DERMATITIS

The terms eczema and dermatitis are often used interchangeably to describe the same condition. Dermatitis is characterized by a rash, dryness of skin, itching, and redness of skin. The symptoms of dermatitis occur due to the over production of damaging inflammatory skin cells and continue to worsen as a result of certain factors in the environment.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Types Of Dermatitis

The more common types of dermatitis include:
Contact Dermatitis is dermatitis caused by physical contact with an irritant or allergen;
Atopic Dermatitis is a hereditary dermatitis thought to be caused by an allergic reaction;
Stasis Dermatitis is dermatitis of the leg area due to poor circulation;
Seborrheic Dermatitis appears as flaking or redness of the skin;
Neurodermatitis is dermatitis caused by repeated scratching or chafing.

Stress Triggers Dermatitis

Scientists have long sought to learn whether and how stress can lead to skin problems. A new study in mice shows that a stress-triggered hormone could worsen or even cause skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema.
The scientists found that blocking the hormone called glucocorticoid—which increases in stressful times—resulted in better skin.
Understanding how glucocorticoids work could help scientists come up with ways to prevent human skin problems triggered by psychological stress, said lead researcher Kenneth Feingold of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco and the University of California at San Francisco.
"Here you have things going on in your mind that affect what's going on in your skin," Feingold told LiveScience.Scratching the Surface
Eczema, also called dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin with many causes and forms. It causes swollen, reddened and itchy skin.