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Skin Health Center
Vital information on your Skin's health.
Common Disorders, their
symptoms, causes and treatments
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HEALTH
INFORMATION CENTER |
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Your Skin
An average-sized person has 20 square feet
of skin that serves as the body's front-line defense against injury and
bacteria. The skin also regulates body temperature, acts as a sensory
and excretory organ, and synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to
ultraviolet light. A vast network of blood vessels in the skin provides
oxygen and nutrients to sensory and motor nerves and also to skin
appendages, including glands, nails, and hair...more
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Conditions and Treatments
Eczema known medically as atopic (a-TOP-ik) dermatitis (DER-muh-TIE-tis),
is a long-term skin irritation. It can come and go for months or even years, and
often accompanies other allergic problems such as asthma or hay fever. There is
no cure for the problem, but the symptoms can be managed... more
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Acne results
when small kernels of sebum (oil), skin cells, and bacteria fill
up hair follicles, causing blackheads and whiteheads to appear.
The sebum ruptures the walls of the follicles, forming pimples and
boil-like eruptions in nearby tissue...more
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Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that produces flushing and dilation of the
small blood vessels in the face. Tiny pimples also appear. As the disease
progresses, small, thin, red lines (telangiectasia) may appear on the skin's
surface. In advanced cases ...more |
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Psoriasis affects between 1 and 2 percent
of the U.S. population, or roughly 5.5 million people. Though the cause is
unknown, psoriasis results in an overproduction of skin cells. The surplus skin
leads to thickening and scaling....more
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Dermatitis is the general term for any
inflammation of the skin. There are many types of dermatitis and many different
causes...more
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Skin Infections Athlete's foot may affect as many as 90 percent of Americans. This fungal
infection shows up as sores between the toes, or as a blistering rash on the
foot... Other fungal infections of the skin include tinea versicolor and
dermatophytosis (ringworm)..more
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Skin Cancer: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Some
900,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The tumors appear as small, fleshy,
translucent bumps or nodules on the head, neck, hands, or occasionally, on the
trunk of the body. These tumors don't grow quickly and don't metastasize (spread
to other organs). If left untreated, however, the tumors begin to bleed, crust
over, and then repeat the cycle. If treatment is further delayed, basal cell
carcinoma can invade the skin and spread, causing significant damage as it
extends.
Squamous cell carcinoma tumors appear as nodules that ulcerate in the
center, or as red, scaly patches on the rim of the ear, face, lips, and mouth.
The tumors eventually enlarge into sizable masses and can spread via the blood
and lymph systems.
A malignant melanoma is the most virulent of all skin cancers. If
untreated, it can be fatal; and in the U.S., the increase in new cases tops all
other forms of skin cancer...more
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- The American Academy of Dermatology reports that one out of four people
seeking medical advice about new skin problems is bedridden.
- Teenagers and young adults account for a significant number of dermatology
(skin) patients. In highly urban areas, however, a surprisingly large
proportion of patients are adults.
- Acne is the leading skin disease, occurring in 20 percent of all patients
seeking treatment for skin disorders. Contact skin disorders, such as poison
ivy and burns or rashes caused by industrial or household chemicals, are the
second most common problem.
- Other common skin disorders include skin cancer, warts, fungal infections,
and psoriasis.
- More than three million workdays are lost each year because of skin
diseases.
- Chronic skin disease accounts for up to 50 percent of workers compensation
claims in some states.
- Skin disease is the fourth largest cause of disability in the Armed
Forces, affecting almost seven percent of military personnel.
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The skin has three major layers -- the epidermis, the dermis, and the
subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. Its main
function is to produce the keratin that protects the body against harmful
environmental substances and controls water loss. Cells in the epidermis also
produce melanin, which gives the skin its color.
The next layer of the skin is the dermis. This layer contains a number of
important substances such as collagen and reticulin, which prevent the skin from
tearing; elastin, which makes the skin resilient; and jellylike substances that
make the skin soft and compressible.
The third layer, subcutaneous tissue, is primarily made up of fat, which
provides insulation, shock absorption, and calorie reserves. Both the dermis and
the subcutaneous tissue contain sensory and motor nerves.
Among the most common causes of skin disorders are infections, overexposure
to sunlight, follicle dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance. Parasites, external
substances, cell dysfunction, genetic factors, stress, and aging also cause skin
problems. Here are the most common skin disorders and their treatments:
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Additional Information |
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NOTICE:
Health-Square is solely to be used
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an informational resource and should
never be used to replace contact with
your licensed healthcare provider. |
PHYSICIANS' DESK
REFERENCE, PDRŽ, The PDRŽ Family Guide to Prescription Drugs, The PDRŽ Family Guide to
Women's Health and Prescription Drugs and The PDRŽ Encyclopedia of Medical Care™ are
registered trademarks used herein under license. This material is copyrighted, by Medical
Economics Company, Inc. All rights reserved. None of the contents of contained on this
service may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without prior written
permission of Medical Economics Company, Inc. |
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