The largest organ of the body, the skin protects you from the elements, extreme heat, cold, viruses and bacteria. The skin's constant exposure to these elements makes it vulnerable to various problems such as rashes, allergies and other diseases. Some of the conditions are easy to recognize, self diagnose and treat. However, others may need to be seen by a medical professional for proper treatment. Dermatologists are physicians who specialize in treating skin disorders.
Acne
Acne is a skin disease caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands beneath the skin. The cells near the oil glands may block the openings, which causes the oils to build up and create bumps beneath the skin. Generally, acne is found on the face, back and chest in both females and males.
Eczema
Eczema is inflamed skin that may be mild to severe but it is not contagious. It may occur on the face, arms, legs, scalp or neck. With severe eczema, the skin may be broken and bleeding, causing pain and embarrassment to the sufferer.
Impetigo
Most sufferers of impetigo are children. This is a skin disorder that causes lesions around a child's mouth and nose. It is only on the surface and does not affect the deeper layers of the skin.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is caused by quickly multiplying epidermal skin cells that cause itching and
scaling. This inflammatory disease is typically found on the scalp, hands, feet, elbows, knees and genitals.
Rosacea
A chronic disorder, rosacea causes redness on the face and upper chest. Sometimes it may appear on the neck, ears, scalp and back, and it may affect the eyes. Occasionally, it is accompanied by lesions called acne rosacea. When not treated, rosacea will continue to make the skin appear redder and the eyes will become bloodshot.
Warts
There are different types of warts, including common warts, plantar warts and genital warts. Common warts are most often found on the extremities and can be any number of shapes, depending on what part of the body is affected. Plantar warts are found on the bottom of the foot. They typically have a rough, uneven growth with small, dark flecks. Since they are found on the weight-bearing surface of the foot, they may be painful. Genital warts generally appear in clusters in the genital area. They start out as lesions and often grow large, destroying the tissue around them.
Other Skin Problems
There are dozens more issues that may cause skin problems, including ringworm, herpes, shingles, calluses, cold sores, athlete's foot, jock itch and many others. A dermatologist will be able to look at the site of the disease or run lab tests to determine specifically what the problem is.
