It’s All About DERMATITIS

Dermatitis is a term which describes an inflammation of the skin. It actually describes a variety of skin rashes caused by infections, allergies and irritants. There are two common types of dermatitis:

• Atopic Dermatitis: This is an inherited condition which usually occurs in infants. It is characterized by rough patches of dry, itchy skin.
• Contact Dermatitis: This occurs when there is a skin injury or when the skin comes in contact with an entity causing an allergic reaction.

For any complication arising due to dermatitis, it is advisable to visit the experienced dermatologists in Pune for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Other, less common types of dermatitis include:

1. Neurodermatitis: It is characterized by an itchy patch of skin made worse by scratching, which causes it to become thick and leathery.
2. Nummular Dermatitis: It involves a well-demarcated round or oval plaques and occurs after injury to the skin.
3. Stasis Dermatitis: It is caused due to improper blood circulation.
4. Seborrheic Dermatitis: This type of dermatitis mainly occurs in the oily areas of the body, including the scalp, face and the chest.

Depending on the cause, the rash can result in the following skin conditions:

• Itchiness
• Reddening
• Thickening and swelling
• Blisters
• Crusting
• Scaling
• Creasing

Causes Of Dermatitis:

Depending on the type of dermatitis, there are different causes:

• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): It is caused by a genetic variation, immune system dysfunction, bacteria and other environmental conditions.
• Contact Dermatitis: It is caused due to direct contact with irritants or allergens such as preservatives found in many creams and lotions, perfumes and cosmetics, cleaning products, jewellery and poison ivy.
• Sebohheic Dermatitis: This is seasonal and is caused by a fungus present in the oily secretion of the skin.

Risk Factors:

The factors which can increase the likelihood of getting dermatitis are:

• Age: Although it can occur at sany age, atopic eczema usually begins in the infancy.
• Occupation / Environment: Some jobs increase the risk of contact with certain metals, solvents and cleaning supplies, which increases the risk of dermatitis.
• Allergies and Asthma: People with a family history of allergies, hay fever or asthma are at a greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis.

Diagnosis:

The Family Doctor has some of the top skin care specialists in Pune, who are proficient in diagnosing and treating this condition. The diagnosis usually begins with a complete physical exam and analysis of the medical history of the patient. If the doctor suspects that the person has contact dermatitis, he/she might recommend a Patch Test. In this test, small amounts of different substances are applied to the skin under an adhesive covering. After a few days, the doctor examines if the patient has developed any reaction to any of these substances. This will help determine what the person may or may not be allergic to. Other tests such as skin biopsy may also be done to rule out other skin conditions.

Treatment:

The Family Doctor is a reputed skin care clinic in Pune known for its durable and long-lasting treatment options for various types of skin conditions, including dermatitis.  The treatment procedures for dermatitis depends on the type of dermatitis, severity and cause.

• Special creams or lotions to tackle dry skin.
• Exposing the affected region of the skin to controlled amounts of natural or artificial light, also known as Phototherapy
• Medications such as diphenhydramine to reduce allergies and itching
• Oatmeal baths to provide relief from itching.
• Using skin moisturizers to reduce the severity of atopic dermatitis.