When to seek medical advice
See your doctor if:
-
You're so
uncomfortable that you're losing sleep or are distracted from your
daily routines.
-
Your skin becomes
extremely painful.
-
You suspect your
skin is infected.
-
You've tried
self-care steps without success.
Screening and diagnosis
Your doctor may diagnosis dermatitis after talking to you about your
symptoms and examining your skin. In the case of contact dermatitis,
your doctor may conduct patch testing on your skin to see which
substances inflame your skin. In this test, your doctor applies small
amounts of various substances to your skin under an adhesive covering.
During return visits, your doctor examines your skin to see if you're
allergic to any of the substances.
Complications
Sometimes, the open sores and fissures that can occur with dermatitis
can become infected. A milder form of infection is impetigo, usually due
to staphylococci bacteria. Having atopic dermatitis also predisposes you
to this infection.
If you notice red streaks up your arm, you may have Cellulitis, a
bacterial infection of tissues under the skin. Cellulitis appears as
intensely inflamed skin that's swollen, red, tender and warm to the
touch, with spreading, indistinct margins. Cellulitis that occurs in
someone whose immune system is compromised is potentially
life-threatening. See your doctor as soon as possible if you think you
have Cellulitis.
