dermatitis

American  

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

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the skin.

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dermatitis British  

/ ˌdɜːməˈtaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the skin

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dermatitis Cultural  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of dermatitis

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

Example Sentences

Dermatitis, acne and skin discolouration are possible consequences, but also inflammatory disorders, mercury poisoning and kidney damage.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2025

Two professional groups, the North American Contact Dermatitis Group and the American Contact Dermatitis Society, maintain reasonably up-to-date lists of moisturizers and their allergenic potential.

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2017

A group of 14 specialized dermatologists, known as the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, tracks which substances cause allergic reactions in its patient testing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2016

Dermatitis herpetiformis is "probably the most uncomfortable skin disease you can have," he said.

From Reuters • Nov. 19, 2010

Dermatitis Factitia—note the unusually uniform and regular character and arrangement of the lesions.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman