Contact dermatitis is a skin rash that occurs due to contact with irritants or chemicals. This skin condition may be short term (acute) or long term (chronic) and is often referred to as ‘chemical rash’ or ‘housewife’s eczema’. Usually clearly evident patches occurs on the area of the body that makes contact with the irritant or chemical that causes the rash.
In contact dermatitis, the skin inflammation may occur as a result of irritation to the skin or as an allergic response to the chemical.
Exfoliative dermatitis is also known as a peeling skin disease due to the severe scaling of the skin and extreme skin redness. The cause of exfoliative dermatitis is unknown although it may be linked to certain infections, drugs or related to other skin diseases. Exfoliative dermatitis should be differentiated from seborrheic dermatitis which often appears the same but seborrheic dermatitis usually affects the scalp, face and bottom in babies (nappy rash). Unlike many skin conditions, exfoliative dermatitis is a serious condition that can be fatal.