If understood in its broadest meaning, dermatitis is a rather common disorder, rather generic and as such due to the most disparate causes (infections, irritations, allergic reactions, deficiencies or food excesses, etc.); there are, in fact, different types of dermatitis, such as seborrheic and atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema or eczematous dermatitis).
Despite this great variability in causes and manifestations, dermatitis is accumulated by some characteristic symptoms, such as itching, redness and small swellings of the skin, sometimes with a vesicular character up to real lesions.
As anticipated, dermatitis is a rather common condition, not contagious, which all in all does not heavily affect the general health of the individual; despite this, it can be quite annoying for those who suffer from it, sometimes with negative repercussions on social life.
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Dermatitis: the Causes
Contact dermatitis
As the name suggests, contact dermatitis is caused by direct skin contact with irritants or allergens. In the first case, for the disease to manifest itself, important concentrations of the substance are required, to be applied locally for a certain period; in the second, very small doses of allergen are sufficient for a very short time.
The most common irritants include soap and detergents in general (including detergents and the like), while the category of allergens includes metals such as chromium and nickel, some perfumes, cosmetics, latex, weeds such as ivy, drugs for topical use (such as those based on neomycin) and some substances used in the textile and clothing industry.
For further information: Contact DermatitisPsoriasis
Psoriasis is a multifactorial pathology that derives from the interaction between numerous predisposing factors, but which does not know a precise cause of origin; in most cases, the genetic component and stress play a very important role.
For further information: PsoriasisSeborrheic dermatitis
Common in people with oily skin and hair, seborrheic dermatitis is due to the hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands and an alteration in the composition of their secretion; the characteristics of the sebum make it a fertile ground for the growth of the fungus Malassezia furfur, whose massive presence irritates the skin.
In newborns, this disease is known as cradle cap and has an "uncertain origin.
Perioral dermatitis
As with many other forms of dermatitis, the cause of perioral dermatitis is still under discussion; by some authors it is considered a complication of seborrheic dermatitis, by others a particular variety of rosacea.
The exact cause is unknown, but face applications of topical corticosteroids or certain fluoride-containing dental products play a statistically significant role.
Herpetiform dermatitis
The high frequency with which dermatitis herpetiformis is associated with celiac disease, a condition of permanent gluten intolerance, suggests an important correlation between the two conditions, even if sometimes an exclusion diet is not sufficient to solve the problem.
For further information: Herpetiform dermatitisAtopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary allergic syndrome, common in allergic individuals or in whose family nucleus there are relatives with similar problems (especially allergic asthma and hay fever).
It usually appears during childhood and tends to diminish in adulthood, unless contact with the allergenic element persists (for example due to occupational exposure).
The exact cause of origin is not known, but is probably due to a combination of skin changes (excessive permeability, dry skin) and immune system disorders; stress can aggravate atopic dermatitis but cannot be considered the primary cause.
For further information: Atopic Dermatitis on areas of skin exposed to contact with sensitizing substances (irritating or allergenic).
Psoriasis Symptoms
Psoriasis causes the appearance of red-whitish erythematous-scaly patches of various sizes and shapes, with a chronic relapsing course, that is, subject to attenuation, regression and reappearance.
Symptoms Seborrheic Dermatitis
A common condition of the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis often causes oily dandruff; the loss of greasy scales affects not only the scalp, but also other areas rich in sebaceous glands, such as the eyebrows, the skin areas on the sides of the nose and behind the ears, the groin area and, sometimes, the axillary area.
Symptoms Perioral Dermatitis
The typical signs of perioral dermatitis localize to the face, distributing themselves around the mouth in such a typical way as to determine its clinical name.
Symptoms Herpetiform dermatitis
The characteristic symptoms of dermatitis herpetiformis (itching, redness, serous blisters) are sometimes accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances.
Symptoms Atopic Dermatitis
More commonly known as atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis is characterized by symptoms such as itching, erythema, skin redness and blistering, and mainly affects the face, hands, feet, inner elbows and back of the knees.
Atopic dermatitis alternates symptomatic phases with silent clinical states.
The anamnestic approach allows the doctor to formulate a series of hypotheses, which will then be denied or confirmed by specific tests.
For example, if contact dermatitis is suspected, the dermatologist can carry out patch tests on the skin to identify the substances responsible for this disorder: essentially, it involves applying a few aluminum discs to the skin of the patient's back, each containing a particular substance (allergen) potentially responsible for dermatitis (the substances to be tested in the individual subject are chosen from those with which he can come into contact during daily activities, hence the "importance of a thorough medical history"); these discs are kept on the skin for 48 hours thanks to special hypoallergenic patches; once removed, any allergic response to one or more substances applied will be identified by the presence of redness, itching and small vesicles localized at the site of contact; the interpretation of the results and the execution of the test are the sole medical competence.
A small skin biopsy and blood tests may be necessary to diagnose other types of dermatitis.
varies according to the triggering cause.Since this is a rather broad topic, it was decided to deal with the topic in a separate article.
For further information, therefore, readers are invited to click on the link below.
For further information: Treatment and Prevention of Dermatitis
