Contact Dermatitis

If you have dry and itchy skin, there’s a very a good chance that you have dermatitis. Some people have problems with dry skin alone, while others are troubled solely by itchy skin. But if you suffer from both symptoms, your condition is much worse. Consult your doctor immediately to see if your dry itchy skin is the first indication of dermatitis.

If the Dry Itchy Skin Does Mean Dermatitis

Also known as Acute Moist Dermatitis or Moist Eczema, Hot Spots can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog’s body and the area involved can rapidly spread. This raw, unsightly skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most consistent factor is a bacterial infection. There are a number of kinds of bacteria that can be cultured from a ‘hot spot’ and fortunately most respond to oral and topical antibiotics. Anything that irritates or breaks the skin can create the right environment for bacterial contamination if the skin surface is wet. The body’s response is either to itch or become inflamed. The itching then causes the dog to lick or chew the area, which further damages the skin, and creates a cycle of itching, scratching and chewing. If left to develop the infection goes into the deep layers of the skin.

Persons who suffer with dermatitis or sensitive skin have a difficult time living day to day avoiding allergens and the dreaded rash, itching and discomfort that comes with it. I have sensitive skin and prone to develop contact dermatitis at any time often reacting to something next to my skin that I have used for long periods of time. I recently had to discard my favorite pair of pants after months of developing a rash on my stomach and side whenever I wore them. How could this be I said to myself, of all the things in the world to have, why did I inherit this strange skin?

Atopic dermatitis (AD) or atopic eczema, is a common, chronic skin disorder with increasing global prevalence.

It is relapsing skin disorder seen mostly in infants and children but it and can persist into adulthood. Statistics show that almost 10% to 20% of the population in the United States suffers from AD. About 66% patients develop the disorder before 1 year of age and 90% by 5 years of age. AD prevalence is increasing. This condition usually occurs in people who have other chronic conditions, including asthma, hayfever, or food allergies, or who have family members who have these disorders.

Eczema is a drying of the skin which results in inflammation and the risk of infection. Those infections create further inflammation and more drying. Combating eczema is a three fold fight, healing the skin and keeping it healthy, preventing flare-ups, and treating symptoms.

DIAPER DERMATITIS

Definition:

Diaper dermatitis or diaper rash is an irritation of the skin covering the groin, lower stomach, upper thighs and buttocks. This condition is seen more commonly in infants and early childhood prior to 2 years of age. Diaper dermatitis usually occurs between one and two months of age and may continue until the child no longer wears diapers

Symptoms:

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease that targets the skin. It is most commonly known as eczema or atopic eczema. “Dermatitis” literally means an inflammation of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is usually found in patients who have an “atopic tendency”. These only mean that they have a high risk of acquiring atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever and asthma because they have inherited it from their parents or other family members.