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- What is dermatitis?
- Symptoms of dermatitis
- Causes of dermatitis
- Prevention of dermatitis
- Risk factors for dermatitis
- Complications of dermatitis
- When to see a doctor about dermatitis
- Diagnosis of dermatitis
- Conventional treatment of dermatitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of dermatitis
- Living with dermatitis
- Caring for someone with dermatitis
Dermatitis is the name for a number of skin conditions that causes inflammation, irritation, reddening, scaling and thickening of the skin.
The main types of dermatitis are:
- Atopic dermatitis (or eczema) - eczema is a common skin disorder which causes the skin to become red, inflamed and itchy anywhere on the body. There are a number of different types of eczema that can occur
- Contact dermatitis - this type of dermatitis can be due to a reaction on the skin to either an allergen or an irritant substance which can affect the skin anywhere on the body
- Photodermatitis - this type of dermatitis is when the skin has an abnormal reaction to ultraviolent (UV) sunlight with a rash, blisters, or scaly patches on the skin that has been exposed to the UV light
- Seborrheoic dermatitis - this type of dermatitis affects the scalp, cheeks and body folds with small red lumps that are scaly in appearance. This type of dermatitis is sometimes confused with dandruff, but is not the same condition. In babies and children, if this type of dermatitis occurs on the scalp, it is called cradle cap and if it occurs in the genital/anal area, it is known as nappy rash
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Facts about dermatitis
- Eczema is a very common skin disorder that is prevalent in Australia and other western countries
- Statistics show that western countries (especially USA, Australia and UK) are experiencing a very significant rise in allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis due to either an allergen or irritant
- About 50% of people with eczema develop symptoms within the first twelve months of life
- Another 20% of people with eczema develop symptoms by age five
- People who develop dermatitis (atopic or contact) usually also have asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or their direct family members have these conditions
- About 40%-60% of people with atopic dermatitis (eczema) also have some type of respiratory allergic condition
- Seborrheoic dermatitis is sometimes confused with dandruff, but they are not the same condition
- Irritant contact dermatitis (when a substance touches the skin and causes irritation) is the more common type of contact dermatitis, accounting for up to 60%-80% of all cases of contact dermatitis
- A great number of babies and toddlers develop some form of nappy rash and cradle cap
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2: symptoms >
Last reviewed: 15 January 2010 || Last updated: 15 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
