An Overview on Dermatitis Diagnosis and Management Approach in Primary Health Care Center

Background: Dermatitis is a major cause of reduced quality of life and burden on the medical system and individuals. Eczematous dermatoses are common, affecting up to 30% of the population across various countries and ethnicities. They have a varied presentation from acute to chronic. Usually acute eczematous dermatoses are red, inflamed, vesicular lesion that present with pain, itching, or burning. Chronic conditions present with scaly, dry skin with fissuring and thickening. Proper diagnosis is essential in order to provide the best treatment. Some may only require avoiding the causative factor, while other may require medical therapy. Objectives: We aimed to review the literature investigating pathophysiology of common dermatitis conditions, risk factors, clinical features, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of these conditions. Methodology: PubMed database was used for articles selection, from where papers were obtained and reviewed. Conclusion: Physicians must have a solid background clinically with appropriate knowledge of different dermatoses in order to diagnose patients properly and accurately. Improper diagnosis will only lead to improper management and increased burden on patient and healthcare system. A lot of these conditions share similarities between them, but with proper approach and careful history and physical examination, reaching the diagnosis can be possible. There are emergent therapies to treat these conditions in hopes to reduce rates of relapse and to help patients restore their quality of life.