Photographs, Underlying Causes, Symptomology, and Remedies for Various Skin Ailments
Psoriasis is a common skin condition characterized by scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin plaques. Darker-skinned individuals might experience dark brown or purplish patches on the skin. These patches are commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back, and may be itchy or asymptomatic.
Skin disorders can be preventable or not, depending on their causes. Tips for preventing infectious skin disorders include washing hands frequently, avoiding sharing eating utensils and drinking glasses, avoiding direct contact with infected skin, cleaning public spaces before use, not sharing personal items, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, managing stress, eating a balanced diet, and getting vaccinated for infectious skin conditions like chickenpox.
Impetigo, a skin condition common in babies and children, is another example of a preventable skin disorder. It can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene and avoiding contact with others who have the condition.
Childhood is a time when various skin disorders are prevalent. Examples include eczema, diaper rash, seborrheic dermatitis, chickenpox, measles, warts, acne, fifth disease, hives, ringworm, and rashes from bacterial or fungal infections.
In Germany, chronic, incurable skin diseases such as neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis) and psoriasis affect about 14% of the population, particularly older adults and women.
Pregnancy can cause significant changes in hormone levels, leading to skin problems such as stretch marks, melasma, pemphigoid, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques (polymorphic eruption of pregnancy), eczema, and pemphigoid.
A latex allergy can cause a rash, which may appear less visible on darker skin or appear lighter or darker than surrounding tissue. It also causes warm, itchy wheals at the site of contact, which may take on a dry, crusted appearance with repeated exposure to latex. Airborne latex particles may cause cough, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. A severe allergy can cause swelling and difficulty breathing.
Sunlight exposure can cause or aggravate various skin disorders, including moles, wrinkles, sunburn, actinic keratosis, skin cancer, photosensitivity, and other skin conditions.
Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that goes through cycles of fading and relapse. It may be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised red bumps, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity. People with darker skin tones may notice brown discoloration or dry and swollen patches of dark skin.
Acne can appear on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back. It can cause redness, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, cysts, and nodules. If left untreated, it may leave scars or darken the skin. People of Color can experience dark spots known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Many skin disorders are treatable. Common treatment methods for skin conditions include antihistamines, medicated creams and ointments, antibiotics, steroid injections, laser therapy, targeted prescription medications, biologics, and good hygiene practices.
Common causes of skin disorders include bacteria trapped in skin pores and hair follicles, fungus, parasites, or microorganisms living on the skin, viruses, a weakened immune system, contact with allergens, irritants, or another person's infected skin, genetic factors, illnesses affecting the thyroid, immune system, kidneys, and other body systems.
Some chronic skin conditions present from birth, while others appear suddenly later. Diabetes can cause skin problems due to the condition, and some skin conditions only affect people with diabetes. Examples of diabetes-related skin conditions include bacterial infections, fungal infections, acanthosis nigricans, diabetic blisters, diabetic dermopathy, and digital sclerosis.
Hives cause itchy, raised welts on the skin after exposure to an allergen. Welts may be warm and mildly painful to the touch. Hives on darker skin can appear raised or inflamed and might be slightly darker or lighter than your natural skin color.
Stress hormonal imbalances may trigger or aggravate skin disorders. Examples of stress-related skin problems include eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, ichthyosis, vitiligo, hives, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and other skin conditions.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage the skin, joints, or organs inside the body. Common skin problems that occur from lupus include a red, butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose, round lesions on the face and head, thick, red, scaly lesions, red, ring-shaped lesions on body parts exposed to sunlight, flat rash on the face and body that looks like a sunburn, vasculitis, which is red, purple, or black spots on the fingers and toes, sores inside the mouth and nose, and tiny red spots on the legs.
Actinic keratosis causes a thick, scaly, or crusty skin patch. It often appears on parts of the body that receive a lot of sun exposure, such as the hands, arms, face, scalp, and neck. The skin patch is usually pink in color but can have a brown, tan, or gray base. This patch may appear the same color as the surrounding skin in people with darker skin.
Impetigo might also cause fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust. Blisters are characterized by a watery, clear, fluid-filled area on the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body.
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause skin problems and increase the risk of developing psoriasis. Examples of chronic skin conditions include rosacea, psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, and seborrheic dermatitis.
Cold sores cause a red, painful, fluid-filled blister that appears near the mouth and lips. They may also cause tingling or burning before the sore is visible, and may also be accompanied by mild, flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Cold sores usually look similar on any skin color but can also cause PIH in people with darker skin.
Carbuncle causes a red, painful, and irritated lump under your skin. It may be accompanied by fever, body aches, and fatigue. It can also cause skin crustiness or oozing.
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