Dermatitis
Dermatology Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation caused by an overactive immune system, infections, allergies, genetics, irritating substances and more. Common symptoms include dry skin, itchiness and redness. The symptoms can be different depending on the type of dermatitis. The rashes range from mild to severe and can cause a variety of problems, depending on their cause. Dermatitis causes no serious harm to your body. It does not mean that your skin is unclean or infected and it’s not contagious.
Some types of common dermatitis:
- Irritant contact dermatitis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff
- Nummular dermatitis
- Perioral dermatitis
Usually dermatologist is able to diagnose dermatitis based on examining your skin. However, when there is a doubt, doctor may perform the following tests:
- Blood tests to check for causes of the rash that might be unrelated to dermatitis.
- Dermatoscopy.
- A skin biopsy to distinguish one type of dermatitis from another.
- Wood’s light (ultraviolet light).
- Microscopy of skin scraping etc.
There are different treatment methods and medications that can manage your symptoms. Treatment includes topical and systemic medications, antibiotics, antihistamines, phototherapy, emollients and others. Visit a dermatologist to try the appropriate treatment for you to avoid complications and cure skin disease properly. Do your best not to scratch your dermatitis as this can lead to infections and scars.
