Dermatitides

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An inflammatory condition affecting the skin characterized by irritation and redness due to various factors
2. A group of skin disorders that present inflammation and rashes from allergic reactions, irritants, or underlying diseases
3. A category of dermatoses defined by inflammation and lesions on the skin arising from diverse causes such as contact or allergic stimuli

Etymology: Dermatitides is the plural of "dermatitis," and the singular is built from two Greek elements: "derma," meaning skin, and the suffix "-itis," used in medicine for inflammation. Combined, the pieces literally describe inflammation of the skin, which is exactly what the word names. The suffix "-itis" comes from the Greek "-itis," originally an adjectival ending that was used with "nosos" (disease) to form phrases like "arthritis" and "neuritis." Over time doctors dropped the noun and kept the ending, so "-itis" came to mean any inflammatory condition, and new names were coined by attaching it to whatever body part was involved. Dermatitis was formed this way on the same pattern. The plural follows the Latin-style pattern used in many medical terms borrowed through scientific Latin, so "dermatitis" becomes "dermatitides" rather than adding a simple "-s." Writers in medicine use it when discussing several distinct skin inflammations at once.

Synonyms: dermatitis, skin inflammation, eczema, rash, eczema