dermatitis
n.n. a skin condition that causes redness, itching, and sometimes a rash. It can be caused by things like dry weather, chemicals, or an allergic reaction.
n. an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and often a rash. It can be triggered by various factors including allergens, irritants, or environmental stressors.
The doctor diagnosed her with contact dermatitis.
He developed severe dermatitis after working with the harsh chemicals in the factory without proper gloves.
While some cases of dermatitis respond well to topical corticosteroids, others require a more comprehensive approach to identify and eliminate the underlying allergen from the patient's environment.
From Ancient Greek δερματῖτις (dermatîtis), from δέρμα (dérma, “skin, hide”), from δέρω (dérō, “to skin, flay”). Equivalent to dermato- + -itis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026