Healthy skin is smooth and supple. Sandy, dry bumps on the body can signal a variety of medical conditions, some of which can interfere with your enjoyment of life. Any skin spot that feels rough and gritty to the touch is worthy of further investigation. A dermatologist can determine if your skin blemishes are symptomatic of keratosis pilaris, actinic keratosis, nummular excema or plaque psoriasis and recommend the best treatment.
Keratosis Pilaris
If you are under 30 years of age, rough bumps on your skin could be keratosis pilaris, a common, benign condition. The small, scaly, red or white lesions resemble acne and can appear singly or in patches. Keratosis pilaris tends to coincide with dry skin and worsens during winter. Generally, the spots cause no discomfort, but they can leave scars on the face. Caused from an excess buildup of the protein keratin, these sandy bumps on the skin are best treated with exfoliants, moisturizers and ointments that reduce inflammation.
Actinic Keratosis
Summers spent soaking up the sun catch up with you as your body ages. Solar, or actinic, keratosis results from intense over-exposure to ultraviolet light and causes raised, sandpaper-like patches up to 1 inch across on exposed areas of your skin. Unlike keratosis pilaris, actinic keratosis often burns or itches and varies in color from fleshy pink to brown. Early examination and treatment by a dermatologist can prevent the condition from progressing to squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.
Nummular Eczema
Allergies can be the culprit causing coin-shaped, irritated spots on your arms, legs or body trunk. Older men are susceptible to this chronic condition, which is also known as discoid dermatitis. The scaly lesions can ooze, and become inflamed and infected. Treatment may require bandages, special lotions or prescription medications. Temperature changes, stress and environmental irritants can trigger an outbreak of nummular eczema.
Plaque Psoriasis
Although there are several types of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis is the most common form of raised, reddish lesions with silver scales that appear most commonly on your elbows, scalp, knees, and upper back. Ordinarily, the life cycle of a skin cell is around 30 days. In plaque psoriasis, skin cell growth is greatly accelerated to three to four days. The cells pile up on top of each other instead of sloughing off. You may be at a greater risk of developing depression, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other systemic diseases if you have psoriasis. Your doctor may prescribe light treatment, topical ointments or other medications.
Prevention/Solution
Some skin disorders are genetic and cannot be prevented. Others are triggered by environmental and lifestyle factors that you can avoid to reduce risk. Take care of your skin throughout your life. Use sunscreen when you are outside and moisturize your skin daily with a good quality, hypo-allergenic lotion. Do not smoke -- the habit promotes dry skin. Get plenty of rest and learn to manage stress. Overall good health and a nutritious diet promotes healthy skin and can help you avoid skin-related diseases.
