Classification
Types of dermatitis are classified according to the cause of the condition.
Contact dermatitis is caused by an allergen or an irritating substance. Irritant contact dermatitis accounts for 80% of all cases of contact dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is very common worldwide and increasing in prevalence. It affects males and females equally and accounts for 10%–20% of all referrals to dermatologists. Individuals who live in urban areas with low humidity are more prone to develop this type of dermatitis.
Dermatitis herpetiformis appears as a result of a gastrointestinal condition, known as celiac disease.
Seborrheic dermatitis is more common in infants and in individuals between 30 and 70 years old. It appears to affect primarily men and it occurs in 85% of people suffering from AIDS.
Nummular dermatitis is a less common type of dermatitis, with no known cause and which tends to appear more frequently in middle-age people.
Stasis dermatitis is an inflammation on the lower legs which is caused by buildups of blood and fluid and it is more likely to occur in people with varicose veins.
Perioral dermatitis is somewhat similar to rosacea; it appears more often in women between 20 and 60 years old.
Infective dermatitis is dermatitis secondary to a skin infection.
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