Dermatitis is a general term that describes a number of different skin diseases that cause inflammation of the skin, in addition to some other symptoms.
When skin infections occur, the blood vessels inside the skin expand, causing red spots (erythema) to appear in the affected area.
Dermatitis may appear after exposure to sunlight, and when the reaction is mild, it does not require any treatment as it goes away and disappears automatically after a short period.
The easiest and mildest type of skin inflammation is the one that appears as a result of external influences, such as: sunlight, hot water, or as a result of exposure to various substances, whether acidic or basic.
The reaction resulting from exposure to these substances is called primary irritation, and it can be prevented by changing the conditions that led to its occurrence, such as: reducing the concentration of the substance or lowering its temperature.
Symptoms of dermatitis
Symptoms of dermatitis vary depending on the type of inflammation, and can be divided as follows:
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis occurs in childhood, and usually causes many symptoms, such as the following:
Red rash.
Itching in the affected area.
Fluid from the rash.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis occurs when you come into contact with certain types of substances, causing a red rash and severe itching in the area, and blisters may also form.
Seborrheic dermatitis
This type of inflammation usually appears in fatty areas of the body, such as the chest, face, and back, causing flaky patches to appear that persist for a long period of time.
Follicular eczema
This type of dermatitis causes thickening of the affected skin and the appearance of hair bumps, and usually occurs in people of African descent.
Causes and risk factors of dermatitis
The causes and risk factors leading to dermatitis can be explained as follows
1. Causes of dermatitis
The causes of dermatitis vary depending on its type, as follows
Atopic dermatitis
Most often, atopic dermatitis occurs for several reasons, as follows
Dry skin.
Genetic factors.
Immune system dysfunction.
Skin infection.
Exposure to certain allergens.
Contact dermatitis
This type of inflammation occurs as a result of contact with some irritating substances to the skin, such as: perfumes, jewelry, some metals, and detergents.
Seborrheic dermatitis
This type of inflammation is caused by a fungal infection that grows in the body''s fat cells.
2. Risk factors for dermatitis
Risk factors for dermatitis include
Age: Dermatitis can occur at any age, but it usually occurs in childhood.
Allergies and asthma: People with allergies or asthma are more susceptible to skin infections.
Nature of work: The possibility of skin infections increases in people who are repeatedly exposed to chemicals.
Complications of dermatitis
Dermatitis causes many complications, such as the following
Skin ulceration.
Spread of skin infection.
Severe itching.
Appearance of skin spots.
Diagnosis of dermatitis
The initial diagnosis depends on the type of rash, its size, color, and where it is located on the skin, as this can help diagnose the condition accurately.
Sometimes the condition is diagnosed through a patch test, in which a patch containing a group of substances is placed on the patient''s skin, then checked for any skin reactions.
Treatment of dermatitis
Treatment for dermatitis varies depending on the severity of the patient''s condition, and may include the following:
Applying corticosteroid creams to the affected skin, as it helps reduce inflammation.
Use creams that suppress the immune system, such as Calcineurin.
Expose the affected area to a small amount of natural or artificial light.
Use corticosteroid tablets orally in cases of severe inflammation.
Prevention of dermatitis
Dermatitis can be prevented by the following
Make sure to wear protective clothing when exposed to chemicals.
Use detergents that are free of fragrances that may cause skin irritation.
Gently dry the body after showering.
Moisturize the skin continuously using moisturizing creams.
