The 3 Most Common Skin Disorders You Should Know
Your skin is an incredibly complex organ. Trillions of cells, sweat glands, blood vessels, and nerve endings work together to provide sensation and protection from the outside world. It’s probably due to this second function—protection—that adverse skin conditions are so common. Your skin is exposed to a lot—bacteria, allergens, sunshine, and everything else in the world! It’s no wonder around 1 in 3 Americans experience a skin problem at any given time. Since there’s a good chance you’ll deal with one, or meet someone who does, it’s important to know a thing or two about these disorders. Read on to learn about the three most common skin disorders you should know.
Eczema
First on our list of the three most common skin disorders you should know is eczema. Eczema, known more formally as dermatitis, is a condition characterized by itchy, inflamed skin. Eczema can occur anywhere on the body, but more typical spots include behind the knees, on your arm opposite the elbows, hands, and neck. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. However, since it’s more likely to affect those with a family history of the disease, there’s almost certainly a genetic component. Eczema flareups may be due to an overreaction of the immune system to bacteria and allergens, ongoing stress, or dry skin. For some, the condition is chronic, lasting years, but for others an outbreak can disappear as quickly as it showed up. Treatments include skin creams, cortisone, and prescription drugs if the case is chronic.
Acne Vulgaris
Most of us have experienced acne at some point in our lives, especially during the teenage years (thanks, hormones!). Whiteheads, blackheads, and papules are all types of acne. Acne pimples are created when hair follicles get clogged with oil (sebum) or dead skin cells (usually both). A certain type of bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) can also cause acne outbreaks. Topical medications like benzoyl peroxide help reduce acne. Unfortunately, even after it heals, acne can leave behind complications such as scars. It can also result in what’s called hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is when, after a pimple has gone away, the skin in the area where it was is darkened. Luckily, there are plenty of helpful facts about hyperpigmentation that can help you understand and treat this skin issue. The more you learn about this skin issue, the easier it is to find effective treatments for your skin type.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a condition that causes redness and small bumps on the skin, similar to acne. Besides redness and bumps, symptoms can include broken blood vessels close to the skin, known as spider veins, as well as swelling and stinging. The exact causes are unknown but, since it tends to run in families, it’s safe to say it’s partially genetic. Unfortunately, rosacea is often confused for other conditions like acne or eczema. One way to tell it apart from acne is that the redness is not just around the bumps, as it would be with acne, but distributed around the face. The condition also affects areas of the face not usually affected by eczema, such as the nose and the cheeks. Treatments for rosacea include certain topicals like oxymetazoline as well as a gel called brimonidine that helps keep blood vessels from breaking.
Authored by Admin @ Inspire Your Journey
