Dermatosis

Dermatosis, or dermatose, is a broad medical term used to describe any disease or abnormal condition of the skin. It is not a single diagnosis but an umbrella for a wide range of disorders that can affect the epidermis, dermis, or skin appendages. In everyday practice the term is sometimes used for non-inflammatory skin diseases, whereas inflammatory conditions are often called dermatitis.

The spectrum includes pigmentary disorders (such as hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation), keratinization disorders (ichthyosis, keratoses), adnexal and cystic conditions, infectious dermatoses (such as fungal or bacterial infections), neoplasms (benign or malignant), and inflammatory disorders. Dermatoses can be congenital or acquired and may reflect local skin pathology or systemic disease.

Symptoms vary by condition but common features include patches, scales, plaques, nodules, or vesicles; pruritus is frequent in many inflammatory types. Diagnosis relies on history and physical examination and may require skin biopsy, dermoscopy, microbiological cultures, or laboratory tests to assess potential systemic associations or underlying causes.

Treatment is condition-specific but often emphasizes proper skin care, avoidance of triggers, and targeted therapies such as topical agents, keratolytics, systemic medications, or procedural interventions. Prognosis ranges from self-limited to chronic relapsing, with some dermatoses signaling underlying systemic disease. Regular follow-up is advised for persistent, recurrent, or suspicious lesions.