dermatiitins

Dermiatiitins refers to a loosely defined term used in a small number of dermatology and microbiome studies to describe a proposed class of skin-associated molecules. There is no formal chemical definition or widely accepted taxonomy for dermatiitins, and different researchers have used the term to refer to distinct molecules across studies. In practice, the label has been applied to both short peptides thought to be produced by skin-resident microbes and to small organic compounds detected in skin metabolomic analyses. Because of the lack of standardization, there is no consensus on their origin, whether host-derived or microbe-derived, or their exact structural characteristics.

The term appeared in early explorations of skin metabolomics and host–microbe interactions, but subsequent work has not established a stable usage, and the concept remains controversial or specialized to particular datasets. Proposed functions include modulation of the skin barrier, antimicrobial activity, inflammatory signaling, or communication within the skin microbiome. However, the evidence supporting these roles is limited, often indirect, and not broadly replicated.

Current status: dermatiitins are considered a speculative or provisional label rather than a defined biochemical class. Researchers emphasize careful terminology and validation, and many databases do not include a formal entry under this name.