, MD, PhD, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany The meaning of the word "dermatitis" is inflammation of the skin. However, in clinical dermatology, dermatitis is used to describe a variety of different skin conditions that share the same inflammatory reaction pattern with similar clinical manifestations.

Stasis dermatitis involves skin changes that are caused by poor circulation and the resulting pooling of blood in the lower legs. Also called gravitational dermatitis and venous eczema, this condition could develop with aging, but it could also indicate the presence of another condition, like kidney or heart disease. This condition is most likely to develop in women and in people who have poor circulation. Additional risk factors for stasis dermatitis include hypertension (high blood pressure), having varicose veins, obesity, blood clots in the legs, and insufficient physical activity. Stasis dermatitis may begin with the skin of the lower legs and ankles appearing thinned or developing brown discoloration. Additional symptoms may include: Leg swelling Aching or heaviness in the legs Pain that worsens when standing or walking Crusting or cracking skin Skin ulcers, thickening, bumpiness, or a dark brown tone could develop over time Treatments for stasis dermatitis could include the following: Regularly elevating legs above the heart Wearing compression stockings Diet modification, specifically avoiding high-salt foods Topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation

Dermatitis can be classified in a variety of ways. It may be classified by: Site of predilection eg, hand dermatitis, eyelid dermatitis, or lower leg dermatitis. In many cases, various factors may all act as underlying triggers together (allergic, irritant, and endogenous factors, especially in hand dermatitis ).

Dermatitis is a rash or skin irritation. There are many different types of dermatitis, so it can be difficult to know what type of rash you have. Once you match your dermatitis symptoms to a type of rash, you’ll know how to treat dermatitis to get your rash to go away.