Got Skin Problems?
Do you have skin that is itchy, broken out, covered in rashes or strange spots? Skin inflammation changes in texture and color and spots can result from infection and chronic skin conditions we coe in contact with allergen or irritants. If you think you have one of these common adult skin problems, consult your doctor to check the out, even if it seem most minor--it could signal something serious.
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Shingles is a rash of raised dots that turns painful with blisters and causes skin to burn, itch, tingle, or ay be sensitive. It usually shows up on trunk or buttocks, but it can appear anywhere. The outbreak usually lasts about two weeks. After you recover, you will usually have pain, numbness, and itching that lingers for months, years, maybe for the rest of your life. Treatment is usually creams for skin, antiviral drugs, steroids, or anti-depressants. It is important to treat early so you don't develop residual pain.
Hives (Urtiaria)
They look like welts, but can itch, sting, or burn. They vary in size, often joining together. They can appear on any part of the body and last anywhere from minutes to days. Causes can be extreme temperatures, infections from strep throat, alergies to medications to foods and food additives. Antihistimines are used with creams to help.
Psoriasis
These are thick, red patches of skin that are covered with white, silvery scales. Doctors know that psoriasis works with the immune system to trigger new skin cells that grow too quickly, but they don't know what causes it. Patches can show up on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Although they do eventually heal, they can come back throughout your life. Treatment for psoriasis are creams, ointments for skin, light therapy and medications taken by mouth, injection or I.V.
Eczema
This is a blanket term for several non-contagious skin conditions caused by inflamed, red, dry or itchy skin. Doctors don't know how eczema starts, but they do know stress, irritants--like soaps or allergens, and climate can trigger flares. In adults, it appears on the elbows, hands or skin folds. There are several medications that can treat eczema; some spread over the skin, others are taken by mouth or shot.
Rosacea
If you have a tendency to blush easily that is followed by redness on the nose, chin, cheeks or forehead, you may see more redness over time in blood vessels. You may also have thickened skin, bumps or pus-filled pimples. It can also affect the eyes. Medications taken orally or spread on the skin may be available, where doctors can treat broken blood vessels and red thickened skin with lasers.
Cold Sores (Fever Blisters)
Also known as Herpes Simples virus, it can cause small, painful fluid-filled blisters on the mouth or nose. It lasts about 10 days and is easily spread from person to person. The triggers can be fever, too much sun, stress or hormonal changes, such as periods. Treatment is usually antiviral pills or creams, cut call your doctor if sores contain pus, the redness spreads, or have a fever or eyes become irritated. Treatment is usually prescription pills or creams.
Rash from Plants
If you come in an oily coating from plants like poison ivy, oak or sumac, it causes a rash in many people. It begins with redness or sweeling at the site and beomes itchy. Blisters show up within 12 - 72 hours after touching the plant. A typical rash looks like a red line from the plant across the skin. The outbreak lasts up to 2 weeks. Treatment is a medicine spread over the skin or taken orally.
Soothe Itchy Plant Rashes
Prescription or over-the-counter medications can help soothe itch. You can also try cool compresses or oatmeal baths. A doctor can prescribe medication for severe rashes or antibiotics for infections. You can learn to spot plants to avoid direct contact, but remember that poison oak is west of the rockies; poison ivy to the east.
Razor Bumps
These usually show up after shaving when a sharp, edge of closely cut hair curls back and grows into the skin. It causes irritation, pimples or scars. To minimize razor bumps, take a hot shower before shaving and pull hair in the direction the hair grows and don't stretch the skin while pulling the razor acorss the skin. Always use shaing cream or foam and rinse with cold water and apply moisturizer afterwards.
Skin Tags
These are small flaps of flesh-colored, or slightly darker tissue that hangs on the skin by a stalk. It usually found on the neck, chest, back, armpits, under the breast or in the groin area. They appear most often in women and elderly people. Although they aren't dangerous, they don't cause pain unless they are irritated when clothing or nearby skin rubs against them. A doctor can cut, freeze or burn them off.
Acne
These break out when pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells become inflamed. The pores stay open and turn dark, causing blackheads; whereas completely blocked pores are called whiteheads. You can also get pus-filled pimples called cysts. To control acne, keep oily areas clean and don't squeeze as it may cause infection or scars.
Athlete's Foot
This is a fungal skin infection that causes the feet to peel or turn red, itch or burn. You may also get blishters or sores. It is contagious and passed with direct contact. To prevent, don't share shoes with infected persons or walk barefoot in locker rooms or near pools. It is treated with a topical antifungal lotions. A doctor can prescribe medications for more severe cases. During treatment, it is important to keep feet inside shoes clean and dry.
Moles
Usually brown or black spots and can occur anywhere on the body. They show up alone or in groups,usually before the age of 20. Some can change lover over the years, from flat to raised, grow hair, or change color. Have moles checked once a year by a dermatologist and pay close attention to any change like irregular borders, unusual or uneven color, bleed or itch.
Age or (Liver) Spots
These pesky brown or gray spots ironically aren't caused by aging, but do become common as you get older. Caused by exposure to sunlight, they usually appear on face, hands or arms. You can try bleach creams, acid peels, or light-based treatments to fade them, but see a dermatologist to rule out serious problems like melanoma or skin cancer.
Pityiasis Rosea
A harmless rash, it beings as a single, scaly, pink patch with a raised border. Days to weeks later, it starts to itch as it spreads. The rash can look like Christmas trees spread across the body. Doctors don't know what causes it, but they don't believe it's contagious. It often goes away after 6 - 8 weeks without treatment and shows up between ages 10 and 55.
Melasma (Pregnancy Mask)
Also known as Chloasma, it is a tan or brown patches on the cheeks, nose, forehead or chin. It is often called a :pregnancy mask" because it appears on half of all of pregnant women, but en can get it too. I doesn't go away until after the baby comes, but it can be treated with prescription creams or over-the-counter products or laser treatments. Sunlight can make it worse, so use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.
Warts
In most cases, it appears on the fingers or hands. It is caused by the human papillomavirus and is spread when you touch something used by a person with the virus. To prevent, cover with bandages and keep dry and don't pick at them. They are usually harmless and painless and can be treated with topical medications or by a doctor, who can freeze or burn them off. A more advanced removal can include surgery, lasers or chemicals.
Seborrheic Keratoses
These non-cancerous growths can show up as you age and can appear in many areas of the skin alone or in groups. They can be dark, multicolored, or have a grainy appearance, or smooth and wavy. There is no treatment unless there is irritation or you simply don't like the way they look. They are also easy to mistake for moles, but a skin cancer specialist or dermatologist can tell the difference.
Source
www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshows-common-adult-skin-problems.
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