What does dermatitis look like and what to do if you have something similar
Miscellaneous / / August 10, 2023
Take a look at your skin.
What does dermatitis look like?
Dermatitis is inflammation in the skin. It is not a single disease, but a process that meets with various diseases. Therefore, there are a lot of dermatitis. And they are not always called that. For example, in everyday life we just say "irritation" and not "contact dermatitis", and in the English-language literature, atopic dermatitis is often replaced by the word "eczema". We also use this term, but more widely. However, it is also dermatitis.
Dry skin due to dermatitis peels off and red spots appear on it, which itch, burn and sometimes hurt. These are common signs, but there are others. For example, with seborrheic dermatitis, we see dandruff, and with herpetiform dermatitis, we see vesicles.
These are all different types of dermatitis.
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If these are all different things, then what can I have?
Under dermatitis usually imply:
- Contact dermatitis, that is, the irritation that anyone would experience when rubbing or touching something dangerous. For example, if you clean without gloves and your hands get toilet-washing liquid, the skin will become inflamed. And if you put on a dress in the heat and go for a long walk, you can rub the skin of the thighs.
- Diaper dermatitis. It is distinguished especially, although it is a type of contact. It is usually encountered by pediatricians. This is the rash that babies get if they don't change their diaper on time.
- Allergic dermatitis. In susceptible people, seemingly innocuous things cause it. For example, you and a friend bought a new tea tree oil cream - she likes the effect, and everything is fine, but your face is red and swollen.
- Atopic dermatitis. This is a violation of the skin barrier, due to which the skin is very dry, cracked and flaky. This can happen in winter, after visiting a pool with bleach, during periods of stress, or for no apparent reason at all.
- Seborrheic dermatitis, which in everyday life we call dandruff.
- Dyshidrotic eczema, which looks like blisters and peeling on the feet and palms.
- Congestive eczema, when red spots appear on the legs, and subsequently ulcers that are difficult to heal.
- Perioral dermatitis. This is a rash around the mouth that most often occurs in middle-aged women.
There are also rarer types, such as Dühring's dermatitis herpetiformis. This disease usually occurs in people with intolerance gluten free. Then on the skin they have not only spots, but also bubbles.
To determine exactly whether you have dermatitis and what it is, only a dermatologist can. But this is not always necessary. For example, you can do without a doctor if you yourself know the cause and avoid it.
How dangerous is it?
Usually in dermatitis No It's OK. Simple variants, such as contact dermatitis, may resolve in a few days even without treatment.
The most important thing is not to scratch the skin. Otherwise, wounds will appear, into which microbes can penetrate, and an infection will develop. And if you overdo it, then scars will remain for life.
Can you get dermatitis?
No, dermatitis not contagious. But some of them, such as atopic, can be inherited. If your parents had it, then you may have it too.
Where, then, does dermatitis come from?
He can arise:
- due to friction;
- aggressive chemicals;
- own sensitivity of the skin to some allergens;
- breakdowns in the barrier function of the skin;
- infections;
- genetic features.
So anyone can get sick. But different species have their own risk factors.
For contact dermatitis, work with aggressive chemicals will be a provocateur. For example, in production, agriculture, catering or medicine.
Diaper dermatitis may be in very young children who have not yet learned to confidently use the potty or toilet.
Risk factors for atopic dermatitis include:
- cases of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis or asthma in the family;
- female;
- negroid race.
Perioral dermatitis is more common in women between the ages of 15 and 45.
And the risk of dyshidrotic eczema increases:
- at actively sweating of people;
- those who work for a long time with water and irritants;
- in hot countries.
Do I need to go to the doctor with dermatitis?
Not necessary. Mild forms that cause little concern usually go away on their own. To the doctor worth contacting, If:
- you are very worried about the condition - for example, it is impossible to sleep due to itching, rash significantly affects the appearance;
- you do not understand why dermatitis appeared;
- it seems to you that an infection has joined: the skin is very reddened, it hurts, and the wounds become wet and ooze liquid;
- you tried to be treated, but there is no improvement.
What then to do?
At first, you can try to deal with dermatitis yourself:
- Take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as cetirizine, chloropyramine, or loratadine. They also come in the form of a gel or ointment that can be applied to the lesions.
- Use over-the-counter steroid creams or ointments. These can be drugs based on hydrocortisone or mometasone.
- Apply a cool compress to soothe itching.
- At dandruff try over-the-counter shampoos containing selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, coal tar. If it does not help, then choose a remedy with ketoconazole.
- Take a warm bath at a comfortable temperature, and then apply a moisturizer all over your body. For some people, adding baking soda or finely ground oatmeal to the water helps.
Sometimes it helps to supplement the diet with vitamin D, herbal supplements and aloe. But these methods should first be agreed with a dermatologist.
What if it doesn't help?
Then you need go to a dermatologist. He'll examine your entire body, perhaps ordering a blood test and a skin biopsy, a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is taken from you to be examined under a microscope. After the examination, the doctor will be able to recommend treatment.
Depending on the diagnosis, the dermatologist may prescribe:
- local therapy - moisturizing creams, ointments with an antihistamine or steroid component, calcineurin inhibitors;
- physiotherapy - phototherapy (UVB 311 nm), PUVA therapy;
- systemic drugs in tablets and injections - for example, antihistamines, steroids, cytotoxic drugs;
- biological therapy - treatment with antibodies that block inflammation proteins.
Can dermatitis reappear?
Yes, especially for chronic dermatitis, such as atopic and seborrheic, as well as dyshidrotic and congestive eczema. But the contact option will be repeated if the cause is not removed.
What to do so that dermatitis no longer appears
Certain habits can reduce the likelihood of flare-ups of dermatitis.
- Regularly moisturize your skinespecially after contact with water. Make it a rule to apply the cream every time you shower or wash your hands.
- Avoid friction. For example, in the summer, smear the rubbing surfaces of the body with deodorant.
- Choose only mild and hypoallergenic detergents for washing and washing, as clothes and bed linen are constantly in contact with the skin.
- Avoid irritants: wear gloves while cleaning, don't use scented products that cause you to react, don't wear scratchy or rough clothes on your naked body.
- Reduce stress in your life.
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