DERMATITIS -Common Medical Advice

General Information

The terms eczema, dermatitis, and rash are often used interchangeably to describe the same condition. The most common forms of this condition are contact and atopic. Other forms include seborrheic, nummular, generalized exfoliative, status, and localized scratch dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis

• Results from direct contact with irritants.
• Is restricted to the area of contact.
• Develops slowly from chronic exposure.
• Is often due to skin contact with chemical irritants such as hair dye, nickel in jewelry, sticking plasters, perfumes, plants
• Is often very itchy, red, and has raised welts.

Atopic dermatitis

• Is common in the elbows or behind the knees.
• Often occurs with a history of allergy and/or asthma.
• Develops in early childhood.
• Looks like dry, flaking skin, especially before scratching starts
• Is usually symmetrical
• There is often a family history of allergy or eczema.

Signs and Symptoms

• Slight to marked redness.
• Itching.
• Drying, scaling and cracking, weeping, and thickening of some areas of the skin.
• There may be some swelling and blistering.

Advice to the Customers

• People with dry skin or those who are prone to dermatitis should use hypoallergenic cosmetics
• Use alternative products when possible to avoid the cause of contact dermatitis.
• After bathing or shower, dry the skin by patting with a towel, not by rubbing.
• Use a mild soap or soap substitute, even when the skin is healthy. Soap substitutes are the cornerstone of therapy
• Avoid taking too many showers or baths, as these dry the skin out One or two short showers or baths daily are enough.
• Applying moisturizers helps prevent excessive drying of the skin throughout the day.

Prescription Advice

• Instruct the patient on the medication and how to use it properly, 1.8 names of the medication, frequency of dosage, etc.
• Inform the patient about the possibility of side effects caused by certain agents for dermatitis.
• In cases where dermatitis has not improved in 5-10 days, instruct the patient to contact the dermatologist immediately.
• Discuss Advice to the Customers thoroughly for more information on the prevention and management of dermatitis.