dermatitis
2 synonyms for dermatitis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Inflammation of the skin, typically appearing as redness, itching, swelling, dryness or blistering. It is a general term covering several distinct conditions with different causes rather than a single disease.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
eczema
skin inflammation
How to use dermatitis
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
contact dermatitis
atopic dermatitis
seborrhoeic dermatitis
perioral dermatitis
Medical term in general use; plural dermatitides in formal medical writing. Spelled seborrhoeic in British English and seborrheic in American English.
Etymology
From Greek derma, meaning skin, plus -itis, the medical suffix denoting inflammation.
Full origin of dermatitis →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between dermatitis and eczema?
The words overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably. Dermatitis is the broader term for inflamed skin from any cause, while eczema in everyday use usually means atopic dermatitis, the long-term itchy form that often begins in childhood.
What is contact dermatitis?
It is skin inflammation triggered by direct contact with a substance, either because the substance irritates skin generally or because the person has become sensitised to it. Common triggers include metals, fragrances, detergents and plants.
Is dermatitis contagious?
No. It is an inflammatory response in the affected person's own skin and does not pass from one person to another by contact.
