Dermatitis and Eczema

The words “dermatitis” and “eczema” are often used interchangeably to describe a pattern of skin inflammation caused by various factors. However, “dermatitis” is a broader term that encompasses all inflammatory dermatoses, while the term “eczema” describes the skin condition more closely, which is usually characterized by inflamed and dry skin, accompanied by itching. There are many different types of dermatitis/eczema, such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, stasis dermatitis, and asteatotic eczema. Inflammation of the skin is common to all dermatoses, but they differ in causes, pathophysiological mechanism, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic approach.