What Is Dermatitis?

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 18, 2024
Written by Stephanie Booth
9 min read

Dermatitis is a broad term that describes many different types of skin inflammation. The most common early symptom is red, dry, itching skin. Severe cases can include crusty scales, painful cracks in your skin, or blisters that ooze fluid. Since a range of things can irritate your skin, your doctor will try to narrow a diagnosis to a specific kind of dermatitis. That can help them pinpoint the cause and choose the best treatment to heal your skin.

Different kinds of dermatitis include:

Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to something that touches your skin, even for a brief time. Poison ivy is an example. It only has to brush against your skin to cause a rash. Many other plants can cause allergic contact dermatitis, such as certain flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Other causes include fragrances, hair dyes, metals, rubber, formaldehyde (used as a preservative in many products), and skin care products.

Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by a harsh substance, such as a detergent or cleaning product, coming into contact with your skin. Other common skin irritants include body fluids such as pee or spit, hair dye, nail polish remover, plants such as peppers, paint, or certain types of plastic or resin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nummular dermatitis consists of distinct coin-shaped red plaques that usually show up on your legs, hands, arms, and torso. You're more likely to get it if you're assigned male at birth (AMAB) and aged 55-65 years. Living in a dry climate or taking frequent, very hot showers can also be triggers.

Atopic dermatitis is also known as eczema. It causes your skin to itch, scale, swell, and sometimes blister. It usually runs in families and is often linked to allergies, asthma, and stress. A weak skin barrier that allows moisture out and germs in may also play a part.

Seborrheic dermatitis, called cradle cap in infants, consists of greasy, yellowish, or reddish scaling on the scalp, face, or genitals. If it's on the face, it's typically in or near the eyebrows, hairline, or along the sides of the nose. Seborrheic dermatitis can be made worse by stress. Adults sometimes get seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp, which is also known as dandruff.

Stasis dermatitis is caused by poor circulation in your legs. You might get it if you have varicose veins, congestive heart failure, or another condition that causes chronic leg swelling. When the veins in your lower legs fail to return blood to your heart as well as they should, your blood pools, and fluid builds up. This leads to irritated, darkened skin, especially around your ankles.

Dyshidrotic dermatitis is an ongoing condition that causes severely dry skin and bumps or blisters. You're most likely to get it on your hands or feet and it may come and go. You're more likely to get it if you're assigned female at birth (AFAB) and between the ages of 20 and 40. Sweat, allergies, and stress could all be triggers.

Neurodermatitis is a very itchy patch of skin. Scratching it irritates the nerve endings, which causes the area to itch more. It might be severe enough to prevent you from sleeping.

Dermatitis neglecta is the result of not cleaning your skin well. Dirt, oil, bacteria, skin flakes, and sweat build up over time. The area could become thick and change color. You could also see sticky, cornflake-like scales. This is more likely to happen if you can't move well enough to regularly wash certain parts of your body.

Spongiotic dermatitis is when your irritated skin becomes "spongy" due to fluids building up underneath it. If you've been dealing with skin issues for a while, the swelling may be mild. But if your skin gets red and itchy all of a sudden, for instance, because of contact with an allergen, the swelling could be severe. Spongiotic dermatitis can exist alongside many other types of dermatitis.

What your skin looks and feels like will depend on the type of dermatitis you have. You could also have more than one kind. Generally speaking, you could have:

  • Itching
  • Rash
  • Swelling
  • Bumps
  • Blisters that may be filled with fluid
  • Thickened or hard skin
  • Crusting
  • Scaly skin
  • A burning feeling in your skin
  • Pain

Your symptoms can vary based on the color of your skin. For instance, if you have lighter skin, a dermatitis rash often looks red. If your skin is darker, you might have dark brown, purple, or gray patches. You're also more likely to get tiny, rough bumps.

Dermatitis is a complex condition. There's a lot that doctors are still trying to learn about it. So far, they know that changes in your skin cause it to lose moisture. That causes it to get dry and itchy. The more you scratch, the more dry and itchy your skin becomes.

Many factors can also add to this, including:

  • Your immune system: If it overreacts to something you come into contact with, your skin can become inflamed as a result.
  • Your genes: You might have been born with skin that struggles to maintain a healthy amount of moisture.
  • Your environment: Some substances trigger changes in your skin. Among them are tobacco smoke, air pollutants, and scents in soaps and other skin products.

Is dermatitis contagious?

Although your skin may look very inflamed and feel itchy, you can't spread your skin rash to others. 

Even poison ivy rashes aren't contagious. You have to come into direct contact with urushiol oil, the compound inside the plant that triggers your immune system.

You're more likely to have dermatitis because of your:

  • Family history. If you're related to someone with dermatitis, you're more likely to have it too. A history of asthma and allergies in your family can also raise your risk. 
  • Gender. People who are AFAB are more prone to dermatitis.
  • Age. Kids and babies are more likely to have dermatitis than adults. Atopic dermatitis is most likely to be seen in non-Hispanic Black children.
  • Job. For instance, working with some types of metal or harsh chemicals could irritate your skin.
  • Health. Living with another health condition, such as an autoimmune disease, could make a diagnosis of dermatitis more likely.

