dermatitis
noun
or dermatitises
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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
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
Additionally, some people may develop a rash around their mouth called perioral dermatitis from fluoride, SLS, and cinnamon flavorings in toothpaste.
—Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024
Washing the face too often can, in some cases, cause disruption of the skin’s microbiome and aggravate skin conditions such as perioral dermatitis or sensitive skin, Saxton-Daniels added.
—Alyssa Hui, Health, 29 Feb. 2024
The company is also researching and developing noninvasive skin patches for evaluating inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2024
Dandruff is a milder form of a common condition called seborrheic dermatitis.
—USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
Seborrheic dermatitis can be painful, itchy, and super frustrating.
—Tamekia Reece, SELF, 29 Nov. 2023
How to treat seborrheic dermatitis The most effective way to treat seborrheic dermatitis is by using an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains ingredients like ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, and salicylic acid.
—Krissy Brady, SELF, 5 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
1876, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dermatitis
Cite this Entry
“Dermatitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermatitis. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
dermatitis
noun
or dermatitises
Medical Definition
dermatitis
noun
called also dermitis
More from Merriam-Webster on dermatitis
Nglish: Translation of dermatitis for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dermatitis
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