Myths

The less we know about diseases and health problems, the more insecure we feel in dealing with them. In addition, there are a lot of myths about dermatitis which we should know to find our way when looking for information and help:

Dermatitis is not infectious. It cannot be transmitted from an affected body area (e. g. the hands) to a healthy body area (e. g. the face) by touching. And you can’t get it by handshaking with someone who has hand dermatitis. If you have dermatitis, you don’t have to fear that you might transmit it to other people; dermatitis does not work this way.

Even less is poor skin hygiene the reason for dermatitis. On the contrary – too intensive or wrong skin care can even cause it. If your skin gets in contact with water too intensively, the skin dries out, even when you add oily bathing or showering substances.

Dermatitis is not necessarily a chronic skin condition that you can’t get rid off any more. You may keep the disposition for dry skin for the rest of your life, but dermatitis disappears again very often or occurs in some situations and/or in specific body areas only.

Food is seldom playing an important role in the development of dermatitis in adolescents and adults. Some people react allergic to certain foods, and they will have to avoid these triggers in the future. If an “allergy vaccination” (desensitization) can be undertaken, the allergic reactions will diminish or completely disappear in the course of treatment.