Dermatitis

This article is about eczema and dermatitis in general. For the most common type of eczema, see Atopic dermatitis.

Dermatitis
Other namesEczema
A moderate case of dermatitis of the hands
SpecialtyDermatology
SymptomsItchiness, red skin, rash[1]
ComplicationsSkin infection[2]
CausesAtopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis[1][2]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptom[1]
Differential diagnosisScabies, psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiformis, lichen simplex chronicus[3]
PreventionEssential fatty acids[4]
TreatmentMoisturizers, steroid creams, antihistamines[2][5]
Frequency245 million in 2015[6] (3.34% of world population)

Dermatitis is a term used for different types of skin inflammation, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash.[1] In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened.[1] The area of skin involved can vary from small to covering the entire body.[1][2] Dermatitis is also called eczema but the same term is often used for the most common type of skin inflammation, atopic dermatitis.[7]

The exact cause of the condition is often unclear.[2] Cases may involve a combination of allergy and poor venous return.[1] The type of dermatitis is generally determined by the person's history and the location of the rash.[1] For example, irritant dermatitis often occurs on the hands of those who frequently get them wet.[1] Allergic contact dermatitis occurs upon exposure to an allergen, causing a hypersensitivity reaction in the skin.[1]

Prevention of atopic dermatitis is typically with essential fatty acids,[4] and may be treated with moisturizers and steroid creams.[5] The steroid creams should generally be of mid-to high strength and used for less than two weeks at a time, as side effects can occur.[8] Antibiotics may be required if there are signs of skin infection.[2] Contact dermatitis is typically treated by avoiding the allergen or irritant.[9][10] Antihistamines may help with sleep and decrease nighttime scratching.[2]

Dermatitis was estimated to affect 245 million people globally in 2015,[6] or 3.34% of the world population. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type and generally starts in childhood.[1][2] In the United States, it affects about 10–30% of people.[2] Contact dermatitis is twice as common in females as in males.[11] Allergic contact dermatitis affects about 7% of people at some point in their lives.[12] Irritant contact dermatitis is common, especially among people with certain occupations; exact rates are unclear.[13]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nedorost ST (2012). Generalized Dermatitis in Clinical Practice. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 1–3, 9, 13–14. ISBN 978-1-4471-2897-7. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Handout on Health: Atopic Dermatitis (A type of eczema)". NIAMS. May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  3. ^ Ferri FF (2010). Ferri's Differential Diagnosis: A Practical Guide to the Differential Diagnosis of Symptoms, Signs, and Clinical Disorders (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Mosby. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-323-07699-9.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Andrews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b McAleer MA, Flohr C, Irvine AD (July 2012). "Management of difficult and severe eczema in childhood" (PDF). BMJ. 345: e4770. doi:10.1136/bmj.e4770. hdl:2262/75991. PMID 22826585. S2CID 36038433.
  6. ^ a b Vos T, Allen C, Arora M, Barber RM, Bhutta ZA, Brown A, et al. (GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators) (October 2016). "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet. 388 (10053): 1545–1602. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMC 5055577. PMID 27733282.
  7. ^ Johansson SG, Bieber T, Dahl R, Friedmann PS, Lanier BQ, Lockey RF, et al. (May 2004). "Revised nomenclature for allergy for global use: Report of the Nomenclature Review Committee of the World Allergy Organization, October 2003". The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 113 (5): 832–836. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2003.12.591. PMID 15131563.
  8. ^ Habif TP (2015). Clinical Dermatology (6 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-323-26607-9. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  9. ^ Mowad CM, Anderson B, Scheinman P, Pootongkam S, Nedorost S, Brod B (June 2016). "Allergic contact dermatitis: Patient management and education". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 74 (6): 1043–1054. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.02.1144. PMID 27185422.
  10. ^ Lurati AR (February 2015). "Occupational risk assessment and irritant contact dermatitis". Workplace Health & Safety. 63 (2): 81–87, quiz 88. doi:10.1177/2165079914565351. PMID 25881659. S2CID 40077567.
  11. ^ Adkinson NF (2014). Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice (8 ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. p. 566. ISBN 978-0-323-08593-9. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016.
  12. ^ Wilkinson M, Orton D (2016). "Allergic Contact Dermatitis". In Barker J, Bleiker TO, Chalmers R, Creamer D (eds.). Rook's Textbook of Dermatology (9 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. p. 128.4. ISBN 978-1-118-44117-6. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  13. ^ Frosch PJ (2013). Textbook of Contact Dermatitis (2nd ed.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 42. ISBN 978-3-662-03104-9. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.