Dermatitis is an itchy inflammation of the skin. It is not contagious or dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable. There are many types of dermatitis, including allergic dermatitis, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis (which causes dandruff). Eczema is a chronic condition, and symptoms may come and go.
Your doctor will try to determine the cause of your dermatitis and make sure you have dermatitis and not a similar disease, such as psoriasis, skin cancer, or some psychological conditions. Your doctor may be able to make a diagnosis by examining you, or by doing a patch test to see what substances you might be allergic to.
Treatment varies depending on the type of dermatitis you have. For eczema, applying wet, cool compresses may help relieve itching. Taking a cool bath with baking soda or colloidal oatmeal added to the water may also help.
There are several complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) and strategies that can help treat dermatitis. For example, many people with eczema have food allergies, so eating a healthy diet may help reduce inflammation and allergic reactions. Dermatitis associated with stress and anxiety may improve with mind-body techniques, such as meditation, tai chi, yoga, and stress management. If you are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, do not use any CAM therapies unless you have been directed to do so by your physician.
Check with your doctor before giving a supplement to a child.
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. Always tell your doctor about any herbs you may be taking. When applying herbs to the skin it is important to make sure that you have no open wounds as serious infection can result.
Although few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may consider the following remedies for the treatment of dermatitis based on their knowledge and experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type, includes your physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate treatment for each individual.
Carefully avoid any substance that causes a skin reaction. Prevent infection and scarring by not scratching.
If your skin becomes infected, see your doctor right away, especially if you notice red streaks on your skin. That could be a sign of cellulitis, which can be life threatening for some people.
Check with your doctor before using any medication if you are pregnant or nursing.
Some evidence suggests that breastfed children are less likely to develop eczema.
Studies show that psychological treatment of atopic dermatitis can reduce anxiety and decrease the amount of medication needed to control the disease.
Abrahamsson TR, Jakobsson T, Bottcher MF, et al. Probiotics in prevention of IgE-associated eczema: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007;119:1174-80.
Baek JH, Shin YH, Chung IH, et al. The link between serum vitamin D level, sensitization to food allergens, and the severity of atopic dermatitis in infancy. J Pediatr. 2014;165(4):849-54.e1.
Betsi GI, Papadavid E, Falagas ME. Probiotics for the treatment or prevention of atopic dermatitis: a review of the evidence from randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2008;9:93-103.
Boneberger S, Rupec RA, Ruzicka T. Complementary therapy for atopic dermatitis and other allergic skin diseases: facts and controversies. [Review]. Clin Dermatol. 2010;28(1):57-61.
Cherniack EP. Bugs as drugs, Part 1: Insects: the "new" alternative medicine for the 21st century? [Review]. Altern Med Rev. 2010;15(2):124-35.
Chishti MA, Mohi-Ud-Din E, Usmanghani K, et al. Comparative clinical efficacy and safety of coded herbal medicine Dermovix in the management of patients with atopic dermatitis versus allpathic medicine. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2015;28(5):1655-63.
deRoos NM, Katan MB. Effects of probiotic bacteria on diarrhea, lipid metabolism, and carcinogenesis: a review of papers published between 1988 and 1998. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:405-11.
Folster-Holst R, Muller F, Schnopp N, et al. Prospective, randomized controlled trial on Lactobacillus rhamnosus in infants with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol. 2006;155:1256-61.
Ghazvini P, Pagan LC, Rutledge TK, et al. Atopic dermatitis. [Review]. J Pharm Pract. 2010;23(2):110-6.
Herro E, Jacob SE. Mentha piperita (peppermint). Dermatitis. 2010;21(6):327-9.
Isolauri E, Arvola T, Sutas Y, et al. Probiotics in the management of atopic eczema. Clin Exp Allergy. 2000;30:1604-10.
Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Arvilommi H, et al. Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2001;357:1076-9.
Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, et al. Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003;361:1869-71.
Kassab S, Cummings M, Berkovitz S, et al. Homeopathic medicines for adverse effects of cancer treatments. [Review]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(2):CD004845.
Kramer MS, Chalmers B, Hodnett ED, et al. Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT). A randomized trial in the Republic of Belarus. JAMA. 2001;285:413-20.
Lee J, Bielory L. Complementary and alternative interventions in atopic dermatitis. [Review]. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2010;30(3):411-24.
Maindardi T, Kapoor S, Bielory L. Complementary and alternative medicine: herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects. [Review] J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;123(2):283-94.
Morelli V, Calmet E, Jhingade V. Alternative therapies for common dermatologic disorders, part 2. [Review]. Prim Care. 2010;37(2):285-96.
Pelucchia C, Chatenoud L, Turati F, et al. Probiotics supplementation during pregnancy or infancy for the prevention of atopic dermatitis: a meta-analysis. Epidemiol. 2012;23(3):402-14.
Rehal B, Armstrong A. Health Outcomes in Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatologic Clinics. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:30(1).
Renutz A, Reitamo S. Long-term safety of tacrolimus ointment in atopic dermatitis. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2009;8(4):501-6.
Roduit C, Frei R, Loss G, et al. Development of atopic dermatitis according to age of onset and association with early-life exposures. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;130(1):130-6.
Rosenfeldt V, Benfeldt E, Nielsen SD, et al. Effect of probiotic Lactobacillus strains in children with atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;111:389-95.
Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Ghoreishi MR. The treatment of atopic dermatitis with licorice gel. J Dermatolog Treat. 2003;14:153-7.
Silverberg JI, Lee-Wong M, Silverberg NB. Complementary and alternative medicines and childhood eczema: a US population-based study. Dermatitis. 2014;25(5):246-54.
Simpson EL, Chalmers JR, Hanifin JM, et al. Emollient enhancement of the skin barrier from birth offers effecctive atopic dermatitis prevention. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;134(4):818-23.
Spiewak R. Immunotherapy of allergic contact dermatitis. [Review]. Immunotherapy. 2011;3(8):979-96.
Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ. 2003;327:1385.
Veraldi s, De Micheli P, Schianchi R, et al. Treatment of pruritus in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis with a topical non-steroidal agent. J Drugs Dermatol. 2009;8(6)537-9.
Vitaliti G, Pavone P, Guglielmo F, et al. The immunomodulatory effect of probiotics beyond atopy: an update. J Asthma. 2014;51(3):320-32.
Wallengren J. Tea tree oil attenuates experimental contact dermatitis. Arch Dermatol Res. 2011;303(5):333-8.
Warshaw EM, Nelsen DD, Maibach HI, et al. Positive patch test reactions to lanolin: cross-sectional data from the north american contact dermatitis group, 1994 to 2006. Dermatitis. 2009;20(2):79-88.
Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.