Table of Contents
Definition / general | Treatment | Clinical images | Microscopic (histologic) description | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Hamodat M. Acute eczematous dermatitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skinnontumoracuteeczematousdermatitis.html. Accessed June 1st, 2023.
Definition / general
- Allergic contact dermatitis: click here
- Atopic dermatitis: pruritic disease of unknown origin; usually begins in infants; eczematous lesions, lichenification (thickening with increase in skin markings), dry skin; may be familial (hay fever, asthma, and eczema); occurs on flexural surfaces
- Drug related: usually systemic (penicillin); eosinophils present in deep dermis
- Eczema: red, papulovesicular, oozing and crusted lesions (spongiotic dermatitis) which evolve to raised, scaling plaques (epidermal hyperplasia and excessive scale)
- Irritant contact dermatitis: click here
- Photodermatitis: due to UV light exposure
- Primary irritant dermatitis: due to repeated rubbing
Treatment
- Potential allergens should be identified and avoided
- Topical steroid ointments and tars are the mainstays of therapy
- Clobetasol combined with zinc sulfate cream may be more effective than clobetasol alone (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2008;22:531)
Clinical images
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Spongiosis, perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate
- Superficial dermal edema
Differential diagnosis
- Drug reaction: prominent eosinophilic infiltrate