Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation caused by various conditions, including eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Other causes can include vascular disease that leads to stasis dermatitis and abnormal reactions to sun exposure.

The main signs and symptoms of dermatitis include skin redness, irritation, and itchiness. In severe cases, the skin may also blister, ooze, and appear flaky.

Dermatitis is diagnosed through medical and physical assessments, and if the findings are unclear, additional tests like skin prick testing, blood tests for immune reactivity to allergens, or biopsy may be conducted.

The main medical treatments for dermatitis include moisturizers, topical corticosteroids, and topical calcineurin inhibitors, and the choice of treatment depends on the severity, location, and type of dermatitis. For contact dermatitis specifically, the first-line treatment is to avoid the triggering substance.

Several supplements — including oral vitamin E, topical vitamin B12, vitamin D, and probiotics — have shown potential benefits for treating eczema. Additionally, people who are deficient in certain nutrients like vitamins B2, B3, and B12, zinc, and iron may experience dermatitis-like symptoms, which suggests that supplementation could be beneficial.

Diet can influence dermatitis because allergies to certain foods like peanuts, cow’s milk, and wheat may trigger or exacerbate the condition. Additionally, people with celiac disease may experience dermatitis herpetiformis, which is characterized by blistering rashes from gluten consumption.

To treat dermatitis, recommendations advise that people whould avoid irritating fabrics like thick-fiber wool and reduce exposure to known irritants such as pollen and dust. Additionally, fine merino wool may help with eczema, and phototherapy can be beneficial for eczema that does not respond to initial treatments.

Dermatitis can be caused by both endogenous factors, like eczema and stasis dermatitis, which originate within the body, and exogenous factors, like irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, which result from external substances.