Dermatitis is a blanket term covering many different disorders that all result in a red, itchy rash. Some types of dermatitis affect only specific parts of the body whereas others can occur anywhere. The cause of dermatitis varies from person to person however, dermatitis is always a reaction to severe dryness, scratching, an irritating substance or an allergen coming into contact with the skin. In all cases, continuous scratching and rubbing may eventually lead to thickening and hardening of the skin.

Dermatitis may be a brief reaction to a substance resulting in itching and redness that lasts only a day or two. Chronic dermatitis persists over a period of time. Because chronic dermatitis produces cracks and blisters in the skin, it may lead to bacterial infection.

Contact dermatitis is skin inflammation caused by direct contact with a particular substance. The rash is very itchy, is confined to a specific area, and often has clearly defined boundaries.

Typical irritating substances are acids, alkalis (such as drain cleaners), solvents (such as acetone in nail polish remover), strong soaps, and plants (such as poinsettias and peppers). Some of these chemicals cause skin changes within a few minutes, whereas others require longer exposure. People vary in the sensitivity of their skin to irritants. Even very mild soaps and detergents may irritate the skin of some people after frequent or prolonged contact.

Regardless of cause or type, contact dermatitis results in itching and a rash. The itching is usually severe, but the rash varies from a mild, short-lived redness to severe swelling and large blisters. The rash develops only in areas contacted by the substance. However, the rash appears earlier in thin, sensitive areas of skin, and later in areas of thicker skin or on skin that had less contact with the substance, giving the impression that the rash has spread. Touching the rash cannot spread contact dermatitis to other people or to other parts of the body that did not make contact with the substance.

Treatment is not effective until there is no further contact with the substance causing the problem. Once the substance is removed, the redness usually disappears after a week. Residual scaling, itching, and temporary thickening of the skin may last for days or weeks.

Avoiding dry skin may be one factor in helping to prevent future bouts of Dermatitis. Bathing in warm water rather than hot, using gentle skincare products and moisturising your skin regularly are all effective ways to avoid dry skin.

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