermatitis will occur each time the person comes into contact with the allergen, even if in small amounts or for very short periods.

Common allergens are to be found particularly in glue, adhesive tape, cement, paint, varnish, polish, dyes, plastics, cosmetics, creams, soaps, detergents and rubber chemicals including rubber gloves, but can also be found in other products. In certain cases the rash can spread to other parts of the body.

Irritant dermatitis is five times more likely to occur than allergic dermatitis. Theoretically any irritant which comes into contact with the skin frequently enough and in sufficient concentration will penetrate the skin to cause dermatitis. Obviously the efficacy of the skin barrier is the main preventative.

Diagnosing Dermatitis

The symptoms of dermatitis can be redness, itching, swelling, blistering, scaling and weeping. Sometimes the skin can crack and bleed and the dermatitis can spread all over the body. It cannot be passed from one person to another since it is not infectious.

There is no specific or single symptom or feature used to identify this disease. Each person experiences a unique combination of syndromes and the symptoms and severity of the disease may vary over time and from person to person. For this reason the practitioner may need to see the patient several times to make a diagnosis.

The most valuable diagnostic tool is a thorough medical history of the patient which provides important information such as family history of allergic diseases (including hay fever or asthma), exposure to irritants, sleep disturbances, any food that seems to be related to skin problems, previous treatments for skin - related symptoms, use of steroids, effect of stress, career or social life. Sometimes it is necessary to do a biopsy or patch testing to see reactions of the skin or overreactions of the immune system.

Treating Dermatitis - http://www.skinlight.co.uk/skin_treatments_10_Dermatitis.html

Control of the symptoms largely involves avoidance of substances and agents that trigger the symptoms including certain foods.
Prevent scratching or rubbing of the skin and prevent it from drying out.
Limit exposure to negative environmental influences such as dust, sand, animal dander or hair, pollens etc.
Protect skin from excessive moisture, rough clothing, some perfumes, certain soaps, certain cosmetics, detergents and certain synthetic fibres.

In most cases topical corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone) or steroids are not necessary. In any case they should not be used on open skin and due to their ability to cause thinning of the skin, skin discolouration and bruising should not be used long term due to the possibility of systemic absorption. Other immune suppressing drugs such as Cyclosporin, or UV light/PUVA treatments are also not called for. In certain cases anti-histamine preparations could be advantageous.

Article By Salura Ltd