- Dermatology Unit, Conditions
Dermatitis
What is
What is dermatitis?
Dermatitis is a term that refers to various forms of skin irritation. It is also called Eczema.
Information
Why eczema appears
There are multiple factors that can condition the appearance of eczema, among which we find contact allergies, contact with irritant products, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and other entities.
Types of eczema
Eczemas are grouped according to their characteristics at the time of examination.
Those eczemas that are redder, with the formation of small vesicles on their surface, and sometimes with a moist appearance, are called acute eczemas, and indicate that the cause of their appearance has been recent.
As time progresses and the lesion persists, these lesions are no longer moist and no longer have vesicles, thus becoming subacute lesions.
Finally, if the lesion persists over time, it usually takes on the appearance of thickened skin, somewhat scaly and brownish in color. In these situations, we speak of chronic eczema, and it implies that it is a lesion whose cause has persisted over time, or that it has not been treated and the patient has maintained it by scratching.
Types of dermatitis
Atopic Dermatitis
In children, the most frequent cause of eczema is atopic dermatitis, except in children under 3 months of age, where seborrheic dermatitis is highly frequent.
Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition with a tendency to water loss and dehydration, so that it cannot perform its barrier function properly, and predisposes it to the appearance of eczema due to multiple factors. They usually worsen in winter with the cold and dryness and require the application of abundant moisturizing creams specific for their condition.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
In adults, other types of eczema are more frequent. One of the possibilities is seborrheic dermatitis, which is characterized by the appearance of reddened and scaly areas mainly on the sides of the nasal wings, in the area of the eyebrows and chin, and on the scalp in the form of desquamation, although it can also appear in the center of the thorax and genital area. In children the most common form is the so-called cradle cap, which consists in the formation of an abundant and compact desquamation adhered to the scalp.
Other types
Eczema may also appear due to contact with irritant products(irritant contact dermatitis), either by occupational handling of irritating substances, or also the so-called housewife’s dermatitis, produced by contact with soaps and detergents, and continuous hand washing.
Less frequently, eczema may also occur due to contact with substances to which one is allergic(allergic contact dermatitis), although this possibility is the least frequent of those mentioned. Allergic dermatitis usually appears only in the area of contact with the substance to which one is allergic, such as in people with nickel allergy, who develop eczema in the area where the trouser button rubs or when wearing costume jewelry.
In cases of more extensive lesions, the allergy is often caused by a preservative in shampoos or body gels, or preservatives in detergents and/or fabric softeners. It is also possible that the substance causing the allergy is found in the workplace.
Treatment
To treat eczema, it is first important to establish a diagnosis. Once the cause has been diagnosed, treatment will be prescribed. In case of allergies or irritations, it is essential to avoid the provoking factor, in addition to treating the eczema with topical corticosteroids, and in severe cases, also oral corticosteroids. Seborrheic dermatitis often benefits from topical treatments with good results.
Atopic dermatitis is more difficult to treat. It is essential to maintain strict skin care to avoid the appearance of outbreaks. This will be carried out with moisturizing creams specially designed for this type of skin used on a daily basis, and the use of soaps for bathing without detergent, to avoid aggressions to the skin and the dryness they produce.
For the treatment of lesions, corticosteroid creams are used, with or without associated antibiotics depending on the lesions, oral antihistamines to help with itching, and oral corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs in the most severe cases that are resistant to previous treatments.
Are eczema contagious?
No. The presence of eczema on the skin indicates that the skin is damaged by some factor that has irritated it, but in no case is it contagious from person to person.
FAQs
What other types of dermatitis are there?
Eczema may also appear due to contact with irritant products(irritant contact dermatitis), either by occupational handling of irritating substances, or also the so-called housewife’s dermatitis, produced by contact with soaps and detergents, and continuous hand washing.
Less frequently, eczema may also occur due to contact with substances to which one is allergic(allergic contact dermatitis), although this possibility is the least frequent of those mentioned. Allergic dermatitis usually appears only in the area of contact with the substance to which one is allergic, such as in people with nickel allergy, who develop eczema in the area where the trouser button rubs or when wearing costume jewelry.
In cases of more extensive lesions, the allergy is often caused by a preservative in shampoos or body gels, or preservatives in detergents and/or fabric softeners. It is also possible that the substance causing the allergy is found in the workplace.
What is the treatment of eczema?
To treat eczema, it is first important to establish a diagnosis. Once the cause has been diagnosed, treatment will be prescribed. In case of allergies or irritations, it is essential to avoid the provoking factor, in addition to treating the eczema with topical corticosteroids, and in severe cases, also oral corticosteroids. Seborrheic dermatitis often benefits from topical treatments with good results.
Atopic dermatitis is more difficult to treat. It is essential to maintain strict skin care to avoid the appearance of outbreaks. This will be carried out with moisturizing creams specially designed for this type of skin used on a daily basis, and the use of soaps for bathing without detergent, to avoid aggressions to the skin and the dryness they produce. For the treatment of lesions, corticosteroid creams are used, with or without associated antibiotics depending on the lesions, oral antihistamines to help with itching, and oral corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs in the most severe cases resistant to previous treatments.
Are eczema contagious?
No. The presence of eczema on the skin indicates that the skin is damaged by some factor that has irritated it, but in no case is it contagious from person to person.