Dermatitis

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Summary

Dermatitis is a general term for skin conditions characterized by dryness, itchiness, and inflammation.

Common types include eczema, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.

Treatments typically include corticosteroids and emollients.

Dermatitis: essential info
Causes
What are my options?
FAQ

Reviewed on December 02, 2025. by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Registered with GPhC (No. 2241935)

Next review due on December 02, 2028

Last updated on December 24, 2025

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What is dermatitis?

The term ‘dermatitis’ refers to several conditions involving the skin. It’s often used to cover a range of symptoms such as dryness, itchiness, and inflammation, and is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘eczema’ to summarize the skin changes that people develop. It can also be used as an umbrella term for more specific conditions like photodermatitis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis.

There are several causes of dermatitis, and they relate to specific conditions. Contact dermatitis, for example, is a form of dermatitis that is triggered when your skin comes into contact with a substance that aggravates it.¹

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is the most common inflammatory skin disease and can be triggered by allergies such as rhinitis or food intolerances. It can also affect people with asthma.² A healthcare professional can help you identify which skin condition you have, and help you find a suitable treatment to manage it.

Another common type of dermatitis is perioral dermatitis, which causes a red, bumpy rash around the mouth, and sometimes the nose and eyes. It can be itchy or cause a burning sensation, and is often triggered by things like certain skincare products, topical steroids, hormonal changes, or even toothpaste.

Who gets dermatitis?

Dermatitis can affect anyone. There are a wide range of conditions involving irritated, dry, or inflamed skin, and they can usually present at any age. Skin conditions like eczema can begin during childhood or start to affect you when you’re an adult.³

Contact dermatitis can also affect people at any age, but might be more likely to occur if you handle irritants (like chemicals or beauty products) regularly.⁴

Perioral dermatitis, on the other hand, is much more common in women than men—around 9 out of 10 cases occur in women, most often between the ages of 20 and 45.⁵

Dermatological conditions can also vary in severity. People with eczema often experience flare-ups where their symptoms become worse, followed by periods of remission (where your skin recovers). The symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis, which usually affects your scalp and face, can vary from person to person and have multiple causes.

How common is dermatitis?

Skin conditions involving dryness, soreness, and irritation are very common. Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a form of dermatitis that affects 1 in 10 adults in the US at some point in their lives.⁶ However other forms of dermatitis might be less common. There isn’t a great deal of data to show exactly how common dermatitis is, overall.

Treated trusted source:

Litchman, G., et al. (2023). Contact Dermatitis. National Library of Medicine.
Kolb, L. and Ferrer-Bruker, S.J. (2023). Atopic Dermatitis. [online] PubMed. Available at: .
National Eczema Association. (n.d.). What is Eczema?
MedlinePlus (n.d.) Contact dermatitis.
Lipozenčić, J. and Hadžavdić, S.L. (2014). Perioral dermatitis. Clinics in Dermatology, 32(1), pp.125–130.
National Eczema Association (NEA) (n.d.) Eczema Facts.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on December 02, 2025. Next review due on December 02, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

What causes dermatitis?

Dermatitis is a broad term for a number of skin conditions. Although symptoms overlap between these conditions (such as with eczema and contact dermatitis), they often have different causes.

Contact dermatitis is usually caused by an irritant you’re using like a soap or detergent. Sometimes, your skin reacts to chemicals in cosmetic products that you’re sensitive to.

Seborrheic dermatitis, which usually affects your scalp or face, can have a number of causes, making it difficult to determine. Stress, hormonal factors, and changes of season are all thought to contribute to the inflammatory response that causes it. Another factor involved in the condition is a yeast called Malassezia, which lives on skin. The exact role of this yeast and how it contributes to seborrheic dermatitis isn’t clear, but people who have the condition are known to produce more of it.

A doctor can explain more to you about the different causes of dermatitis, and give you more information about what might be causing yours.

What are the symptoms of dermatitis?

Dermatitis can affect people differently, but there are lots of symptoms that overlap between skin conditions involving inflammation and irritation.

Contact dermatitis can cause dryness, soreness, and stinging that can sometimes lead to blisters. Allergic contact dermatitis can cause similar symptoms, but can cause itchiness and stinging. It mainly affects the hands, and sometimes can cause a delayed reaction.¹

Eczema causes patches of skin to be inflamed and sore, and often causes cracks to form on the skin’s surface. The symptoms you experience might align with more than one dermatitis condition, so a healthcare professional can help you identify the exact cause of your symptoms.

Can dermatitis lead to other problems?

Left untreated, dermatitis can cause skin problems that might be harder to manage than your initial symptoms. Eczema can cause cracks in your skin, and these broken areas might become infected as bacteria enter.

If irritants are making your dermatitis worse, then trying to identify them will help you avoid them and reduce your flare-ups. Things to look out for include specific foods that might be causing a reaction, materials you might be sensitive to, or environmental factors such as hay fever or changes in weather.

Skin inflammation, dryness, and irritation can also have an impact on your mental well-being, and it often works both ways: these symptoms can cause stress, while stress can also make them worse. Getting the right treatment and managing flare-ups can improve your self-confidence and put you in control of your condition.

Treated trusted source:

Murphy, P.B., Atwater, A.R. and Mueller, M. (2023). Allergic Contact Dermatitis. National Library of Medicine.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on December 02, 2025. Next review due on December 02, 2028.

How we source info.

What medications are there for dermatitis?

