Know the most common Skin Problem

Symptoms of skin diseases such as a bump, a rash, a dry patch can certainly be worrisome and in many cases make the sufferer anxious. Even though many of the signs and symptoms are harmless, a few of them can give warning signs of aggravate medical conditions.

 

 

The aim of this article is to make you familiar with the names of many skin conditions. However, a doctor’s opinion is strongly recommended, as only an expert can differentiate between them and prescribe appropriate treatment.

 

 

Acne: This is the most common skin condition in India, affecting many people. It mostly affects those in their teens and in 20s, however, acne does not mandatorily stop after puberty ends. A small percentage of adults also suffer with acne.  Pregnant women, due to hormonal changes, may also get acne. If acne persists for a long period, it may be difficult to treat it, hence consulting a dermatologist is important. Out of the various available treatment options, your dermatologist can recommend you the one that is customized as per your symptoms. 

 

 

Atopic dermatitis: This is a common type of Eczema (a condition resulting in skin inflammation and irritation) which is considered to be a kind of allergic reaction. The reasons that lead to this condition are still unknown, however it is quite certain that the condition runs in families which have allergies such as hay fever, asthma, etc. Your doctor can easily identify your condition by looking at certain features associated with it. 

 

 

Bacterial Infections of the skin: This condition can vary from being mild to extremely severe (life-threatening).   Such infections are mostly caused due to bacteria like staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus.  Attention to these infections is a must even at the initial stages. Good hand washing techniques and timely medical treatment is essential for the treatment and avoiding complications. 

    1. Folliculitis: It is an infection originating at the hair follicles. This is characterized by redness, inflammation, pimple or pus-filled boil. Deeper infections are called Furuncles and the group of Furuncles are called Carbuncles.
    2. Abscess: It appears as a tender and soft swelling filled with pus. The skin surrounding it is pink to deep red. 
    3. Cellulitis: Occurs in the deep layer of skin, when caused in people with compromised immune systems, may become a serious problem.
    4. Impetigo: A common contagious bacterial infection occurring in young children, wherein the signs might look like chickenpox with pus filled sores.

Dermatitis: When doctors say you have dermatitis, what it implies in simple words is inflammation of the skin. However, some more specific conditions in dermatitis are as follows:

    1. Contact dermatitis is something that we all experience, it refers to redness or rash on skin in response to reaction to specific substances. Strong acids or bases in the lotions that are used for dermatitis are also responsible for causing irritant contact dermatitis.
    2. Seborrheic dermatitis means dryness and scaliness of the skin.
    3. Diaper dermatitis is most commonly known as diaper rash.
    4. Stasis dermatitis is when reddish blue rash is seen on the lower legs of those who have severe varicose veins and experience swelling of their ankles.

Herpes simplex virus infections: Caused by herpes simplex virus. This virus is of two types namely, herpes simplex virus 1(HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2)

    • HSV-1: Primarily causes oral herpes
    • HSV-2: Primarily causes genital herpes

Chickenpox and Shingles: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a virus that causes chickenpox. Patients who had chickenpox may develop shingles at later stages due to the dormant VZV. Shingles is also known as Herpes Zoster.