12 Skin Problems And Their Symptoms

Skin disorders constitute a major problem affecting the quality of life in millions worldwide. In addition to the disfigurement, they are often associated with profound psychosocial and emotional impact. The possible causes of skin disorders are genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. The therapeutic management of these disorders is often associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and high costs for patients and medical systems worldwide. Let’s know what the common skin disorders and their symptoms are

1. Acne:

This disorder may be considered to be a benign disease, but in reality, the consequences are often substantial, and many sufferers end up feeling deformed. Acne affects about 85-90% of adolescents who have reached puberty, and the most patient will continue to suffer from acne well into adulthood. The lesions produced by acne include papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.

Acne is caused by an increase in the amount of sebum produced by follicles. Sebum may become trapped within the pilosebaceous unit (hair follicle and sebaceous gland), disrupting the follicular wall. Normally bacteria can grow in sebum, but a lack of oxygen within the follicle may accumulate dead skin cells. This impaction may be further complicated by comedones (whiteheads and blackheads) that form at the opening of the hair follicles. If not treated, acne lesions often leave permanent scars called post-acne marks or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. There are various causes and contributing factors to acne that may include genetic predisposition, diet, stress, or hormonal changes such as menstruation or pregnancy, causing the excess production of sebum.

Symptoms of Acne:

Papules: Small, red bumps (less than 2mm and not inflamed) may develop into pustules or nodules.

Pustules: Lesions that contain pus are surrounded by inflammation and are less than 2 mm in diameter.

Nodules: Large, solid lesions (greater than 5mm) that are deeper than pustules.

Cysts: Deep abscesses, which form from blocked hair follicles and can cause scarring if untreated.

2. Eczema:

This is a chronic skin disease that primarily affects the outermost layer of the skin, causing significant impairment of the quality of life, even though it’s usually treatable. Eczema may affect any part of the body but most commonly involves the face, neck, and arms. It’s not uncommon for patients to have more than one eczematic lesion at a time. The itching caused by this disorder is there as long as lesions are present and their severity ranges from mild to severe.

The cause or causes of eczema are complex and multifactorial. Several factors such as genetic predisposition, environmental triggers (e.g., irritants), and abnormalities in immunoregulation all appear to play essential roles in its genesis.

Symptoms of Eczema:

Dryness of the skin – may become scaly or itchy. The affected area may develop reddened patches with small white spots, which then ooze and become crusted. This crusting is often broken open, leading to oozing and bleeding of fluid from under the skin. The patient will usually have intense itching of affected areas. The primary symptom is inflammation at all levels—epidermal and dermal, constantly aggravated by scratching that sloughs off a layer of dead cells, revealing new sensitive skin beneath.

3. Atopic Dermatitis:

Atopy, also known as atopic eczema or atopic, is a genetic condition in which an individual’s immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. The reaction includes swelling and inflammation of the affected area, ranging from mild to severe with variations in intensity between episodes. This disorder often begins during early childhood but may start anytime during childhood or adulthood.

Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis:

It’s characterized by excessive skin dryness, mostly at creases/flexures of elbows, wrists, and knees; face, especially around eyes; flexural folds of the neck and between the fingers (periungual dermatitis or “dyshidrotic eczema”). The skin often appears pale, with reddening of areas over joints. It’s also characterized by intense itching that is difficult to relieve even after applying topical corticosteroids, usually required for maximum relief.

4. Urticaria:

Urticaria, also known as hives. It is a common skin disorder of acute onset characterized by an inflammatory response to contact with allergens in one-fifth of the population. The underlying mechanism involves mast cells degranulating and releasing histamine and other chemical mediators, which trigger dilation of blood vessels, causing redness and inflammation that lasts from minutes to hours. While most individuals can live everyday lives with only mild constant itching, some suffer significant discomfort from this condition, including extreme itching, swelling, and pain, mainly when scratching.

Symptoms of Urticaria:

Itching – Redness; Formation of wheals: A raised area surrounded by an inflamed ring (halo sign). In severe cases, a volcano-like lesion with a central blister (wheal). Eruption of wheals. Urticaria can be found in any part of the body but are more common in the trunk and extremities. Wheals may last from minutes to hours or entire days, depending upon the intensity of the reaction. They appear slightly raised above the normal skin surface.

5. Psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a chronic, disfiguring skin disease that affects 2% to 3 % of the world’s population. Several internal disorders also have an association with psoriasis, and they are referred to as inner psoriasis or associated with it. At least 20% of psoriatic patients develop comorbid psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. Such patients require careful evaluation by their dermatologist to establish a diagnosis, initiate treatment, and potentially minimize inevitable psychosocial consequences.

Symptoms of Psoriasis:

Redness (erythema) – Patches (plaques) formed on raised, slightly scaly areas with silvery scales – Stinging/Tingling sensation.

6. Vitiligo:

Vitiligo is a physical condition that causes the skin to lose its natural color. It affects people of all races and ethnicities. The patches are usually gray, white, or pale pink. Vitiligo is not infectious, but it can run in families. It tends to be more common in people with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, and alopecia areata.

Symptoms of vitiligo:

Loss of skin pigment (hyperpigmentation –) White spots on the skin; Itching – Irritation when sweat touches affected areas.

7. Warts:

A wart is a small, rough growth caused by a virus. Warts are benign (noncancerous) and very common. Many people have warts on their hands or feet at some point in their lives; others get them on other body parts, such as the face or genital area.

