Non-atopic dermatitis

The terms ‘eczema’ and ‘dermatitis’ are used interchangeably to describe an inflammatory skin disorder with different clinical and histological appearances according to duration (acute versus chronic) and cause. ‘Non-atopic dermatitis’ encompasses various kinds of dermatitis that are usually classified by appearance, such as discoid eczema, or body site, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis. Attempts at classification are often unsatisfactory and different kinds of dermatitis can coexist and overlap with atopic dermatitis. The role of irritant and allergic contact factors should be considered in all cases and patch tests undertaken where allergic contact dermatitis is suspected or cannot be excluded.