What is dermatitis and why is it so important?

Dermatologists use the interchangeable terms “dermatitis” or “eczema” to refer to a specific group of inflammatory skin diseases. Dermatitis presents with pruritic, erythematous macules, papules, vesicles, or plaques with or without distinct margins. Lesions pass through acute (vesicular), subacute (scaling and crusting), and chronic (acanthotic with thick epidermis) phases. Oozing, crusting, scaling, fissuring, and lichenification frequently accompany the primary lesions. Up to 25% of all patients presenting with a new skin disease have a form of dermatitis. Patients typically suffer from intense pruritus that distracts them from their daily activities, including sleep, and they are desperate for relief.