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View DoctorsDermatitis is an inflammation of the skin. The word dermatitis is used to describe a number of different skin rashes that are caused by infections, allergies, and irritating substances. The rashes range from mild to severe and can cause the following skin conditions, depending on their cause:
This article will describe contact and atopic dermatitis, which are two common types of dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes in contact with a substance that causes a delayed allergic reaction (allergic contact dermatitis) or when there is an injury to the skin's surface (irritant contact dermatitis).
Skin can become allergic to a substance after many exposures or after just one exposure. For instance, most people will have an allergic reaction to poison ivy after one exposure. Common sources of allergic contact dermatitis include cosmetics, rubber derivatives, dyes, adhesives, nickel, and other metals.
Substances that can irritate the skin include detergents, soaps, cleaners, waxes, and chemicals. These substances can wear down the oily, protective layer on the skin's surface and lead to irritant contact dermatitis. This condition is most common among people who regularly work with strong chemicals, such as restaurant, maintenance, and chemical workers.
Allergic contact dermatitis:
Irritant contact dermatitis:
Symptoms vary, depending on the cause of dermatitis.
If you have a skin rash that won't go away, visit your health care provider. If the doctor suspects allergic contact dermatitis, he or she may perform patch tests. In this test, the doctor places small samples of chemicals on an area of skin to see if a rash develops. The diagnosis of contact dermatitis cannot be done with blood tests. You should mention all the products that are in contact with your skin, even if you use certain products only once a month or if the product was used after the rash started.
Note: there are no tests for irritant contact dermatitis. Tell your healthcare provider about any irritating substances or chemicals that you regularly come into contact with (including cosmetics, lotions, and nail polish).
With either type of contact dermatitis, you can avoid substances you suspect to see if the rash goes away.
The form of treatment will depend on the cause of your dermatitis. Common treatments include:
For allergic contact dermatitis:
For irritant contact dermatitis:
Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that may be passed on from parents to children. It can occur at any time in life, but usually first appears when children are infants, and may not diminish until early adulthood. More than half of infants with atopic dermatitis grow out of the condition by school age, though flare-ups can occur throughout life.
The condition is most common among families who have a history of environmental allergies. Though food allergies may cause flare-ups, removing suspected foods (such as eggs, milk, fish, wheat, and peanuts) from your child's diet is not likely to cure the problem. If you suspect that a food is worsening the rash, discuss this with your health care provider.
Atopic dermatitis can also worsen when the skin comes into contact with irritating substances such as harsh soaps and scratchy, tight-fitting clothing. Scratching can also promote infections that require treatment.
In infancy:
In adolescence and early adulthood:
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition, which means that it cannot be cured. Treatments, however, are very effective in reducing the symptoms of itching and dry skin.
Your health care provider can prescribe lotions and oral medications (those taken by mouth). These treatments include corticosteroid creams and antihistamines. Follow instructions for using the medications.
To help your child, you can also:
Use mild laundry soap and make sure that clothes are well rinsed.
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This information is provided by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of Mubadala Healthcare, and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.
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