dermatitis

American

[dur-muh-tahy-tis] / ˌdɜr məˈtaɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

inflammation of the skin.

dermatitis British

/ ˌdɜːməˈtaɪtɪs /

noun

inflammation of the skin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dermatitis Cultural

An inflammation of the skin. Itching and redness are the basic symptoms of dermatitis, which has a variety of causes, including allergies and exposure of the skin to irritants, such as chemicals or sunlight.

Etymology

Origin of dermatitis

First recorded in 1875–80; dermat- + -itis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sanofi says amlitelimab continues to have potential to be a meaningful and convenient option for patients with atopic dermatitis, or eczema.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

He said the condition was sometimes mistaken for eczema, dermatitis or dry skin, and that "understanding the tell-tale signs is crucial".

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

The drug “continues to deliver growth in established indications” such as asthma and atopic dermatitis, analysts wrote.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Most of the medications included so far treat everyday conditions like atopic dermatitis, migraine, obesity and fertility.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

“My dermatitis flares up when I become stressed. Matt, my medications. I don’t do so well when I skip them.”

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023