What you can try at home

Dermatitis, which includes conditions such as mild eczema, happens when your body comes into contact with a substance that irritates your skin or causes an allergic reaction.

Self-care tips:

• Avoid scratching. Scratching may damage your skin and allow bacteria to get in, leading to infection. It may help to keep your nails short.
• Try to identify the irritant or allergen so you can avoid coming into contact with it.
• Moisturising creams called emollients can help to calm a mild flare-up of dermatitis. They’re available from pharmacies and supermarkets. Unperfumed ones are better for dermatitis.

When to seek professional help

If the rash doesn’t clear up after using these self-care techniques, consult your pharmacist or see your GP.

For more information on dealing with dermatitis, check out our dermatitis and eczema pages.