dermatitis
noun
or dermatitises
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Dermatitis usually appears as a rash, and may cause itching, blisters, swelling, and often scabbing and scaling. It often marks an allergic reaction of some kind. Contact dermatitis is caused by something (often a chemical) touching the skin. Atopic dermatitis usually affects the insides of the elbows, the backs of the knees, and the face; generally resulting from an inherited sensitivity, it's often triggered by inhaling something. Eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff are all forms of dermatitis. Even in the worst cases, dermatitis isn't infectious and doesn't produce serious health consequences.
Examples of dermatitis in a Sentence
Sherri Gordon, Health, 3 Feb. 2025
Daily omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been shown to reduce atopic dermatitis symptom severity and decrease Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, a tool used to measure the extent of psoriasis.
—Emily Brown, Mph, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025
The team is now investigating new therapies for dermatitis that suppress inflammation by targeting receptors on mast cells.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
These, too, generally resolve quickly or might require standard allergy and dermatitis treatments such as antihistamines and cortisone cream.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dermatitis 
Dictionary Entries Near dermatitis
Cite this Entry
“Dermatitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermatitis. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dermatitis
noun
or dermatitises
Medical Definition
dermatitis
noun
called also dermitis
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