Skin Concerns

Skin Concerns. Lotion, Moisturiser, Gel, Cream, Shampoo, Toner, Heel Balm, Hand Treatment

Skin disorders vary greatly in symptoms and severity. They can be temporary or permanent, and may be painless or painful. Some have situational causes, while others may be genetic. Some skin conditions are minor, and others can be life-threatening.

While most skin disorders are minor, others can indicate a more serious issue. Contact your doctor if you think you might have one of these common skin problems.

Acne

• Commonly located on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back
• Breakouts on the skin composed of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or deep, painful cysts and nodules
• May leave scars or darken the skin if untreated

Cold Sores

• Red, painful, fluid-filled blister that appears near the mouth and lips
• Affected area will often tingle or burn before the sore is visible
• Outbreaks may also be accompanied by mild, flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes

Blister

• Characterized by watery, clear, fluid-filled area on the skin
• May be smaller than 1 cm (vesicle) or larger than 1 cm (bulla) and occur alone or in groups
• Can be found anywhere on the body

Hives

• Itchy, raised welts that occur after exposure to an allergen
• Red, warm, and mildly painful to the touch
• Can be small, round, and ring-shaped or large and randomly shaped

Rosacea

• Chronic skin disease that goes through cycles of fading and relapse
• Relapses may be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori
• There are four subtypes of rosacea encompassing a wide variety of symptoms
• Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised, red bumps, facial redness, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity

Latex allergy

• Rash may occur within minutes to hours after exposure to a latex product
• Warm, itchy, red wheals at the site of contact that 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 to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing

Eczema

• Yellow or white scaly patches that flake off
• Affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or oily
• Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash

Psoriasis

• Scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
• Commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
• May be itchy or asymptomatic

Cellulitis

• Caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a crack or cut in the skin
• Red, painful, swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly
• Hot and tender to the touch
• Fever, chills, and red streaking from the rash might be a sign of serious infection requiring medical attention

Measles

• Symptoms include fever, sore throat, red, watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose
• Red rash spreads from the face down the body three to five days after first symptoms appear
• Tiny red spots with blue-white centers appear inside the mouth

Contact Dermatitis

• Appears hours to days after contact with an allergen
• Rash has visible borders and appears where your skin touched the irritating substance
• Skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
• Blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty

Wart

• Caused by many different types of a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
• May be found on the skin or mucous membranes
• May occur singly or in groups
• Contagious and may be passed to others

Chicken Pox

• Clusters of itchy, red, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body
• Rash is accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite
• Remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over

Skin disorders are common in children. Children can experience many of the same skin conditions as adults. Infants and toddlers are also at risk for diaper-related skin problems. Since children have more frequent exposure to other children and germs, they may also develop skin disorders that rarely occur in adults. Many childhood skin problems disappear with age, but children can also inherit permanent skin disorders. In most cases, doctors can treat childhood skin disorders with topical creams, medicated lotions, or condition-specific drugs.

Common childhood skin disorders include:

• eczema
• diaper rash
• seborrheic dermatitis
• chicken pox
• measles
• warts
• acne
• hives
• ringworm
• rashes from bacterial or fungal infections
• rashes from allergic reactions