Dermatitis and Eczema - T.R.U.E. Test

Dermatitis and Eczema
What is dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, and may also called eczema.
Symptoms include itching, redness, warmth, swelling, cracking, pain, scaling
and crusting. Skin can crack, bleed and ooze, depending on the severity of the
reaction. Dermatitis can occur from exposure to the environment (such as dry
weather), chemicals (such as harsh soaps), allergens (such as nickel) and
physical trauma (such as abrasion).
Are there different types of dermatitis
Yes. There are many types such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis,
seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, and nummular
dermatitis. Although symptoms are similar, each type has characteristic
features. Atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis are
considered common in the general population, and contact dermatitis is
associated with occupational skin disease.
What is atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (often called eczema) is a chronic condition, recurring many
times during a person’s life. Some people with atopic dermatitis have a
personal and family history of allergies (such as hay fever or asthma). Atopic
dermatitis may also be related to a person’s immune response to substances
that are normally considered harmless. A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis is
based on medical history, symptoms, and may also include atopy patch
testing.
What is contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin at the area of contact. There
are two types of contact dermatitis – irritant and allergic. Your physician may
diagnose irritant or allergic contact dermatitis from your medical history,
occupation, symptoms, and patch testing. Treatment of both irritant and
allergic contact dermatitis is based on avoiding contact with the substance(s)
that caused the reaction.
Irritant contact dermatitis occurs in response to irritating substances such as
household cleaners, harsh soaps and industrial solvents. Your skin can react
to these substances within minutes or hours, and stops reacting soon after
they are gone.
Allergic contact dermatitis occurs from a person’s immune response to contact
allergens, such as fragrances, preservatives, nickel, gold, and many others.
Allergic reactions to contact allergens develop hours or days after exposure,
and may take weeks to heal. A personal or family history of other allergies
may increase a person’s chance of developing this skin condition.
What is seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is usually associated with red and flaking patches of
skin. It is often found on the scalp ( dandruff ), as well as the nose, eyebrows,
ears, and chest where hair follicles occur. Seborrheic dermatitis may be
associated with an unusual immune reaction to a fungal infection. It can occur
in healthy infants, children and adults, as well as patients with compromised
immune systems. Infections, dry weather, oily skin, stress and other factors
can make seborrheic dermatitis worse.
Can I tell what type of dermatitis I have
No. Dermatitis symptoms such as redness, itching, warmth, swelling, scaling,
cracking or pain are common and not specific. Your doctor will probably use
your symptoms, medical and occupational history, and specific testing to
determine what type of dermatitis you have.
How can I help my doctor diagnose my skin condition
Keep a “diary” of when your symptoms appear, get worse or improve. It also
helps to write down where your symptoms occur on your body, and how long
they last. If you notice that your skin gets worse after certain activities, record
the reaction and the activity in as much detail as possible.
Workers in some occupations are more likely to develop allergic contact
dermatitis, so it’s important to describe your work to your doctor. If you handle
chemicals during the day, make a list of these or find their Material Safety
Data Sheets (MSDS).
How is dermatitis treated
Successful treatment of dermatitis symptoms depends on getting an accurate
diagnosis from your physician. Depending on the type of dermatitis and the
severity of skin reactions, a physician may prescribe corticosteroids, antifungal
agents, antihistamines, barrier creams, and moisturizers for your skin,
shampoos with salicylic acid, selenium, zinc, or coal tar, and oral medications.
These treatments are intended to treat your symptoms and improve your
skin’s condition.
Because there is often no cure for dermatitis, your physician should discuss
ways to avoid allergen and/or irritant contact, and how to take better care of
your skin. In addition, reducing stress can improve your immune system
response and help restore your skin’s normal integrity [Choi et al, 2005].
These general guidelines are intended for educational purposes only. Please
consult your physician for specific questions about skin care.
For more information about contact allergies or
patch testing, visit www.truetest.com