ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The term “dermatitis” is deeply entrenched in the nosological history of diseases of the skin. As a term, it describes the organ as the skin and indicates that there is a component of inflammation. Even patients have a broad concept of what the skin might look like in this condition and actually use the term in a relatively correct context, to the extent that they can communicate about a condition that up to a quarter of those seeking advice for a dermatological condition may have (Table 1). The more useful and correct term when attempting an overview of the conditions we are to address in this chapter is “eczema”. In practice, however, the terms eczema and dermatitis can be considered synonymous. Therapeutic principles relevant to eczema have considerable generalized relevance to other inflammatory conditions in dermatology.
