Foot dermatitis is a very serious and common skin condition, one which is basically an inflammation of the skin, and there are several different types, including cercarial dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, atopic dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, and dyshidrotic dermatitis.

It is a condition which has often been confused with eczema, but in fact the differences between the two are quite startling. The typical rash caused by foot dermatitis shows up as red and itchy, and will most likely be very irritating. Although the rash itself will vary in appearance depending on its severity and the length of time that it has been there, acute dermatitis tends to be blistery, subacute dermatitis scaly, and chronic dermatitis has lichenification, which is basically just very thick skin.

Diagnosis

When it comes to the diagnosis of foot dermatitis, it is most typically diagnosed clinically, which means that your family doctor will generally notice and diagnose it. The diagnosis will be based on the history and appearance of the rash, and it may take them a bit of time to decipher just what particular type of foot dermatitis you actually have.

It is particularly tricky because the different types are all so similar in appearance and symptoms, and as well because there are very few tests that can be performed in order to help clarify the situation here. Foot dermatitis and any other type of dermatitis for that matter can really only be treated once a proper diagnosis has been made, which is why at the first sight of this sort of condition you need to get in to see your doctor right away.

Treatment

The particular treatment that will be recommended for you will vary depending on your specific condition, however there are a few basic things that you should do regardless of the type of dermatitis that you have and the severity or mildness of it.

One is to make sure to keep your skin as moisturized as you can, and any cream will work well here although the best are those with cocoa butter or vitamin E as ingredients. You also want to reduce itching and scratching of the skin with topical medications, of which you can either purchase over-the-counter or get a prescription for from your doctor.

Topical steroids for instance are quite popular here, and have a proven track record of being incredibly effective. Just make sure that you speak to your doctor before going ahead with any form of treatment in order to make sure that you are not putting yourself at any risk. 

Tags: foot dermatitis, dermatitis