To get a general overview of the topic of skin diseases, the following text provides information on the causes, diagnosis and progression of skin diseases, as well as their treatment and prevention.
What are skin diseases?
Skin disease (medical term: dermatosis) refers to diseases of the skin and skin appendages (nails, hair, talc and sweat glands) as a reaction to a wide variety of influences and stimuli from the environment or inside the body. The severity and appearance of skin diseases varies considerably. The classification of skin diseases is based on the affected areas and surfaces of the body. A distinction can be made between:
Generalized skin diseases: are, for example, allergic reactions of the skin, psoriasis, itching or eczema, which occur on the entire skin surface or in several places. Localized skin diseases: are, for example, skin cancer – and infectious diseases, acne, hair loss, corns or skin fungi and cuts or abrasions that occur only on one spot or area of the skin.
Causes
As varied as skin conditions can be, their causes are also extensive. They start with simple injuries such as cuts or abrasions, arise from infections or disorders of the metabolism, the immune system or the skin, from allergies to skin cancer. Several causes can also occur together as triggers. Often, a person’s predisposition is also the cause of a skin disease, as in psoriasis or neurodermatitis. The triggers can also be intensified by stress or an unhealthy diet, i.e. an unhealthy lifestyle. For many skin diseases, however, it is still not possible to determine an exact cause.
Typical and common skin diseases
- Psoriasis
- Erysipelas
- Neurodermatitis
- Skin cancer in the form of melanoma (black skin cancer) or spinalioma (squamous cell carcinoma)
- Scabies
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Complaints of skin diseases can be both visible and noticeable to those affected. To feel the discomfort is particularly with dry skin, even if this does not always have to change visually. People with dry skin often experience a more or less strong feeling of itching, burning can also be possible. This is especially true if the itching leads to the skin being scratched open. Dry skin may also be visible to the naked eye: The affected areas may appear reddened and scaly. Skin diseases can also present themselves in the form of lichen, pustules, pimples or raised marks. Bleeding from the skin rarely occurs. Such bleeding can have various causes, including completely harmless ones, for example, if dry skin has been scratched severely. This is sometimes the case, especially with severe neurodermatitis in children. However, if moles or other skin areas bleed for no apparent reason, this is always a warning sign of a possibly malignant skin disease. Complaints with bleeding from skin areas should accordingly always be clarified promptly by a specialist.Prompt treatment significantly improves the prognosis, especially in the case of malignancies.
Diagnosis and course
So that the attending dermatologist (dermatologist) can make a diagnosis about the skin disease, he will first ask the patient about his complaints and possible previous diseases. Then, the skin and affected areas are examined based on symptoms. Common symptoms may include:
- Hives
- Spots
- Scales
- Cracks and dry skin
- Redness of the skin
On the basis of the skin lesions can often be diagnosed skin disease. The course of the symptoms can be harmless on the one hand, as with sunburn, acne or warts, so that the symptoms go away without or by short treatment. On the other hand, they can also be signs of a serious skin disease, such as psoriasis or neurodermatitis. These cannot yet be completely cured and affect the patient for a long time.
Complications
As a rule, skin diseases can cause various complaints and complications. For this reason, a general prediction is not possible and usually not useful. However, in any case, skin diseases have a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life.In most cases, this results in pain, itching or redness. Those affected also suffer from reduced aesthetics and thus not infrequently from inferiority complexes and reduced self-esteem. As a result of the skin diseases, it is not uncommon for depression to occur. The skin appears dry and may be covered with papules. As a rule, skin diseases do not lead to death and do not reduce the life expectancy of the patient. They can often be treated easily, so there are no particular complications. Medications as well as creams and ointments are used in the treatment. These soothe the skin and fight the skin diseases. As a rule, good hygiene also has a positive effect on these complaints and can minimize the risk of skin diseases from scratch. In severe cases, radiation or chemotherapy may also be necessary to cure these diseases in the long term.
When should you see a doctor?
In the case of skin changes of any kind, it is generally advisable to see a doctor. If the skin is reddened, scales excessively or the patient suffers from excruciating itching, the cause should be clarified by a dermatologist as soon as possible. In addition to the dermatologist, the family doctor can also be the first point of contact. If necessary, he or she will refer the patient to a specialist. Frequently occurring skin diseases such as acne do not necessarily require medical treatment. However, a visit to the doctor is recommended, especially if the symptoms are severe or persist over a long period of time. The same applies if the skin disease is accompanied by great emotional stress, as is the case, for example, with neurodermatitis and psoriasis. Particular urgency is required if the skin changes affect the eye area and/or the skin is severely inflamed. Suddenly appearing pigment disorders must also be examined by a dermatologist in order to rule out serious diseases. In addition, a visit to the dermatologist is always essential when children are affected by skin diseases.
