The most common causes of dermatitis are 9 factors, check them out here!

Inflammation, dry, scaly skin, and an itchy red rash are signs of dermatitis. The cause of the appearance of dermatitis itself is based on many factors, both from within the body (internal) and the external environment (external).

Check out the full discussion below.

Causes of dermatitis from within the body

The actual cause of dermatitis is not known with certainty. However, so far, medical research has shown that genetic, environmental, and immune factors play a role in skin inflammation that leads to dermatitis.

The following are some of the factors that cause the appearance of dermatitis that originates in the body (internal).

1. Family history

Genetic inheritance in the family is a contributing factor in intergenerational dermatitis. Studies report that children who have atopic dermatitis (eczema) are usually born to parents who have asthma, allergic rhinitis, or one type of dermatitis.

If only one parent has asthma, allergic rhinitis, or dermatitis, the offspring is born with a 50% chance of having at least one similar disease. This chance number will increase if both parents suffer from the disease.

Even so, the mechanism of the transmission of dermatitis from parent to child cannot be explained with certainty. In very rare cases, the cause may be related to the CARD11 gene, which produces a particular protein.

The mutated CARD11 gene produces proteins that do not function normally, and these changes affect white blood cells called T lymphocytes. The number of T lymphocytes remains the same, but these cells overreact to foreign substances in the body.

2. A sensitive immune system

Apart from genetic factors, an overactive immune system may have a certain role as a cause of dermatitis. This can be seen from the number of dermatitis sufferers with very sensitive immune systems.

Their immune systems overreact when responding to allergens or irritants that can trigger reactions in the skin. In fact, these various substances are basically harmless to the body.

The sensitive immune system transmits signals to the skin in the form of inflammation. This inflammation is the cause of the appearance of a red rash on the skin and other symptoms of dermatitis. A red rash indicates damage to the protective layer of skin.

In general, the immune system will improve with age so that the skin is no longer prone to inflammation. This is why dermatitis, especially eczema, usually appears in childhood and fades into adulthood.

3. Mutation of skin cells

Reduced amounts of certain proteins in the skin layer can also be a cause of dermatitis. Based on a research report in England, people who suffer from atopic dermatitis have a gene mutation that produces filaggrin.

Filaggrin is a type of protein that functions to protect and moisturize the top layer of skin. Without enough filaggrin, the skin will lose its function to absorb water so that over time it loses moisture and becomes dry.

Dry skin is prone to irritation and inflammation. In addition, the skin is also more susceptible to infection with bacteria and viruses and cannot prevent allergens from entering. If the skin is inflamed and infected, these are signs of complications from dermatitis.

4. Dry skin conditions

Inflammation is easier on dry skin. Not only that, dry skin can also worsen rashes, itching, and other symptoms of dermatitis, which can cause skin to become cracked and crusted.

The skin is one of the body's first protections from germs and substances that have the potential to cause damage to the body. If the skin is dry, these foreign substances will more easily trigger allergic reactions and irritation.

5. Hormonal changes

The amount of hormones in the body can cause dermatitis. If the hormone is produced in excess or less, dermatitis symptoms may appear more frequently. These changes often also make dermatitis symptoms worse.

One of the example is autoimmune progesterone dermatitis (PPE). This condition occurs when the hormone progesterone increases during the middle of the menstrual cycle. Symptoms only decrease once the amount of progesterone decreases after menstruation.

Various triggers of dermatitis from outside the body

Everyone can experience dermatitis in different ways. Various things that come from outside the body may not directly cause dermatitis, but these factors are the trigger.

The following are various environmental factors that can trigger dermatitis.

1. Irritant

In contact dermatitis, symptoms in the form of a red rash accompanied by itching usually appear when the skin is in direct contact with an irritant (irritant). There are many irritants around you, both natural and artificial.

Substances and products that often cause dermatitis recurrences include:

• cleaning products, detergents, shampoos and body wash containing fragrances,
• metal in jewelry or clothing accessories,
• antibacterial oil containing neomycin and bacitracin,
• formaldehyde contained in household cleaning products,
• isothiazolinones in care products and cleaning wipes for babies,
• cocamidopropyl betaine found in shampoos and lotions,
• paraphenylene-diamine in skin dyes for tattoos, as well
• synthetic fabrics such as wool.

2. Allergens

Direct contact between the skin and an allergen can trigger a condition known as allergic contact dermatitis. Apart from causing allergy symptoms on the skin, this can also exacerbate the inflammation that occurs.

Therefore, people with allergic dermatitis should avoid contact with allergens as much as possible, especially:

• pollen,
• dust,
• food allergens,
• animal fur,
• mushrooms, and
• latex.

3. Increased temperature

Increasing body temperature will increase sweat production. Both are factors that cause dermatitis recurrence, especially because a sweaty body can make the part of the skin affected by dermatitis even itchier or sore.

A sudden drop in moisture can also cause dry skin, which is a major trigger of dermatitis. Plus, warm and humid conditions can lead to infection because bacteria thrive in these temperatures.

4. Stress triggers

Stress is basically an internal factor that triggers dermatitis, but stress is often caused by problems in your daily life. When under stress, the body produces a hormone called cortisol.

Large amounts of cortisol can worsen inflammation, including that of the skin. This is why people with dermatitis scratch more often and complain of symptoms that get worse when they are under stress.

5. Certain plants

Several types of plants are found to be the cause of recurrence of dermatitis. There are plants that only cause a rash when a sufferer's skin is exposed to the sun, but some can cause fluid-filled blisters.

Condition known as phytodermatitis this varies greatly. So, if you have experienced symptoms of dermatitis after coming into contact with certain plants, it's a good idea to memorize the characteristics of these plants to prevent recurrence.

Dermatitis is a skin disease with various causes and triggers. Even some cases of dermatitis have no known cause, so the treatment process is hampered.

Even so, you can control your symptoms by working to identify the triggers. This method at the same time helps relieve skin disorders and reduce the risk of disease recurrence in the future.