Symptoms of warts:

The appearance of a small bump or red spot on the skin may be sore to touch and have open sores. May see dark black specks in the infected area. Wart takes shape reasonably quickly. Usually acquired when children are young. It may be transmitted from an infected person to another individual.

8. Ringworm:

Ringworm, also known as tinea (Latin for “ring”), is a fungal infection that causes round, red bumps to form on the skin. Dermatophytes cause it. These are fungi that live naturally in soil and spread when people walk through areas where they have been. Ringworm can cause mild itching or burning. Sometimes there may be scaling or crusting of the patches.

Symptoms of ringworm –

Red or white patch with a scaly border – Patch may flake off, leaving an inflamed area under it – Inflammation of surrounding tissues – Hair loss in some cases.

9. Seborrheic dermatitis:

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder. It causes red, flaky, itchy, or greasy-looking areas of the skin. It’s standard on the face, but it can also show up on your chest, arms, back, and other parts of your body.

Symptoms of Seborrheic dermatitis:

Itching – Redness – Skin may look greasy or have white flakes on it – Scalp/Hair loss in some cases.

10. Keratosis pilaris:

Keratosis pilaris is a prevalent and harmless skin condition that causes small bumps to appear on the outer layer of your skin. It’s called “keratosis” because it makes your skin have a grainy texture, kind of like sandpaper.

Symptoms of Keratosis pilaris:

small, red bumps on the surface of your skin that are rough and dry – The bumps can be anywhere in or around your hair follicles – rough patches may occur on other parts of your body – Increased number of fine, red lines near the bumps – Scaly skin under the bumps.

11. Melasma:

Melasma is a skin condition that causes brown-to-black pigmentation patches to appear on your face. It’s called melasma (also spelled melasma) because the patches are usually symmetrical and look like they’re in a mask or an animal with dark markings.

Symptoms of Melasma:

Brown-to-black marks on cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip; May see patchy Gray or white areas of discoloration – Fine lines – Darker colour around hair follicles.

12. Abscess:

It is a painful condition that occurs due to infection in the body. It is commonly found on the skin, tissue, or organs. An abscess usually forms when the bacteria enter tissues and attack them internally, leading to an accumulation of pus inside the cavity of a body part. The infected body tissues fill up with pus (a collection of dead white blood cells and bacteria) and form a cavity filled with this fluid that becomes painful to touch. External abscesses can be found anywhere on your body, especially in the case of skin infections.

Symptoms of abscess:

Red, swollen and tender skin due to swelling.

Fever is commonly associated with this condition.

How to prevent skin disorders:

• Nutritional imbalances can cause skin disorders, and lack of certain nutrients in the diet may lead to eczema. Ensure adequate amounts of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in your diet by eating more fish, flaxseed or taking supplements if necessary. EFAs help your body develop a healthy lining of the digestive tract, reducing inflammation associated with food allergies. Inflammation caused by an allergy triggers an immune system response that leads to redness, swelling, and pain.
• Essential vitamins that help prevent skin disorders are vitamin A, C, and E. Vitamin C is found in oranges, broccoli, and tomatoes. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium which can help reduce inflammation associated with skin disorders. You can get vitamin D from foods such as salmon, tuna, or fortified dairy products.
• Use sunscreen or protective clothing such as a hat and long sleeves when exposed to the sun. This can prevent skin cancer and sunburn.
• Drink large amounts of water to reduce inflammation in the skin that can lead to acne, eczema, or psoriasis and increase your energy level. Drinking enough water will help your body stay hydrated, which helps with digestion, circulation, liver function, and more.
• Use Natural skin-soothers like olive oil, honey, papaya, or aloe vera gel. Keep a humidifier in the room where you sleep and use it in relaxed settings at night.
• Use Chemical-free products for your skin like all-natural soaps and lotions.
• Cleanse your skin with oatmeal soap twice a day to exfoliate and soften the skin.
• Visit a dermatologist if you feel any skin-related issues. Early intervention can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to skin disorders.

What are the skin treatments available at skincare clinics?

The skin treatment is available according to your skin condition. The skin treatment can be done by working on the internal as well as external levels.

Some of the most common treatments are:

Internal Skin Care Treatments:

Open for patients with all kinds of skin conditions according to Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Unani systems of medicines. These medicines help you to maintain healthy skin naturally from the inside. Apart from these treatments, other forms of internal treatment are available like herbal medicines, amino acids, raw juices, etc. Antibiotics are also given in some cases. Dermatologists can use retinoids, isotretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene to lessen the amount and effects of acne for a person. However, this medication is associated with many adverse side effects.

External skin Care treatments:

Say you have a skin condition; the dermatologist has various procedures to treat it. These include laser treatment, chemical peels, curettage & cautery, cryotherapy, and many more depending on the skin problem. These are the best options for moles removal as well as warts removal without surgery.

 Homeopathic skincare treatment:

A homeopathic treatment alternative can help you manage your skin disorder without the side effects or harsh chemicals involved in conventional treatments and may include:

Millions of people worldwide use homeopathy to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including skin disorders like acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and wounds. More than 500 scientific studies support its effectiveness in treating everything from allergies to depression. Dr. Batra’s homeopathy clinic is one of the best clinic which provide best homeopathic treatment, It’s also been shown to be effective in conjunction with many other therapies such as acupuncture and traditional medicines. In case if you are suffering from any skin disorder, you can visit a registered homeopath at Dr.Batras. You can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy.

Homeopathic treatment is unique because it’s individualized to meet your individual needs and health goals without any side effects. Contact us now!