Skin diseases: types, symptoms, medications, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition of skin diseases

Skin disease is a condition when the outer layer of the body is either irritated or inflamed. This disease consists of various types that vary, each of which has different symptoms.

Skin diseases can be caused by various things, including personal hygiene factors, exposure to harmful substances in the environment, infections, to problems with immunity such as allergies. There are several skin diseases that are dangerous, there are also skin diseases that are mild but can interfere with appearance.

Some diseases are temporary, while others can be permanent and recur.

How common are skin diseases?

Skin disease is a very common problem. Skin problems can affect anyone of any age range. Babies, children, adults, and the elderly can be affected by this one health problem without exception.

In fact, skin diseases can attack people who really keep their bodies clean. You can reduce your chances of contracting this disease by reducing the factors that increase your risk.

Always consult a doctor for more information.

Types of skin diseases

Depending on the cause, skin diseases are divided into two broad categories, namely those that are contagious and those that are not contagious. Here are various types of skin diseases.

Contagious

Infectious skin diseases are skin problems that are usually caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Therefore, the infection is very easily transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact or from the surface of an infected object.

The types of infectious skin diseases include the following.

• Ringworm: fungal skin infection with red patches on the skin that spread.
• Water fleas: a fungal infection that usually affects the feet, especially between the fingers.
• Impetigo: a skin infection characterized by a water-filled rash.
• Leprosy: skin infection caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.
• Boils: bacterial infection caused by bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
• Chicken pox: skin infection due to the varicella-zoster virus.
• Warts: viral overgrowth of skin.
• Scabies: itchy skin due to mites Sarcoptes scabiei.
• Herpes: infection caused by the herpes virus.

Not contagious

Non-communicable skin diseases are skin diseases that will not pass from one person to another through direct or indirect contact. Usually, this disease is caused due to autoimmune disorders, exposure to allergens, and various other causes. Here are some skin diseases that are not contagious.

• Acne, skin problems due to clogged pores due to dirt or oil in the skin.
• Psoriasis, a skin disorder caused by an autoimmune disease that causes skin cells to produce too fast and out of control, causing a buildup of crusted skin.
• Eczema, inflammation of the skin that makes it red, dry, and itchy.
• Vitiligo, skin disorders due to missing color pigmentation to cause streaks.
• Rosacea, a skin disease characterized by small, red, pus-filled spots.
• Dermatitis, skin inflammation characterized by itching reddish swelling.

The characteristics and symptoms of skin diseases

Actually, the symptoms that appear can vary, depending on the type of disease being suffered and the cause. Here are some of the characteristics of skin diseases that generally indicate that your skin is having problems.

• A lump, can contain pus, it can also appear due to excess skin buildup such as warts.
• Resilient, a small lump filled with water or pus. This symptom appears in chickenpox.
• Rash, red patches that may or may not be accompanied by itching.
• Scaly skin, caused by a very dry skin condition.
• Itchy, usually accompanied by a rash, but some are present without a rash.
• Skin discoloration, in the form of severe redness or loss of pigment that makes the skin look patchy.

When should I see a doctor?

You should immediately see a doctor if the symptoms you feel persist or get worse. In addition, consult a doctor if:

• lack of sleep due to annoying skin problems,
• have tried home remedies to no avail,
• interrupted daily activities because the disease weakens you, or
• spread throughout the body.

Each person's body response is different for each disease. So, if you have the signs above or if you have any other questions, please consult your doctor immediately.

Causes of skin disease

Viral infection

Viruses can cause skin diseases. The case can be mild or severe. As for various skin diseases caused by viral infections, namely:

• shingles,
• chicken pox,
• mutil, and
• molluscum contagiosum.

Bacterial infection

Apart from viruses, bacteria can also cause skin diseases. Reporting from the American Family Physician, impetigo and boils, including skin problems caused by bacteria.

Impetigo and boils are both caused by bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. But apart from that, boils can also be caused by Streptococcus pyogenes .

In addition, other skin diseases caused by bacterial infections are leprosy, cellulitis, erysipelas, and folliculitis.

The bacteria usually enter the body through cuts in the skin such as abrasions or open wounds. If you have a weak immune system, bacteria will usually infect the body more easily.

Usually this decrease in the immune system is caused by certain diseases or side effects of treatment.

Parasitic infection

Some skin problems can be caused by parasites. Usually this type of skin infection can spread beyond the skin, including the bloodstream and organs.

But not to worry, skin infections are generally not life-threatening, it's just that they make people uncomfortable. The types of skin infections caused by parasites are head lice and scabies.

Yeast infection

Yeast infections usually attack areas of the skin that tend to be moist, such as the feet and armpits. However, not all fungal infections are contagious.

Usually this non-contagious infection tends to be mild. As for various skin problems caused by fungal infections, namely:

• water fleas,
• ringworm, and
• diaper rash.

People who frequently leave their skin moisturised are at a very high risk of developing fungal infections. Especially if you add a wound that allows the fungus to get into the deeper layers of the skin.

Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders are conditions when the body's immune system goes wrong and attacks healthy body cells. Experts do not know exactly why this happened.

Usually skin diseases caused by autoimmune cannot be cured. However, various medications will help relieve and control your symptoms. Vitiligo and psoriasis are both skin problems caused by autoimmune disorders.

Risk factors for skin disease

Usually a person is more prone to skin problems if they have one or more factors that increase the risk. Are as follows.

