Dermatosis: definition, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 24, 2023

The term Dermatosis generically refers to a pathology of the integumentary system including skin, nails and hair

They can be of different types, including those with an inflammatory component.

There are therefore various types of dermatoses which vary according to the layer of skin affected, the areas involved and the cause of the inflammation.

Dermatosis is often a skin response to irritants or factors such as severe dryness, itching and subsequent scratching or allergies.

Many people suffer from more or less serious forms of dermatosis, such as contact, seborrheic or nummular ones.

The therapies can be different depending on the type of dermatosis you are suffering from, but prevention is always the most effective tool to avoid aesthetic or psychological discomfort.

What is inflammatory dermatosis?

Inflammatory dermatosis is a disease that causes inflammation of the skin, the symptoms of which are usually itching, redness, blisters, exudation and swelling.

In the most extreme cases, dermatosis can also lead to crusting and flaking phenomena that cause burning and severe discomfort.

The diagnosis is made by the doctor who may request further tests to confirm the etiological diagnosis of the disease.

Surely to reduce the risk of the skin manifestation of this condition, it can be useful to avoid irritants or allergens.

Dermatosis is a generic term under which different types of dermatitis are included.

The name of the inflammatory dermatosis comes from the inflammation that this pathology causes on the skin.

Dermatosis types

Based on the mechanism that triggers skin inflammation, we recognize various types of dermatosis:

Atopic dermatosis or atopic eczema. This type of rash is usually common in very young, if not childhood, individuals. It is usually characterized by redness and blisters that form in skin folds, such as the elbows, knees, ankles and neck.
Seborrheic dermatosis. It is a chronic inflammation of the skin, also characterized by itching and discomfort. This type of dermatosis is characterized by inflammation of the sebaceous glands in different parts of the body such as the scalp, face and upper trunk. The manifestation of this dermatosis includes yellowish greasy flaking, dandruff and redness.
Contact dermatosis. This type of dermatitis, on the other hand, is characterized by the reaction of the skin to contact with an irritating substance. This type of inflammation is often caused by allergic reactions, or derives from contact with stinging or irritating substances, such as nettles, detergents or chemicals. It is characterized by the presence of vesicles that lead to itching and burning, which appear following contact with the harmful substance.

How to diagnose inflammatory dermatosis: symptoms and tests

Dermatosis, especially atopic dermatosis, can manifest itself differently depending on the patient and with it the symptoms can also change.

In fact, depending on the age of the patient, the symptoms of atopic dermatitis can be different.

In the first years of age, dermatosis can manifest itself with eczematous lesions, therefore with rashes or vesicles which also lead to the creation of crusts.

In this stage of life, symptoms usually appear on the face and limbs.

With increasing age, the symptoms of dermatosis can increasingly affect the areas of the folds, for example the elbows and arms, but also the knees and neck.

For older children and adults, symptoms such as thickened and dry skin, called lichenification, can also often occur.

Recognizing the symptoms is essential for the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.

Among the most common and characteristic of this disease are:

itching. A constant and very intense symptom that can lead to irritability, sleep loss and agitation, especially in children;
dry skin and keratosis pilaris;
peeling with white patches on the arms and face;
elevated serum IgE levels.

To facilitate a precise and correct diagnosis of atopic dermatosis, the doctor can then ask questions about personal and family history, such as the presence of other similar cases of contact dermatitis or other types.

Studying the type of symptom, in particular the type of rash and the affected area, can help to better understand whether it is atopic dermatitis.

Finally, symptoms such as itching and their chronic or recurring course can lead to an even more precise diagnosis.

Difference between dermatosis and dermatitis

The term dermatosis is used to define various diseases of the integumentary system, therefore of the skin.

Dermatitis is therefore a pathology belonging to the dermatosis family and describes the acute inflammatory state of the disease which includes symptoms such as itching, redness, the presence of vesicles and dry skin.

Dermatosis risk factors

The risk factors of dermatosis are different and can affect not only children but also adults.

The first risk factor for the disease is the familial predisposition.

During the medical examination it is in fact important to investigate whether there is a known history of dermatosis in the patient’s family.

Stress and a hectic life are two factors that can lead to the unfolding of the disease with the appearance of rashes.

The hormonal variations typical of adolescence can give skin manifestations of inflammatory origin causing rashes of various kinds.

Excessive heat or excessive humidity can lead to dehydration of the skin and symptoms such as redness, dryness and blisters.

Finally, even poor hygiene or low water consumption can lead to dry skin and favor the appearance of dermatosis.

Dermatosis: care and treatments

How is dermatosis treated? Depending on the type of dermatosis diagnosed, the doctor may use different types of pharmacological remedies such as:

the use of hydrocortisone or corticosteroid ointments, which are useful for relieving symptoms such as itching and dryness;
antibiotic or antifungal or antiviral drugs (in case of herpetic dermatitis);
soothing ointments to reduce dryness and relieve itching.

Allergic Dermatitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment And Prevention

Eczema: Causes And Symptoms

Skin, What Are The Effects Of Stress

Eczema: Definition, How To Recognise It And Which Treatment To Favour

Dermatitis: The Different Types And How To Distinguish Them

Contact Dermatitis: Patient Treatment

Stress Dermatitis: Causes, Symptoms And Remedies

Infectious Cellulitis: What Is It? Diagnosis And Treatment

Contact Dermatitis: Causes And Symptoms

Skin Diseases: How To Treat Psoriasis?

Eczema Or Cold Dermatitis: Here’s What To Do