Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation caused by various conditions, including eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Other causes can include vascular disease that leads to stasis dermatitis and abnormal reactions to sun exposure.
What is dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a general term used to describe skin inflammation resulting from a wide variety of skin conditions. Common causes of dermatitis include eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis (of which dandruff is a mild form).[1] Other causes include vascular disease, which causes stasis dermatitis,[2] or photosensitivity, which is an abnormal reaction to sun exposure.[3]
What are the main signs and symptoms of dermatitis?
People with dermatitis experience skin redness, irritation, and itchiness. The skin may blister, ooze, and appear flaky in severe cases.
How is dermatitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis is based upon medical and physical assessment findings. If these findings are unclear, further testing such as skin prick testing, blood tests measuring immune reactivity to allergens, or biopsy may be performed.
What are some of the main medical treatments for dermatitis?
Moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors are the first-line treatments for most cases of dermatitis. Treatment choice depends upon the severity, location, and type or cause of dermatitis.[1] For contact dermatitis, avoiding the offending trigger is the first-line treatment.
Have any supplements been studied for dermatitis?
Supplements that have shown potential benefits for treating eczema are oral Vitamin E, topical Vitamin B12,[4] Vitamin D,[5] and probiotics.[6]. One study found that whey protein reduced symptoms of contact dermatitis[7]. Additionally, people who are deficient in certain minerals and nutrients — Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B12, zinc, iron — often present with dermatitis-like symptoms.[8] In this case, supplementation of the deficient nutrient is advised.
What’s the connection between diet and dermatitis?
Allergies to certain foods can cause or worsen dermatitis. The most common food allergies include peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, shellfish, wheat, and nuts.[9] Furthermore, in some people the autoimmune condition celiac disease can manifest as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH); people with DH develop blistering rashes after consuming gluten-containing foods.[10]
Are there any other treatments for dermatitis?
Avoiding irritating fabrics such as thick-fiber wool can mitigate symptoms of eczema,[11] and reducing exposure to known irritants such as pollen, dust, fragrances, etc. can reduce symptoms of contact dermatitis.[1] Fine merino wool has been demonstrated to be helpful for people with eczema, despite the fact that thick-fiber wool may exacerbate eczema symptoms.[11] Furthermore, phototherapy has been shown to be beneficial in people with eczema that does not respond to initial treatments.[12]
What causes dermatitis?
Dermatitis can be caused by endogenous (within the body) or exogenous (outside the body) factors. Endogenous dermatitis involves a pathology within the body. Examples are eczema and stasis dermatitis. On the other hand, exogenous dermatitis is precipitated by contact with substances outside the body. Examples are irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and photosensitive dermatitis.[1]
Examine Database: Dermatitis
Research FeedRead all studies
Allergenic ingredients in lip care cosmetics
Are probiotics useful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis?
Can curcumin protect against radiation dermatitis?
Sanyrene topical oil for protection against radiation dermatitis
Frequently asked questions
What is dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a general term used to describe skin inflammation resulting from a wide variety of skin conditions. Common causes of dermatitis include eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis (of which dandruff is a mild form).[1] Other causes include vascular disease, which causes stasis dermatitis,[2] or photosensitivity, which is an abnormal reaction to sun exposure.[3]
Is dermatitis contagious?
Quick answer:
Dermatitis is not contagious, but damaged skin from the condition can lead to infections that may be contagious. Maintaining a regular skincare routine is important to prevent infections associated with dermatitis.
No, dermatitis is not contagious.
However, damaged skin from dermatitis predisposes people to infections.[13] The infection may be contagious in this case. Having a regular skincare routine is essential in preventing infection from dermatitis.
What are the main signs and symptoms of dermatitis?
The main signs and symptoms of dermatitis include skin redness, irritation, and itchiness. In severe cases, the skin may also blister, ooze, and appear flaky.
People with dermatitis experience skin redness, irritation, and itchiness. The skin may blister, ooze, and appear flaky in severe cases.
How is dermatitis diagnosed?
Dermatitis is diagnosed through medical and physical assessments, and if the findings are unclear, additional tests like skin prick testing, blood tests for immune reactivity to allergens, or biopsy may be conducted.
Diagnosis is based upon medical and physical assessment findings. If these findings are unclear, further testing such as skin prick testing, blood tests measuring immune reactivity to allergens, or biopsy may be performed.
