Dermatitis is a skin condition characterized by very itchy, red rashes on the hands, neck or other body parts. Dermatitis, also called eczema, may be acute or chronic and result from either contact or exposure to an allergen or irritating substance. The best treatment for dermatitis is keeping the skin moist and free from infections. Antihistamines or corticosteroids may relieve itchiness associated with dermatitis.
Genes
Some people with dermatitis have a genetic tendency to allergies and related immune diseases. These individuals usually have a family history of allergy or asthma, or they themselves have food allergies, hay fever or asthma.
People with a genetic tendency for dermatitis have an immune system that over-reacts to harmless substances and causes the skin to become itchy and inflamed. A study from the "Annals of Dermatology" found that atopic dermatitis is linked to several genes involved in immune response.
Exposure Allergens
Eating or touching certain foods such as eggs, milk, nuts and wheat may cause dermatitis in some children, while peanuts, nuts, fish, shellfish and fruits may cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions in adults, notes the Clinical Review in Allergy and Immunology. Prolonged and repeated exposure to house dust mites, pollen or animal dander and certain infectious microorganisms may also cause allergic dermatitis to develop in some people, notes the World Allergy Organization.
Contact Allergens
People with allergies may also develop dermatitis on direct contact with nickel, latex, perfumes, fragrances, creams, poison ivy and other plants, detergents and hair dyes. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also reports that the sun can be a cause of allergic dermatitis when it converts certain chemicals in topical antibiotics, cosmetics, perfumes and sunscreen products into "photocontact allergens."
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