Skin Conditions
All articles in Skin Conditions
Hives are flat red welts that can appear anywhere on the skin and are usually itchy. Hives often occur as an allergic reaction to something eaten or ingested or something that has contacted the skin. They can also occur due to stress or autoimmune diseases.
Itchy rashes can be caused by a variety of environmental and lifestyle factors. Or even from medications. They often go away on their own, but your doctor may need to examine and treat you before you get real relief.
How to identify what type of bug bit you, and which insect bites need to be treated by a healthcare provider.
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted to people by deer ticks. Lyme disease can cause fever, headache, fatigue, and a skin rash called erythema migrans, which looks like a bull’s eye.
Shingles is a painful rash that results from reactivation of the virus that causes the chickenpox. Symptoms include small, fluid-filled blisters that form over a few days that then dry up and heal over several weeks. Pain or strange skin sensations may persist for longer.
A skin abscess is a painful lump beneath the skin that fills with pus and bacteria. Larger abscesses usually need to be treated by a doctor, who will drain them and possibly prescribe antibiotics.
Dermatofibromas are harmless, noncancerous skin bumps. They are usually small, firm, pink to light brown and often develop on legs. They are caused by an overgrowth of skin cells called fibroblasts. They do not go away on their own, but can be removed by a doctor if troublesome.
When you have blackheads, your pores have become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. You may be able to get rid of them using products you can buy at a drugstore, but there are times when you may need to be treated by a dermatologist.
Moles are often benign skin changes; however, any alarming changes should be evaluated. They may appear as flat “stains” or raised clusters, as small irregularities that can be a variety of shapes or colors, flaps of skin attached on only one side, or dark, fibrous scar tissue.
Warts are small, rough, rounded growths on the top layer of the skin. They may appear alone or in clusters. Common warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact. Warts, although benign, can easily spread to other parts of the body without treatment.
Melanoma is one of the least common types of skin cancer. It’s also one of the deadliest. Learn to recognize the earliest telltale signs. Understand the various treatment options. And above all, see a doctor—quickly.
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the soft tissue beneath the skin. Cellulitis usually occurs when bacteria enter the skin through small cuts or scrapes. It causes a painful, red, swollen rash and needs to be treated with antibiotics.
Contact dermatitis is an itchy or painful rash that occurs on your skin after touching certain substances. It can be caused by an irritant or an allergen, like poison ivy, latex, or detergents.
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin lesion that causes a rough spot or lump on the skin. It’s caused by sun exposure and should be removed to prevent skin cancer.
Your skin can hurt from migraines, diabetes, and other pain conditions. Relief can come from creams, medications, good blood sugar control, and other pain treatments.
Mosquito bites are bites from flying insects that feed on blood. They are common during the summer or in warmer climates, at dawn or dusk, and near bodies of water.
Rashes are a common problem and are often harmless. But it’s often hard to figure out what type of rash you have and how to treat it.
It’s not unusual for your skin to feel cold and clammy if you’re sweating a lot on a hot day or if you have a fever. But in some cases, this sensation can be a sign of a serious health condition, such as a heart attack.
Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin that causes red areas of skin, raised red lumps, or blisters. Nonspecific dermatitis means there is no known cause, but it can be treated with OTC creams.
An itchy, irritating rash on your face may be caused by eczema, a common condition that you may notice on other areas of your body. Your doctor can identify which type of eczema you have and prescribe treatments such as steroid creams and ointments.
There are a number of treatments to help get rid of acne scars. Depending on the type you have—raised, flat, or pitted—your dermatologist may recommend medicated creams, procedures like microdermabrasion and chemical peels, or surgery.
Melasma and chloasma cause dark patches to appear on your face. While harmless, the symptoms can make you feel self-conscious and affect your quality of life. Fortunately, there are many ways to fade the patches if they bother you.
Dry skin symptoms cause the skin to become scaly, rough & flaky. Every part of the body can be affected by dry skin including the penis, eyes & face. Learn more.
Causes for light red bumps on the skin range from common conditions that you can treat at home to more serious causes that require a doctor's visit. Read more below to learn about red bumps on skin and what they mean for you.
Eczema is a chronic skin disease that causes itchy, inflamed skin. It’s also called atopic dermatitis. The rash comes and goes. The itching can be eased with various treatments, and you can take steps to reduce flare-ups.
Post-inflammatory erythema describes the pink or red marks left on your skin after you experience a condition like acne. There are many ways to help fade them, ranging from over-the-counter creams to procedures such as chemical peels and laser therapy.
Skin growths are common and can be anything from a mole to a skin tag. Here’s why they happen and how to treat them.
Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease. The joint and skin are being attacked by the immune system. Joint inflammation can lead to severe arthritis unless diagnosed and treated early.
Excessive sweating can be uncomfortable and embarrassing but there are treatments.
Body temperature is regulated by various mechanisms in the body and brain. When skin temperature fluctuates, or skin stays cold after trying to warm up, it may mean that something is wrong with one of these systems.
Many people have naturally pale skin, but if your skin has recently turned pale or people have commented on it, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as anemia.
Blue or bluish colored skin may be caused by a problem with oxygen flow in the body. Blue skin may also be from certain medications or supplements. Your other symptoms can help a doctor figure out the cause of blue skin.
When should you worry about a mole? Become knowledgeable about the moles that you have and monitor their color, size, & shape with our comprehensive guide!
Sunburn results from excess exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. Symptoms include reddening of the skin (erythema), fluid-filled bumps on the skin or blisters, and possibly nausea, fever, vomiting, and headache.
A blister is a small bubble on the skin that could be filled with fluid and is usually caused by forceful friction, burning, freezing, chemical exposure, or infection.
Are you feeling itchy or tingling all over the body? You may be experiencing a skin-related issue like dermatitis or eczema, an allergic reaction from a certain food or plant, or you may be having a symptom of anxiety or depression. Unexplained itching all over the body can also be caused by kidney disease or scabies.
Burns happen when skin comes too close to a high-heat source. They hurt and can be serious. Skin burns fall into three categories of seriousness: First, Second, and Third Degree. Each kind requires different care to help skin heal without permanent damage.
Lichen sclerosus is an itchy or painful skin condition that usually shows up on your anus or genitals. It looks like white shiny patches, sometimes with bruising. Lichen sclerosus can be treated with a cream, oral medications, or ultraviolet light—but leaving it untreated can cause pain while urinating or having a bowel movement, pain during sex, scarring of the skin, and rarely cancer.
A cherry angioma is a smooth, cherry-red, harmless bump on the skin. They can occur nearly anywhere on the body, and most commonly start appearing around age 40.
This article will review the symptoms, causes, and management of partial thickness burns. Symptoms include redness, swelling, and blisters as well as a risk of dehydration and hypothermia. Pain may also be mild, moderate, or severe depending on the severity of the burn.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a serious, life-threatening skin condition characterized by redness, severe blistering, widespread skin detachment and peeling.
Topical steroid withdrawal is a skin condition that can develop when someone uses potent topical steroids frequently and for a long time.