Treatment and therapy
When treating skin diseases, it depends on the severity of the skin disease. For mild or harmless skin diseases, anti-inflammatory ointments, creams, pastes, solutions or lotions are usually sufficient for treatment. Some of these ointments or creams contain cortisone and should only be used for a short time. The advantage, however, is the targeted application, because the active ingredient only acts where it is applied. In severe skin diseases, ointments are usually not sufficient for healing. Medications (tablets or drops) must also be prescribed, but these often have side effects. Antibiotics are often administered for treatment. In general, the drugs used to treat skin diseases are also called dermatics. Especially dermatologists (dermatologists) know their field of application. Dermatics promote wound healing by protecting, nourishing and regenerating the skin. They also relieve itching. Ointments or drugs are ineffective against the most serious skin disease, skin cancer. This must be operated on and in advanced cases requires additional radiation or chemotherapy.
Outlook and prognosis
Atopic dermatitis causes intense itching that cannot be eliminated by scratching. The skin becomes increasingly dry and rough due to a lack of skin lipids. The result is the formation of scales. Anti-inflammatory agents promise relief for neurodermatitis, which cannot be cured. Ointments and creams with a high fat content have an itch-relieving effect. The formation of blisters all over the body is triggered by chickenpox. It mainly affects children. Severe itching and fever accompany the course of the disease. The highly contagious chickenpox can also affect adults, in whom the course of the disease is usually more intense. Skin changes caused by rosacea (copper rose) initially appear as a distinct redness, mostly on the face. As the disease progresses, nodules and purulent pimples appear. Shingles leads to rapid swelling of the skin, on which reddish nodules and vesicles subsequently develop. Antiviral and pain-relieving medications should be taken early to prevent complications. Afterwards, a rapid resolution of the symptoms is possible.Winter eczema can increasingly develop due to cold outside temperature, dry heating air and sweating in overheated rooms. This can lead to reddening of the skin and itching and burning. The symptoms are reduced by the use of oily, moisturizing skin products as well as water evaporation containers in the living rooms. Dyshidrotic eczema (non-contagious, chronic skin disease) forms mainly on the palms of the hands. Blisters filled with edema fluid appear, which may become inflamed and are associated with itching. The disease can last for several weeks and be chronic. Cold, moist compresses and anti-inflammatory, moisturizing ointments relieve the symptoms.
Prevention
In the case of skin diseases in the form of allergies, preventive measures could be taken by avoiding the triggers. For example, sun-sensitive people should avoid the sun. If one comes into contact with skin-irritating substances at work, gloves should be worn. Furthermore, allergy tests can be made if the triggers for a skin disease are unknown. If necessary, so-called skin protection ointment can be purchased at the pharmacy. Furthermore, attention should be paid to a healthy diet. To prevent skin cancers, one should go to regular preventive checkups and have moles and liver spots examined.
Aftercare
The measures of aftercare for skin diseases usually depend very much on the exact disease, so no general prediction can be made in the process. However, all skin diseases must first and foremost be examined and treated by a doctor to prevent further complications or discomfort. The earlier the disease is detected and treated by a doctor, the better the further course of the disease, which is why the affected person should see a doctor at the first symptoms and signs. Since some skin diseases are contagious, contact with other people should be avoided. A high standard of hygiene can also have a positive effect on the course of such diseases. In most cases, the treatment of these diseases is carried out by applying creams or ointments and taking medications. The affected person should pay attention to a regular application and also to the correct dosage in order to alleviate the complaints permanently. Regular checks by a doctor are very important. In most cases, skin diseases do not have a negative effect on the life expectancy of the affected person. Contact with other patients can also be useful in this regard.
What you can do yourself
Anyone who suffers from a skin disorder that does not improve over several days should definitely see a doctor, preferably a dermatologist right away. Whether and what the patient himself can do to improve his condition depends on the type of skin disorder and its cause. A widespread problem are the numerous forms of acne, which have been plaguing not only teenagers for a long time. Anyone suffering from acne should ban all comedogenic skin care products, including decorative cosmetics, from the bathroom. Pharmacies and specialty stores have special products for acne patients that are labeled “non-comedogenic.” In addition, regular and thorough cleansing of the affected skin areas is recommended, but this should not be done with aggressive agents. Good results for blemished skin and mild acne are achieved with micellar-based cleansing products, which are available in drugstores. Skin diseases that are the result of a contact allergy or food intolerance are also very common. If the allergen is not known, the affected person can find out by keeping a diary whether there is a statistical connection between the occurrence of the allergy and certain behaviors. Under no circumstances should the affected skin areas be scratched, especially not with bare fingers, as otherwise there is a risk of secondary infection. Over-the-counter antihistamines from the pharmacy help against unbearable itching. In the treatment of neurodermatitis, improvement is often achieved with care products containing the active ingredients urea (urea) and evening primrose oil.
