katyzzzDermatitis
November 10th 2006 01:34
Dermatitis :
Dermatitis, sometimes also called eczema, can create a vicious cycle. Your skin itches, so you scratch it. It becomes red and swollen, and then tiny, red, oozing bumps appear that eventually crust over. You keep scratching because the itching is unbearable, so the rash gets even more irritated and perhaps even infected.
All too often, you don't even know what's causing the itching. It could be an allergy to the soap you use in the shower each morning. It could be irritation from a chemical you're exposed to at work. It could even be atopic dermatitis, which is a mysterious, chronic skin condition that usually begins in childhood and most often strikes people with a personal or family history of allergic conditions.
Dermatitis is sometimes used as a catch-all term for any inflammation or swelling of the skin. The term eczema is used interchangeably with dermatitis by some experts, while others use "eczema" only to refer to the specific condition known medically as atopic dermatitis. Regardless of the kind of dermatitis you're suffering from, some general rules apply when you're seeking relief.
Definition :
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin. There are many different kinds of dermatitis.
Chronic Dermatitis :
Chronic dermatitis often occurs on the hands or feet and may simply be the result of continued irritation, especially by contact dermatitis. It is marked by thickened skin, inflammation, and scaling.
Contact Dermatitis :
This skin inflammation is caused by a substance that has touched the skin. It may be a harsh chemical or a detergent or soap that irritates skin directly, or it may be a substance that produces an allergic reaction that does not appear until five or six days after the initial contact. Less commonly, the reaction appears only after years of repeated use.
Eczema :
This inflammation of the skin is marked by small blisters (when severe), redness, fluid in the tissue, oozing, scales, crusts or scabs, burning or itching, and sometimes dryness. The skin of flexor surfaces (those subject to bending movements, such as the back of the knee and the top of the elbow) is most commonly affected.
Treatment :
Because there is such a variety of skin diseases -- and because some can be dangerous if neglected -- it is important to seek medical care for any dermatitis. In general, this care usually begins with very simple measures. Dry skin needs lubricating agents, while moist or oily skin may require powders or other drying substances. Inflamed skin is commonly treated with cortisone-type creams, cool wet dressings, or baths.
Dermatitis, sometimes also called eczema, can create a vicious cycle. Your skin itches, so you scratch it. It becomes red and swollen, and then tiny, red, oozing bumps appear that eventually crust over. You keep scratching because the itching is unbearable, so the rash gets even more irritated and perhaps even infected.
All too often, you don't even know what's causing the itching. It could be an allergy to the soap you use in the shower each morning. It could be irritation from a chemical you're exposed to at work. It could even be atopic dermatitis, which is a mysterious, chronic skin condition that usually begins in childhood and most often strikes people with a personal or family history of allergic conditions.
Dermatitis is sometimes used as a catch-all term for any inflammation or swelling of the skin. The term eczema is used interchangeably with dermatitis by some experts, while others use "eczema" only to refer to the specific condition known medically as atopic dermatitis. Regardless of the kind of dermatitis you're suffering from, some general rules apply when you're seeking relief.
Definition :
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin. There are many different kinds of dermatitis.
Chronic Dermatitis :
Chronic dermatitis often occurs on the hands or feet and may simply be the result of continued irritation, especially by contact dermatitis. It is marked by thickened skin, inflammation, and scaling.
Contact Dermatitis :
This skin inflammation is caused by a substance that has touched the skin. It may be a harsh chemical or a detergent or soap that irritates skin directly, or it may be a substance that produces an allergic reaction that does not appear until five or six days after the initial contact. Less commonly, the reaction appears only after years of repeated use.
Eczema :
This inflammation of the skin is marked by small blisters (when severe), redness, fluid in the tissue, oozing, scales, crusts or scabs, burning or itching, and sometimes dryness. The skin of flexor surfaces (those subject to bending movements, such as the back of the knee and the top of the elbow) is most commonly affected.
Treatment :
Because there is such a variety of skin diseases -- and because some can be dangerous if neglected -- it is important to seek medical care for any dermatitis. In general, this care usually begins with very simple measures. Dry skin needs lubricating agents, while moist or oily skin may require powders or other drying substances. Inflamed skin is commonly treated with cortisone-type creams, cool wet dressings, or baths.
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