Your doctor will probably start your visit by asking a lot of questions, such as:

  • Do you, or anyone in your family, have allergies or asthma?
  • Do you have food allergies?
  • What other skin issues have you had?
  • Have you used any new soap, detergent, makeup, or other skin products?
  • Do you smoke or have you been around cigarette smoke?

After they look at your skin, they could decide to get more information by doing a: 

  • Skin biopsy: A tiny piece of your skin is taken off and sent to a lab, where it can be looked at more closely.
  • Blood test: This can look for conditions aside from dermatitis that are causing your symptoms.
  • Patch test for allergies: Patches that contain very small amounts of common allergens are stuck to your skin. After a few days, you'll go back to your doctor. They'll remove the patches and check your skin for a reaction.

To figure out the cause of your skin issue, you may need to see a dermatologist. This type of doctor has special training in skin-related issues.

The skin treatment you need depends on the type of skin condition you have, what may be causing it, and which parts of your body are affected.

Home treatment

Sometimes, a skin rash will clear up with some simple home remedies, such as:

  • Anti-itch cream or ointment. Look for a kind that contains at least 1% hydrocortisone. Apply it once or twice a day.
  • Moisturizer. It's important to protect your skin from getting drier so it can heal. Don't forget to apply moisturizer right after you bathe or shower. Some people find petroleum jelly (although messy) works well.
  • Antihistamines that you buy over the counter are sometimes enough to relieve itching. Check with your doctor so you know which kind will work best and is safe for you to use.
  • Cool compresses. A washcloth that's been soaked in cold water can give instant itch relief.
  • Bleach baths, in which you put a tiny amount of bleach into a warm bath, soak for 10 minutes, then rinse off, are sometimes helpful. But don't try this without talking to your doctor first.
  • Soft, loose clothes. When your skin is inflamed, itchy, rough fabrics and tight clothes can rub against the area and make it worse.
  • Tea tree oil shampoo: Using this type of shampoo for 4 weeks can help improve dandruff.
  • Trying to relax.Stress and worry won't help your skin get better. In fact, they could have the opposite effect. Eat healthy foods, try to get regular exercise, and get enough sleep to keep your stress levels low.

Medical treatment

If your skin doesn't clear up with home treatment, or if it's painful, getting in the way of your daily routine, keeping you up at night, or showing signs of infection (such as pus, streaks, or scabs), see a doctor. They could prescribe:

  • Cream or ointment to put on your rash to help relieve your itching, reduce inflammation, or restore your skin's natural barrier so it holds onto more moisture.
  • Light therapy, which uses a controlled amount of ultraviolet light to reduce itching and redness.
  • Pills you take by mouth. Oral corticosteroids are a common way to help control inflammation throughout your body. In some cases, your doctor may want you to take antibiotics.
  • Injected medicines. For instance, you could get a shot of a biologic drug, which is made from living cells, to tamp down your immune system.
  • Wet dressings, which mean that you apply a strong ointment to your rash, then cover it with layers of wet and dry bandages, to help your skin heal.

Alternative treatment

You could also talk to your doctor about an alternative treatment. These methods aren't as well-known or as well-studied as traditional options but have been helpful for some people.

  • Coconut oil: Its anti-inflammatory substances could help improve your skin, but check with your doctor before spreading it on your rash. If you have an allergic reaction, it could make your symptoms worse.
  • Chinese herbs: A few studies have shown that carefully prepared Chinese herbs can help with some types of dermatitis. Talk to your doctor to find out if this is a safe option for you.
  • Acupuncture: This form of Chinese medicine involves very thin needles placed just under your skin. There's some evidence that it can help with itching and other skin symptoms.
  • Hypnosis. Although more research needs to be done, one study found that it helped reduce itching and scratching more than a steroid cream.
  • Biofeedback: A special device can help you learn how to control your breathing and heart rate so you can better manage stress. Learning this mind-body technique could help with itching and other skin symptoms.

Taking care of your skin is the best way to prevent dermatitis. To do that:

  • Keep your showers short. Use lukewarm (not hot) water so you don't dry out your skin.
  • Use mild skin care products. Look for ones that don't contain perfumes, alcohol, or dyes. If you're not sure what to use, ask your doctor to suggest a brand. If you have dermatitis on your face, some types of makeup could make it worse. Skip it or choose products made for sensitive skin.
  • Go easy on your skin. Skip loofahs, pumice stones, or scrubs that might irritate your skin. And when you get out of the shower, pat, don't rub, your skin dry.
  • Lock in moisture. Apply an unscented cream or moisturizer soon after you shower and throughout the day.
  • Manage your stress. Your emotions can affect your skin, so explore ways to keep your stress in check. Meditation, relaxation techniques, and therapy could all make a positive difference.

Dermatitis doesn't have a cure, but there are many ways you can manage pain, itching, and other symptoms. You may need to try a few different treatments before you find what helps to heal your skin. Once you do, take care of your skin to try to prevent further flare-ups.