Diaper dermatitis is best described as which type of dermatitis due to ongoing contact with urine and feces?

• A. Fungal dermatitis
• B. Irritant contact dermatitis from urine and feces
• C. Allergic contact dermatitis
• D. Atopic dermatitis

Answer: (B)

Irritant contact dermatitis from urine and feces best describes diaper dermatitis. Repeated exposure to moisture and waste products in the diaper area damages the skin’s protective barrier rather than triggering an immune sensitization. The moisture, alkaline urine, digestive enzymes in feces, and friction from snug diapers lead to inflammation, redness, and tenderness characteristic of irritant dermatitis. It doesn’t require prior sensitization or involve a true allergic reaction, which is why allergic contact dermatitis isn’t the correct framework. Fungal dermatitis would imply a pathogenic organism such as Candida or dermatophytes causing infection, often with different patterns like satellite lesions or scaling, while atopic dermatitis is a chronic, pruritic eczema with a broader distribution and history.