Three Common Types of Dermatitis

For over 20 years, Dr. Thi Thien Nguyen Tran has been working as a dermatologist. Having been a dermatology resident at Sun Coast Hospital, he leads Village Dermatology as owner and medical director in The Villages(R), FL. Through this practice, Dr. Thi Thien Nguyen Tran and his team treat a range of skin conditions, like stasis dermatitis.

Dermatitis is a skin inflammation that results in itchy skin, rashes, redness, swelling, and painful skin. There are several different types, but there are some of the most common:

1. Contact dermatitis — Whenever a person gets red, irritated skin after touching a particular substance, they have contact dermatitis. This occurs when the substance a person touches is an irritant, like a chemical, or a substance that they are allergic to, like latex. Contact dermatitis is characterized by stinging, burning, itching, and blisters on the skin.

2. Stasis dermatitis — This less common form of dermatitis results in poor circulation in the lower legs. It also occurs when the veins in the leg that push blood to the heart become weak and leak fluid. With stasis dermatitis, the legs often feel heavy or swell up during the day. The skin also feels itchy and creates pain and swelling.

3. Atopic dermatitis — Also known as eczema, atopic dermatitis is the most common form of dermatitis and begins during childhood. By adulthood, it becomes milder or disappears entirely. Individuals with atopic dermatitis develop rashes in the creases of their knees and elbow, along with developing small bumps that leak fluid when scratched.