What Is Dermatitis?

Is It Short for Something Else, and What Do I Actually Have?

Many patients come to us saying they’ve been told they have “dermatitis.” What is dermatitis? Here’s the truth: dermatitis isn’t one single medical diagnosis. It’s a general term that simply means inflammation of the skin. There are several different conditions that fall under this umbrella—each with unique causes, symptoms, and treatments.

If you or your child has been diagnosed with dermatitis, you may actually have one of the following:

Common Types of Dermatitis

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Atopic dermatitis—often just called eczema—is the most common type of dermatitis. It usually begins in childhood but can affect teens and adults as well. It tends to run in families and often flares in people with allergies or asthma.

• Symptoms: dry, itchy patches, redness, sometimes oozing or thickened skin from scratching
• Treatment: daily moisturizers, prescription topical creams, and in some cases advanced therapies like phototherapy or biologic medications

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis happens when your skin reacts to something it touches. This can be an irritant, like harsh soaps, or an allergen, like nickel, fragrance, or poison ivy. The rash usually shows up exactly where the skin made contact.

• Symptoms: red, itchy, sometimes blistering rash in the exposed area
• Treatment: avoiding triggers, soothing creams, and prescription anti-inflammatory medications if severe

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is common in teenagers and adults, especially in areas with more oil glands such as the scalp, face, and chest. You may know it best as “dandruff,” though it can also cause redness and irritation beyond the scalp.

• Symptoms: greasy or scaly patches, flaking, dandruff, redness around the nose, eyebrows, or ears
• Treatment: medicated shampoos, antifungal or anti-inflammatory creams

Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral dermatitis most commonly affects women and appears as small red bumps or scaly patches around the mouth, nose, or eyes. It can be triggered by topical steroid creams, certain skincare products, or even fluoride toothpaste.

• Symptoms: clusters of bumps or scaly red patches around the mouth or eyes
• Treatment: discontinuing certain triggers and using topical or oral prescription medications

Dermatitis in Teens vs. Adults

• Teens often flare due to hormones, stress, or new exposures (sports, school, skincare products).
• Adults may experience chronic or recurring dermatitis triggered by stress, work exposures, or weather.

No matter the age, ongoing or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a dermatologist.

When to See a Dermatologist in Connecticut

You should schedule an appointment if:

• Over-the-counter creams aren’t helping.
• The rash is spreading, painful, or looks infected  (for example: yellow crusting, pus, warmth, swelling, or increasing pain).
• Your symptoms are interfering with daily life or sleep.

At Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut, our board-certified dermatologists help patients of all ages get the right diagnosis and treatment—whether it’s eczema, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or another skin condition.

FAQs About Dermatitis

Q: Is dermatitis the same as eczema?
A: Not exactly. Dermatitis is a broad term for skin inflammation. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is one of the most common forms.

Q: Can food allergies cause dermatitis?
A: Sometimes. Food allergies can worsen eczema in children and teens, though this is less common in adults.

Q: Will dermatitis go away on its own?
A: Mild cases may improve with good skincare and avoiding triggers, but chronic or severe dermatitis often requires treatment.

Q: What skincare routine is best?
A: Stick to gentle, fragrance-free cleansers, moisturize daily, and avoid hot showers that dry the skin.

Bottom line: “Dermatitis” is a general term. To get lasting relief, it’s important to know which type you have—and that starts with seeing a dermatologist.

👉 Request an Appointment Today at one of our convenient locations in Branford, Fairfield, Hamden, New London, Oxford, Stamford, Shelton, Norwalk, or New Haven  to get fast, effective relief from acne, eczema and other skin concerns.