The simple definition of dermatitis is "inflammation of the skin." This could actually describe just about any abnormal skin condition, but we don't call every rash a dermatitis. There are actually several distinct types of dermatitis.

• Atopic dermatitis – an itchy rash seen in infancy through adulthood.  Often seen in people with a personal or family history of hay fever, allergies, and asthma.
• Seborrheic dermatitis – seen on the scalp, face, and chest, this is pink and scaly and can cause dandruff on the scalp.
• Stasis dermatitis - Occurs on the ankles and lower legs of people with venous insufficiency (circulation problems).  This often leads to a brownish discoloration of the lower legs.
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis - A type of dermatitis on the hands or feet that is characterized by redness, scaling, and deep blisters.
• Asteatotic dermatitis (winter itch) – inflammation from dryness caused by harsh soaps, too much bathing, and winter-time low humidity.

This is a true allergic reaction and the most common type is poison ivy.  It may be occasional, like poison ivy, or ongoing, such as an allergy to makeup or something in the workplace.  While the location will vary depending on many factors, it is usually itchy.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than a million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the United States. Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer, but squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are very common and grow slowly. Over 90% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.

Melanoma is the eighth most common cancer in the United States and causes 1-2% of all cancer deaths. The incidence of melanoma has been increasing faster than any other cancer over the past 20 years. About 70,000 new cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed each year.  Treatment, usually surgical, is most successful when diagnosis is early, so recognizing melanoma is very important.

•  Recognizing Suspicious Moles and Melanoma
  The common rule of thumb is to apply the ABCD's.
• Asymmetry - Draw a line through the middle of the mole. If the halves don't match, the mole is asymmetric and more likely to be abnormal.
• Border - The borders of atypical moles are irregular and can look scalloped.
• Color - An uneven color throughout the mole is more likely a sign of abnormality. This is especially true if all the other moles on your body are a uniform color. On the other hand, some people normally have moles that have different colors in them.  Also remember the flag sign. The colors red, white, and blue are signs of abnormality.
• Diameter - Most melanomas spread horizontally before they start to spread vertically. Therefore look for moles that are enlarging in diameter greater than 1/4 inch. This is about the size of a pencil eraser.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It occurs more often in men than in women. The incidence of this skin cancer among Caucasians in the US is increasing. Most basal cell carcinoma is seen after the age of 40, but those seen in patients who are younger than 35 tend to be more aggressive.  And with the popularity of indoor tanning, it is more common to see basal cell carcinoma in the 20-30 age group.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer. It also occurs more often in men than in women.   The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma, like basal cell carcinoma, is higher in fair-skinned persons who have a history of sun exposure. The incidence increases with age and decreasing latitudes such as the southern US and Australia.

Treatment of these non-melanoma skin cancers varies, but includes several surgical therapies and topical medications.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects about 2% of the population.  It may occur at any age, but often begins in young adulthood.  It shows as red areas with silvery scale.  Often it has no symptoms except for its appearance.  A type of inflammation of the skin, it is not contagious.  Psoriasis may run in families.  Treatments often control psoriasis well and they include topical medicines, ultraviolet therapy, and when severe, oral and even injectable medications.

Warts or verrucae are a viral infection of the skin from the human papilloma virus.  They may occur at any age and in locations on the skin and mucous membranes.  Their appearance depends on size and location.  There is no anti-viral medication for the wart virus, but many effective treatments are available including topical medications for use at home and treatments in the dermatologist’s office, such as liquid nitrogen.