What are some of the main medical treatments for dermatitis?
The main medical treatments for dermatitis include moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors, and the choice of treatment depends on the severity, location, and type of dermatitis. For contact dermatitis specifically, the first-line treatment is to avoid the triggering substance.
Moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors are the first-line treatments for most cases of dermatitis. Treatment choice depends upon the severity, location, and type or cause of dermatitis.[1] For contact dermatitis, avoiding the offending trigger is the first-line treatment.
Have any supplements been studied for dermatitis?
Several supplements — including oral vitamin E, topical vitamin B12, vitamin D, and probiotics — have shown potential benefits for treating eczema. Additionally, people who are deficient in certain nutrients like vitamins B2, B3, and B12, zinc, and iron may experience dermatitis-like symptoms, which suggests that supplementation could be beneficial.
Supplements that have shown potential benefits for treating eczema are oral Vitamin E, topical Vitamin B12,[4] Vitamin D,[5] and probiotics.[6]. One study found that whey protein reduced symptoms of contact dermatitis[7]. Additionally, people who are deficient in certain minerals and nutrients — Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B12, zinc, iron — often present with dermatitis-like symptoms.[8] In this case, supplementation of the deficient nutrient is advised.
What’s the connection between diet and dermatitis?
Diet can influence dermatitis because allergies to certain foods like peanuts, cow’s milk, and wheat may trigger or exacerbate the condition. Additionally, people with celiac disease may experience dermatitis herpetiformis, which is characterized by blistering rashes from gluten consumption.
Allergies to certain foods can cause or worsen dermatitis. The most common food allergies include peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, shellfish, wheat, and nuts.[9] Furthermore, in some people the autoimmune condition celiac disease can manifest as dermatitis herpetiformis (DH); people with DH develop blistering rashes after consuming gluten-containing foods.[10]
Are there any other treatments for dermatitis?
To treat dermatitis, recommendations advise that people whould avoid irritating fabrics like thick-fiber wool and reduce exposure to known irritants such as pollen and dust. Additionally, fine merino wool may help with eczema, and phototherapy can be beneficial for eczema that does not respond to initial treatments.
Avoiding irritating fabrics such as thick-fiber wool can mitigate symptoms of eczema,[11] and reducing exposure to known irritants such as pollen, dust, fragrances, etc. can reduce symptoms of contact dermatitis.[1] Fine merino wool has been demonstrated to be helpful for people with eczema, despite the fact that thick-fiber wool may exacerbate eczema symptoms.[11] Furthermore, phototherapy has been shown to be beneficial in people with eczema that does not respond to initial treatments.[12]
What causes dermatitis?
Dermatitis can be caused by both endogenous factors, like eczema and stasis dermatitis, which originate within the body, and exogenous factors, like irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, which result from external substances.
Dermatitis can be caused by endogenous (within the body) or exogenous (outside the body) factors. Endogenous dermatitis involves a pathology within the body. Examples are eczema and stasis dermatitis. On the other hand, exogenous dermatitis is precipitated by contact with substances outside the body. Examples are irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and photosensitive dermatitis.[1]
References
Examine Database References
- Erythema - Sur R, Martin K, Liebel F, Lyte P, Shapiro S, Southall MAnti-inflammatory activity of parthenolide-depleted Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)Inflammopharmacology.(2009 Feb)
- Dermatitis Risk - Sharp L, Finnilä K, Johansson H, Abrahamsson M, Hatschek T, Bergenmar MNo differences between Calendula cream and aqueous cream in the prevention of acute radiation skin reactions--results from a randomised blinded trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs.(2013-Aug)
- Dermatitis Risk - Pommier P, Gomez F, Sunyach MP, D'Hombres A, Carrie C, Montbarbon XPhase III randomized trial of Calendula officinalis compared with trolamine for the prevention of acute dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer.J Clin Oncol.(2004-Apr-15)
- Dermatitis Risk - De Angelis C, Di Stadio A, Vitale S, Saccone G, Angelis MC, Zizolfi B, Di Spiezio Sardo AUse of calendula ointment after episiotomy: a randomized clinical trial.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.(2022-May)
- Dermatitis Severity - Tai RZ, Loh EW, Tsai JT, Tam KWEffect of hyaluronic acid on radiotherapy-induced mucocutaneous side effects: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer.(2022-Jun)