dermatitis

noun

der·​ma·​ti·​tis ˌdər-mə-ˈtī-təs How to pronounce dermatitis (audio)
plural dermatitides ˌdər-mə-ˈti-tə-ˌdēz How to pronounce dermatitis (audio) or dermatitises
: inflammation of the skin

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Dermatitis usually appears as a rash, and may cause itching, blisters, swelling, and often scabbing and scaling. It often marks an allergic reaction of some kind. Contact dermatitis is caused by something (often a chemical) touching the skin. Atopic dermatitis usually affects the insides of the elbows, the backs of the knees, and the face; generally resulting from an inherited sensitivity, it's often triggered by inhaling something. Eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff are all forms of dermatitis. Even in the worst cases, dermatitis isn't infectious and doesn't produce serious health consequences.

Examples of dermatitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Seborrheic dermatitis comes and goes, often clearing and flaring without warning. Karyn Repinski, Health, 19 Apr. 2024 There are actually seven different types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024 The reason being that shampoo itself doesn’t make much of an impact on the scalp, unless there is an inflammatory scalp condition, like seborrheic dermatitis, excessive bacteria and fungus, excessive oil, or Demodex parasites. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024 This dog shampoo is specially formulated to provide a deep clean while also treating skin conditions such as acne, seborrhea, and other dermatitis issues. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024 An oily, greasy scalp can leave you vulnerable to developing seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff, explains Turegano. Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024 The derm adds that those with seborrheic dermatitis should also steer clear of tape-ins. Tayler Adigun, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024 This is called allergic contact dermatitis, Cheraghlou said. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024 Some of the most common subtypes are irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dermatitis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dermatitis was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near dermatitis

Cite this Entry

“Dermatitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermatitis. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

dermatitis

noun
der·​ma·​ti·​tis ˌdər-mə-ˈtīt-əs How to pronounce dermatitis (audio)
plural dermatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce dermatitis (audio) or dermatitises
: inflammation of the skin

Medical Definition

dermatitis

noun
der·​ma·​ti·​tis ˌdər-mə-ˈtīt-əs How to pronounce dermatitis (audio)
plural dermatitises or dermatitides -ˈtit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce dermatitis (audio)
: inflammation of the skin

called also dermitis

dermatitic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on dermatitis

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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