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Acne is the term for the blocked pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that can appear typically on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Seventeen million Americans currently have acne, making it the most common skin disease in the country.
No - in fact, that can make it worse. Pimples should never be opened except by a dermatologist because of the risk of infection. Other things that can cause acne to worsen are:
- Hard scrubbing of the skin;
- Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin;
- Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars;
- Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity.
Eczema is a term used to describle a group of inflamed skin conditions that result in chronic, relapsing and very itchy rashes. About 15 million people in the United States suffer from some form of eczema, including 10 to 20 percent of all infants. There is no known cause for the condition, but it appears to involve an overactive immune system in the presence of certain materials and often occurs in people susceptible to allergies.
The first and most critical step in preventing eczema is to restrain yourself from scratching. Moisturizing lotions or creams, cold compresses and nonprescription anti-inflammatory corticosteroid creams and ointments are often helpful. Beyond this, physicians may prescribe corticosteroid medication, antibiotics to combat infection or sedative antihistamines. Phototherapy is a common procedure to reduce rashes, as are tar treatments (though messy) . For severe cases, drugs such as cyclosporine A may be recommended. Also, the FDA is studying a new class of drugs called topical immunomodulators (TIMs) for the modulation of immune response to reduce eczema flare-ups.
Melanoma is a potentially life-threatening skin cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that make melanin (brown pigment). Almost half of the incidences of melanoma occur in new (dysplastic) moles or moles already present (congenital) on the skin surface.
Self-examination is the best way to find melanoma in its early, curable stages. Simply stand in front of a mirror and examine your body with arms lowered and then raised, making sure to pay particularly close attention to the forearms, upper underarms, palms, backs of the legs, tops and soles of the feet, and between the toes. Hand mirrors are useful for searching the back of the neck, scalp (parting the hair), back and buttocks.
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are lesions on the surface layer of the skin (epidermis) caused by chronic exposure to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet light. AKs occur when the cells that comprise 90 percent of the epidermis, the keratinocytes, change their size, shape and/or organization in a process called cutaneous dysplasia. This alters the texture of the skin surface and may extend deeper, into the dermis. AKs are only one of many kinds of keratinocyte lesions, which can be caused by factors other than sunlight (such as chemical carcinogens, x-rays, heat, papillomavirus infection and scarring).
AKs typically manifest as rough or scaly skin, bumps, mottled patterns and cutaneous horns. They may appear anywhere on the skin surface exposed to sunlight, but common areas include the face (including ears and lips), neck, arms and hands. Lesions range in size from a pinpoint to several centimeters in diameter and may be yellow, brown, red or violet, smooth, wrinkled or furrowed.
Psoriasis is a term that encompasses a group of chronic skin disorders that affect any part of the body from the scalp to the toenails, but most frequently affect the scalp, elbows, knees, hands, feet and genitals. Over seven million men and women in the U.S. of all ages have some form of psoriasis.
Treatment depends on the type, severity and location of psoriasis; the patient's age, medical history and lifestyle; and the effect the disease has on the patient's general mental health. The most common treatments are topical medications, phototherapy, photochemotherapy (PUVA), and oral or injectable medication (for severe symptoms).
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