The National Institutes of Health notes dyshidrotic eczema is a condition marked by small, itchy blisters that can develop on the skin of your hands and feet. Blisters are most likely to develop if you're under stress, because of allergic...
There's no such thing as a safe sunburn. Any time your skin changes color because of exposure to sunlight, you're at increased risk for sun poisoning, first- and second-degree burns and skin cancer. If you've spent too much time unprotected in the...
Blisters occur in response to friction, when your skin rubs against skin or against an object. In rowing, blisters typically form on the fingers and palms where the oar handles rub against your skin. If your hands become wet with water or sweat,...
Having fun in the sun is a great way to spend the day, but you can develop a sunburn after just 15 minutes of unprotected exposure. Sunburns hurt and can cause damage to your skin, leading to accelerated aging and even skin cancer. Once you're...
Sunburn only goes skin deep, so it can't directly affect your baby if you're pregnant; however, the side effects of a severe sunburn could have undesirable effects on your pregnancy. Because pregnancy can increase your sun sensitivity, take extra...
Autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks the body and views normal cells as a threat. Body cells have recognition sites on them that allow the immune system to differentiate them from bacteria, viruses, fungus, toxins,...
Staph, or staphylococcus, is a common bacterium that causes skin infections. It causes these infections by direct colonization of the tissues and by the production of a toxin. It can also cause bacteremia, or blood-borne infection; meningitis;...
Blisters ruin a run, walk, hike or workout, but the pain can be relieved or reduced by properly caring for and covering an existing blister, and taking precautionary measures to avoid them in the future.
Skin protects the rest of your body from the outside world. It weighs from 6 to 9 pounds and covers about 2 square yards of surface area, making it the body's largest organ. It's the body's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses. When...
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that may exist on the skin or in the nose. Known also as staph, this bacteria can cause everything from minor skin infections to life-threatening illness. The predisposition for acquiring a staph...
A blister commonly results from friction or burns, according to the Mayo Clinic. A blister can appear almost anywhere on the body, but may emerge on the foot when shoes are bothersome. You can avoid developing a foot blister by choosing footwear...
Herpes simplex virus is known for causing outbreaks of painful ulcers. HSV-1 usually affects the mouth, while HSV-2 affects the genitals. An outbreak following the initial infection is called primary, while subsequent outbreaks are known as...
Recognizing rashes is easy, but identifying and classifying them is maddeningly difficult. The same rash can look different on different days, and the rash of the same disease may look slightly different on different people. The appearance,...
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection often caused by streptococcus and staphyloccus bacteria. Facial cellulitis can be extremely dangerous because bacteria can spread to the eyes, causing vision loss, or to the brain, causing meningitis. Facial...
Frostbite occurs when a person's body fluid begins to freeze from the effects of cold temperatures. The condition typically occurs in high-altitude locations or when temperatures fall below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Frostbite can be superficial to...
A skin blister is a round area of surface skin that is filled with fluid, appearing like a bump or bubble. The fluid can be either clear or filled with pus or blood. Blisters typically appear on the skin on hands and feet, although they can appear...
Allergic contact dermatitis blisters are the result of an allergic skin reaction to a particular substance, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Allergic contact dermatitis is a hypersensitivity of the immune system that causes a skin...
Zinc, a trace mineral, aids many bodily functions that affect the skin. Zinc helps preserve the integrity of the skin; synthesize important proteins involved in skin structure and repair, such as collagen; and supports immune function. A lack of...
A communicable disease, also called a contagious or infectious disease, is one that is transmitted from person to person. A person develops a communicable disease through direct contact with an infected person or by breathing in air that contains...
You may develop a cluster of red bumps on your hand if you have dyshidrosis, which is also known as dyshidrotic eczema. This is a condition that may affect the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet. You may develop small, fluid-filled...
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is also known as erythema multiforme major. It is thought that the response of the immune system to certain medications causes this painful skin disease. It begins with headaches, cough, fever and muscle aches. It soon...
Blisters are a unifying factor; every runner has felt the pain and frustration that comes with having a blister. While blisters may be a minor problem, they can become a serious issue if they aren't treated properly. Blisters can become infected...
Frostbite occurs when exposure to extreme cold causes ice crystals to form in the cells of skin and the underlying tissue. Frostbitten areas turn hard and pale and become numb until re-warming. Mild cases of frostbite affect the skin and the...
Salicylic acid is a relatively weak carbon-based acid derived from the white willow tree, Salix alba. There are several common pharmaceutical applications of salicylic acid in modern medicine, including topical use to reduce acne and treat skin...
Indoor rock climbing is among the safest forms of exercise, but it can result in blisters, especially on your hands. Rock climbing blisters are no different from any other kind of blisters and most can simply be left to heal on their own. Treat...
Gangrene is the medical term for tissue death caused when blood supply to an area of the body is lost because of injury, infection or blood vessel disease. Gangrene is divided into two types, dry and wet. Dry gangrene is caused by blood vessel...
Staphylococcus is a group of gram-positive bacteria that appear as clusters of grapes under the microscope. More commonly called staph for short, this bacteria proves responsible for a variety of infections of the body, some of which can become...
When skin burns, cell destruction occurs to the layers of the skin and the burn victim experiences depletion of vital fluids and electrolytes. Depending on the depth and size of the burn, whether the injury is localized or extensive, it may affect...
Eating raw oysters can cause serious illness, which most often affects people with liver disease or those who have compromised immune systems. Raw oysters can carry bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which infects all the coastal waters of the...
Staph infections cover a variety of skin infections, some more dangerous than others. Learn more about staph infection in this health video.
