DERMATITIS

By. P. Dhilip Kumar

DEFINITION
Dermatitis is an inherited skin disorder
characterized by inflammation of skin with
exacerbations and remissions.
Causes:
 Genetically influenced
 Delayed hypersensitivity reactions
 Exposure to environmental allergens
 Drug induced allergic reactions
 Infestations from inset bites such as ticks,
scabies etc.
TYPES OF DERMATITIS
 Allergic contact dermatitis: It is the delayed
hypersensitivity absorbed agent acting as
antigen sensitization after several exposures,
appearance of lesions 2-7 days after contact
with allergen.
 Drug induced dermatitis: It is induced by
drugs that acts as the antigen and causes
hypersensitivity reaction. Certain drugs are
prone to allergic reactions like penicillin.
CONTD…
 Atopic dermatitis: it is a genetically induced
chronic, relapsing disease associated with
immunologic irregularity involving inflammatory
mediators exaggerated by cutaneous response
to environmental allergens.
 Seborrheic dermatitis: it is a benign superficial
growth formed as oval shaped papules or
plaques.
 Chronic dermatitis: It is the disease caused by
familial disposition that involves excessively
rapid turnover of epidermal cells.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
 Red papules and plaques
 Sharply circumscribed with occasional vesicles
 Pruritic area on skin
 Rash often red, macular and papular lesions
 Bright erythema
 Oozing vesicles
 Thickened skin with lichenification (skin
markings)
 Dry skin
 Hyper pigmentation
DIAGNOSTIC STUDIES

 family history regarding exposure to possible

offending antigens causing dermatitis.
 Patch testing: this involves application of
allergens to the patient’s skin it is used to
aid in assess the offending agent.
 Skin scraping: scraping of skin is done with
the scalpel blade to obtain a sample of
surface cells and inspected with a
microscope to identify the type of
dermatitis.
TREATMENT
 Topical corticosteroids like dexamethasone ointment
 Anti histamines and anti-pruritic lotions like
diphenydramine is used to treat itching.
 Lubrication of dry skin with calamine lotions
 Systemic corticosteroids like dexa methasone and
hydro cortisone is administered.
 Topical immunomodulators like pimecrolimus and
tacrolimus are used to treat atopic dermatitis.
 withdraw the offending drug in case of drug induced
dermatitis.
 Antibiotics like doxycycline and tetracycline are
used to prevent secondary infection.
OTHER THERAPIES
 Photo therapy: it is the exposure of the
dermatic lesions to ultraviolet light which
causes suppression of basal cell mitosis.
 Currettage: it is the removal or scraping of
the sperficial lesions with an instrument with
circular cutting edge called aurrette.
 Cryo -surgery: it is the use of sub freezing
temperatures to destroy epidermal lesions
done for cosmetic reasons to eliminate the
source of irritation with minimal scarring .