Finding the right treatment for your dermatitis might involve some trial and error. A consultation can help you choose a medication that seems like the right fit for you.

Topical corticosteroids like Hydrocortisone and Elocon are often prescribed for dermatitis where itchiness and dry skin caused by inflammation are the main symptoms.

Emollients, such as Aquaphor, work differently and instead form a protective barrier on the skin that hydrates it and prevents it from drying out further. Ointments work in a similar way, and can soothe the soreness created when cracks form on the skin.

Nonsteroidal options include:

topical calcineurin inhibitors, like tacrolimus (brand name Protopic) and pimecrolimus (brand name Elidel);
topical phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, like crisaborole (brand name Eucrisa) and roflumilast (brand name Zoryve); and:
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, like abrocitinib (brand name Cibinqo), that block the immune signals and inhibit the effect of inflammatory molecules called cytokines involved in eczema

Another way of managing skin irritation is using a medicated dressing. These contain a medication that treats the affected area of skin, but can also prevent contact with irritants while protecting from overexposure to moisture.

Are dermatitis treatments available over the counter?

You can get skincare products over the counter that might help your dermatitis. Moisturizers are widely available and can create a protective barrier that stops your skin drying out further and becoming more irritated.

For soreness, antiseptic creams can soothe affected areas and help prevent infections developing. A pharmacist can give you more information about products they think will benefit your skin.

Itching caused by eczema and other dermatological conditions can sometimes be caused by allergies, so taking common antihistamines like loratadine and cetirizine might calm down the urges to scratch your skin. They’re often found in drugstores as well as pharmacies.

Does dermatitis always need treatment?

Some skin conditions can improve over time, but whether or not you’ll need treatment to manage your symptoms largely depends on how you’re affected by them.

Eczema might only need to be treated during flare-ups. For contact dermatitis, red and blistered skin might completely heal once you’ve established which irritant was causing your skin to react. For photodermatitis, a proper sunscreen routine along with protective clothing that blocks UV rays might mean you don’t need any other treatments to manage your condition.

How we source info.

Dermatitis: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

How is dermatitis diagnosed?

Answer:

A doctor will want to ask you some questions about your symptoms, such as the severity and frequency of them, to determine the best treatment approach. They can usually diagnose dermatitis based on the information you’ve provided, but you’ll also be asked to provide some pictures to establish exactly what’s causing your symptoms.

Conditions such as eczema and contact dermatitis often have overlapping symptoms, such as dryness and inflammation. You might be referred for a skin biopsy, which can be arranged through your primary care physician. It’s usually recommended if a doctor wants to rule out anything more serious.

Do dermatitis treatments work?

Answer:

Prescription treatments for dermatitis have been shown to be an effective way of managing it. The type of treatment you’re recommended will be tailored to your specific condition and the severity of your symptoms. Our medical team will always suggest choices that are safe and suitable for you to use.

Corticosteroids are often used to manage inflammation. Different strengths are available, and they can be used for different lengths of time. They’re an effective way to keep on top of contact dermatitis,¹ and are often prescribed to treat similar conditions.

Emollients, which are used to treat dry skin, have been shown to significantly improve moisturization and are a recommended treatment for atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema).²

Can dermatitis be prevented?

Answer:

Dermatitis might be preventable altogether, but it depends which condition you have. For contact dermatitis, you might see your symptoms improve and clear up completely if you’re able to identify what’s irritating your skin. This could be a substance, such as a chemical, or an allergy that is causing an immune response.

Photodermatitis is a skin condition caused by sensitivity to UV rays, and often occurs as a result of sunlight exposure. This can be an inherent issue, but it is also caused by medications and exposure to certain plants. Wearing sunscreen and limiting the amount of time spent in the sun can help prevent flare-ups.

Knowing your triggers is a reliable way of keeping your dermatitis symptoms in check, but it can be helpful to find other ways to avoid worsening your condition. Using mild soaps and detergents can help you avoid irritating your skin, and so can moisturizing regularly. You can get help from your primary care physician, or from a healthcare expert about other things you can try that might benefit you.

Can you get side effects from dermatitis treatments?

Answer:

Some dermatitis products can cause side effects, but it will depend which one you’re using and which skin condition you’re managing. Whichever medication you use, you should always read the medication guide included with it so you have a clear picture of any side effects you might get.

Treatments like emollients that cover your skin in a protective film can cause irritation and stinging after they’ve been applied. If this happens, stop using the emollient and contact your doctor for advice.

Topical corticosteroids (in the form of ointments or creams) are commonly prescribed for dermatological conditions, and they too can create a stinging sensation. They can also cause increased hair growth and acne, but not everyone will be affected in this way.

A doctor can give you advice about any side effects you’re concerned about while using a dermatitis treatment.

Can dermatitis spread?

Answer:

No, dermatitis itself isn’t contagious, so you can’t pass it to someone else. However, some types of dermatitis, like allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, can show up on other areas of your own skin if they come into contact with the trigger. And scratching your skin can also worsen the irritation and cause it to spread.

Treated trusted source:

Murphy, P.B., Atwater, A.R. and Mueller, M. (2023). Allergic Contact Dermatitis. National Library of Medicine.
August, S., Granier, S., Mark Peter Tighe, Tbaily, L.W. and Henrik Ahlbom (2021). A Clinical Investigation of the Performance and Safety of Epaderm®, an Emollient Cream. [online] Volume 14, pp.909–920.

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