Dermatitis is a broad term that refers to inflammation of the skin. There are many types of dermatitis, including:

1. Contact dermatitis - a reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritant or allergen, such as poison ivy, cosmetics, or certain metals.
2. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) - a chronic condition characterized by itchy, red, and dry skin. It often begins in childhood and can persist into adulthood.
3. Seborrheic dermatitis - a common skin condition that causes redness, itching, and flaking of the scalp, eyebrows, and other areas of the body.
4. Stasis dermatitis - a condition that occurs when there is poor circulation in the legs, leading to swelling and skin changes such as redness, scaling, and itching.

The symptoms of dermatitis can vary depending on the type and severity of the condition but can include redness, itching, rash, scaling, and blisters. Treatment for dermatitis may involve identifying and avoiding triggers, applying topical medications such as corticosteroids or antihistamines, or taking oral medications to reduce inflammation or treat an underlying condition. It is important to consult with a dermatologist or healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

A common cause of dermatitis is contact with something that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction — for example, poison ivy, perfume, lotion and jewelry containing nickel. Other causes of dermatitis include dry skin, a viral infection, bacteria, stress, genetic makeup and a problem with the immune system.

Wear protective clothing if you are doing a task that involves irritants or caustic chemicals.

Avoid dry skin by adopting these habits when bathing:

• Take shorter baths and showers. Limit your baths and showers to 5 to 10 minutes. Use warm, rather than hot, water. Bath oil also may be helpful.
• Use a gentle, nonsoap cleanser. Choose unscented nonsoap cleansers. Some soaps can dry your skin.
• Dry yourself gently. After bathing, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.
• Moisturize your skin. While your skin is still damp, seal in moisture with an oil, cream or lotion. Try different products to find one that works for you. Ideally, the best one for you will be safe, effective, affordable and unscented. Two small studies showed that applying a protective moisturizer to the skin of infants at high risk of atopic dermatitis reduced the incidence of the condition by up to 50%.

The treatment for dermatitis varies, depending on the cause and your symptoms. In addition to the lifestyle and home remedies recommendations below, dermatitis treatment might include one or more of the following:

• Applying to the affected skin corticosteroid creams, gels or ointments
• Applying to the affected skin certain creams or ointments that affect your immune system (calcineurin inhibitors)
• Exposing the affected area to controlled amounts of natural or artificial light (phototherapy)
• Using oral corticosteroids (pills) or injectable dupilumab, for severe disease
• Using wet dressings, a medical treatment for severe atopic dermatitis that involves applying a corticosteroid and wrapping it with wet bandages