Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Key takeaways

• Eczema, psoriasis, contact allergy and fungal infection can resemble one another but respond differently to corticosteroids.
• Topical potency and vehicle should match body site, skin thickness, extent and age.
• Pain, pus, rapidly spreading redness or grouped blisters suggests infection or another complication rather than an ordinary flare.

The listings below span different diagnoses; direct skin assessment should guide anti-inflammatory treatment.

Recognising the pattern

Distribution, border, scale, itch and exposure history narrow the cause. Hands and eyelids often reveal contact triggers, thick extensor plaques suggest psoriasis, and an advancing scaly edge may indicate fungus. Scraping, patch testing or biopsy is used when it changes management.

Controlling inflammation without masking disease

Emollients support barrier function across many dry conditions. Topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors have site-specific roles, while widespread disease may require phototherapy or systemic treatment. Uncertain rashes should be re-examined rather than repeatedly covered with steroid–antifungal combinations.

When to seek urgent care

Seek urgent care for widespread blistering or peeling, mouth or eye involvement, breathing difficulty, fever with a rash, rapidly spreading severe pain or purple spots that do not blanch.