• Excessive sun exposure.
• Family history of having skin diseases.
• Not keeping the body and the environment clean.
• Are having a viral or bacterial infection in another part of the body.
• Weak immune system due to disease or side effects of treatment.
• Allergen exposure.
• Spicy food.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Stress.
• Smoke.
• Obesity.

Diagnosis of skin diseases

Usually checking for signs and symptoms is the test most doctors do. This is mainly done to check for skin diseases caused by infection.

Often doctors can see the type of skin infection based on its appearance and location. In addition, the doctor will also check for infection by taking a closer look at the signs of irritation on your skin, including on the scalp.

If further examination is needed, here are some procedures that the doctor will perform.

Skin biopsy

In this procedure, your doctor takes a small sample of your skin (biopsy) to see what's causing the disease. Before the biopsy, the doctor will give you a local anesthetic where the skin sample was taken.

Then, this sample will be examined under a microscope to determine the right type of skin disease. Usually this test is done to check for the presence of skin cancer.

Culture test

A culture test is a test that is done by taking a sample of the skin's surface, the contents of the bumps, hair, or nails. This procedure is usually performed to identify microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites that cause infection.

Medicine and treatment of skin diseases

After getting a diagnosis, the doctor will provide medication for skin diseases according to the type of disease and its cause. The following are treatment options for treating skin diseases.

Drugs

Medicines given can be in the form of drugs that are applied to the skin and drugs that are taken. There are also some drugs that are used by injection directly into the body. The various drugs are:

• Antibiotics,given for skin diseases caused by bacterial infection. It can be topical medicine, oral medicine, or given by infusion.
• Antifungal,given for skin diseases caused by fungal infections. Often it is in the form of topical drugs such as clotrimazole (Lotrimin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and terbinafine (Lamisil AT).
• Anti Virus,given for skin diseases due to viral infection. Some options are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex).
• Salicylic acid, often given to treat acne. It can be lotion, gel, soap, shampoo, or patch.
• Corticosteroids, used to reduce inflammation and relieve itching. Usually prescribed for psoriasis or eczema.
• Immunosuppressants, used to treat psoriasis and more severe eczema. Some of these drugs include azathioprine (Imuran) and methotrexate (Trexall).
• Enzyme inhibitor, functions to turn off enzymes in the immune system to fight inflammation. One type of medicine is apremilast (Otezla).
• Retinoids, used to treat severe types of psoriasis, serves to reduce skin cell growth. Not recommended for pregnant women because it can cause birth defects.

Surgery and therapy

Sometimes under certain conditions, there are also some patients who need treatment other than drugs. However, the procedure is not only limited to treatment, but can be used to improve the appearance of the skin.

The various procedures are as follows.

• Shave biopsy, a procedure to cut out problematic skin growths using a knife.
• UVB Phototherapy, a common therapeutic procedure for treating mild psoriasis or other inflammation using artificial UVB light transmitters.
• PUVA (psoralen plus ultraviolet A), therapy that uses a combination of psoralen with UVA radiation that is used to treat some more severe skin conditions.
• Electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C), a procedure of burning the abnormal skin tissue which is usually performed in the treatment of skin cancer that is still mild or benign tissue growth.
• Cyrosurgery, a mild freezing procedure using very cold liquid nitrogen to destroy the abnormal tissue on the skin. Can be done to treat acne problems, scars, and some types of skin cancer.
• Acne surgery, a procedure to remove acne by using a needle or small knife to open and remove blackheads or pus.

Whatever treatment procedure you choose, you should always consult a dermatologist first.

Home remedies

Home treatments for skin infections work to reduce and relieve symptoms. There are various treatments that can be done to relieve various skin problems, namely:

Use a moisturizer

Skin moisturizer is an important form of care. Let alone problematic skin, moisturizer is also necessary for healthy skin.

You can buy skin moisturizers on the market with ingredients that are mild and non-irritating. If you are confused, ask your doctor if there are any recommended products that are suitable for moisturizing your skin.

Doing a cold or warm compress

Cold and warm compresses help relieve inflammation and itching that appears on the skin. For a cold compress you only need to prepare a basin of ice water or ice cubes. Then, soak a washcloth in it before using.

Meanwhile, for a warm compress, make sure that the water temperature is not too hot. Temperature that is too hot can actually dry out your skin.

Prepare a basin as a container of warm water then soak a small towel in it. Usually a warm compress will really help relieve itching without scratching it.

Shower regularly

Bathing helps clean the body from germs and dirt. Bathing is very important for maintaining healthy skin, especially if you are one of the people who often do outdoor activities. In addition, bathing helps remove scales and soothes inflamed skin.

But remember, don't take a shower in water that's too hot because it can actually dry out your skin even more. Choose soaps with mild, mild ingredients so they don't worsen symptoms.

You should also avoid bathing too often so as not to dry out the skin which will worsen the skin condition, especially if you are experiencing eczema or psoriasis.

Prevention of skin diseases

Some skin diseases cannot be prevented, especially those caused by genetics. However, some others, especially those that are contagious, can be prevented by implementing various treatments for the skin as below.

• Do not share personal equipment with others such as cutlery and toiletries.
• Avoid direct contact with the skin of an infected person.
• Vaccinating, especially for diseases such as chicken pox.
• Avoiding exposure to allergens or irritants such as harsh chemical products.
• Avoiding excess direct sun exposure to the skin.
• Does not scratch itchy, inflamed, or irritated skin.
• Clean public utensils before use, for example spoons in food stalls.
• Maintain the immune system by eating a balanced nutritious diet and getting enough rest.

If you have further questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.