There are a number of common skin conditions that cause discomfort and discoloring of the skin, and may be embarrassing to the individual who has them. Most can be treated, but some are difficult to completely eradicate. Here are some of the most common. You’ll find information on common causes, symptoms, signs, and available treatments.
Dandruff or Seborrheic Dermatitis
Generally affecting the scalp, dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis can also be very embarrassing to those who suffer from these conditions. The itching scalp and dry, white flakes may be connected to stress, age or fatigue, or to genetic predisposition.
There are a variety of shampoos available to treat this condition, and it takes some experimentation to find the ones effective for you. Often a rotation in treatment is the most effective.
Using a tar based shampoo or cortisone based works for some people. While there are mass produced dandruff shampoos, for more serious cases, these shampoos are ineffective. Consult your pharmacist for other options.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disorder that is evidenced by dry, red patches of skin, scaly and inflamed areas, and red patches that will not go away. The most common places to find psoriasis is on the elbows, knees, scalp and groin.
Discomfort from psoriasis can be so severe that the person affected is unable to carry on normal functions, and it may severely limit social interaction in the most serious cases.
Psoriasis is a common disorder, and is considered chronic. Sufferers control symptoms with creams, pills like methotrexate, or a change in environment, but are never rid of the disorder.
Acne
Acne is a common and embarrassing skin condition that often affects teenagers. When it affects adults, it can be even more embarrassing than when it affects a teen.
Acne produces puss-filled pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. It is caused by an abundance of oil on the skin, a common occurrence during puberty.
The condition is aggravated by dirt clogging the oil-filled pores on the skin, so one of the best methods of treating and preventing acne is to wash the face morning and night with a cleanser developed for oily skin.
Many people also use a toner or astringent such as alcohol or witch hazel to clean off the last traces of oil, and then treat breakouts with a lotion or cream made with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, the FDA approved treatments for acne.
Contact Rashes
Contact rashes are caused by touching an item, usually a plant, that contains an oil that causes an allergic reaction when it touches your skin. Not everyone is allergic to the same items, but there are some that cause reactions in large numbers of people.
The most common is the oil (urushiol) that is found in poison oak or poison ivy, or the less often encountered poison sumac. However, other plants such as thistles and wild mustard will cause rashes in other people.
Cleaning the oil from the skin immediately after suspected contact with the plants is the best way to prevent the rash. Use regular soap or a commercially developed product used specifically for this purpose.
To treat a rash, the only solutions are over-the-counter poison ivy creams or hydrocortisone.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition, where skin appears red an rashy. Rosacea normally only affects the face and neck, but in some cases can spread to the shoulders, back and chest. Several variations of rosacea exist, including Rosacea Fulminana, Phymas in Rosacea, and Rosacea Conglobata.
Treatments of Rosacea typically involve topical creams, cleansers and lotions that reduce inflammation.
