Skin Problems: Symptoms | Causes | Treatment
There are several ways by which we can prevent skin problems
from arising in the first place, the most common being that we can eat foods that can prevent skin problems.
On the other hand, while we do try to take preventive care,
it is always important to know the various symptoms, types, and treatment that
can be done, in case you do get diagnosed with some kind of skin problem.
Symptoms of Skin Problems
Something irregular or out of place on your skin does not
necessarily translate to an underlying skin problem. However, there are some major
pointers, which do indicate some possibly serious issues. Those
include:
1) Raised red or white bumps on the skin
2) Painful or itchy rashes
3) Skin that is rough or scaly
4) Peeling skin
5) Ulcers
6) Lesions or Open Sores
7) Dry or Cracked Skin
8) Patches of Skin Discoloration
9) Fleshy Bumps, Warts, or Other Excessive Skin Growths
10) Changes in the color or size of a mole
11) Loss of Skin Pigmentation
12) Excessive flushing
Causes of Skin Problems
As mentioned earlier, the causes of skin problems maybe
anything, and it depends from person to person. Sometimes, even the most mundane thing might turn out to be the trigger for a skin problem.
Common causes include:
1) Bacteria Trapped in Hair Follicles and/or Skin Pores
2) Fungus, Parasites, or Microorganisms Living
in the Skin
3) Viruses
4) Weakened Immune System
5) Coming in contact with Allergens, Irritants, or another Person’s Infected Skin
6) Genetic Factors
7) Illnesses like Thyroid, Damage to the Immune System or Kidneys or Other Body Systems
Other causes include
1) Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is an intestinal disease that causes prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. When using medication to treat this disease, several skin problems can arise, as a side effect. These include:
a) Skin tags
b) Anal fissures
c) Stomatitis
d) Vasculitis
e) Vitiligo
f) Allergic eczema
2) Diabetes
Diabetes might sound like just another common illness. However, there are several problems that a person can succumb to if they are diabetic. More often, we become victims of severe diseases more easily, when we are diabetic than when we are not. This also includes several skin problems, like:
a) Bacterial infections like boils, styes, and
folliculitis
b) Fungal infections like athlete’s foot,
ringworm, and yeast infections
c) Acanthosis nigricans
d) Diabetic blisters
e) Diabetic dermopathy
f) Digital sclerosis
3) Lupus
Lupus is another inflammatory disease, that specifically causes severe problems to skin, joints, or organs inside the body. The skin problems that can arise due to lupus include:
a) Round lesions on the head and face
b) Thick, red, scaly lesions\
c) Red, ring-shaped lesions on body parts exposed to sunlight
d) Flat rashes on the face and body that look like sunburn
e) Red, purple, or black spots on fingers and toes
f) Sores inside the nose and mouth
g) Tiny red spots on the legs
4) Pregnancy
A lot of hormonal changes take place during pregnancy, which can be the reason for the surfacing of several problems, including skin problems. Those that arise with a pregnancy go away after the baby is born, but the pre-existing ones that get severe during a pregnancy will need medical attention. These problems include:
a) Stretch marks
b) Melasma
c) Pemphigoid
d) Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques
e) Eczema
5) Stress
Stress has been the reason for so many problems nowadays, including several skin related problems like:
a) Eczema
b) Psoriasis
c) Acne
d) Rosacea
e) Ichthyosis
f) Vitiligo
g) Hives
h) Seborrheic dermatitis
i) Alopecia Areata
6) Sun
The sun is indeed the best source of Vitamin D. At the same time, too much exposure to the sun can damage your skin very badly. While some problems may be temporary, some can be very dangerous. Some of the skin problems that arise due to exposure to Sun include:
a) Moles
b) Wrinkles
c) Sunburn
d) Actinic keratosis
e) Skin Cancers like Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma
f) Photosensitivity
Types of Skin Treatment
Most of the skin problems that we get are treatable in some
way or the other. While some skin problems react best to treatment, some skin
problems go away best without treatment. However, no matter how the skin the problem goes away, there are always chances that they could recur, if proper
care is not taken.
Some common treatments include
1) Antihistamines
2) Medicated ointments and creams
3) Antibiotics
4) Vitamin or steroid injections
5) Laser therapy
6) Specific prescription medications, based on
the individual
Temporary skin problems can also be treated by
1) Medicated Makeup
2) Over-the-counter skincare products
3) Good Hygiene Practices
4) Small lifestyle adjustments like making certain dietary changes
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