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Education >> Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Topics: Acne | Eczema
| Granuloma Annulare | Hair
Loss | Hives | Lichen
Planus | Perioral Dermatitis | Pityriasis
Rosea | Pruritus | Psoriasis
| Rosacea | Seborrheic
Dermatitis | Vitiligo
Info: Acne
is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples,
and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules), that occur on the face,
neck, chest, back, shoulders, and even the upper arms. Untreated
acne can leave scars, which can be treated by our dermatologists.
How it forms: Male hormones found
in both males and females rise during adolescence (puberty)
and stimulate and enlarge the oil (sebaceous) glands of the
skin. These glands are found in areas where acne is common (the
face, upper back, and chest). Rarely, acne can be due to a hormonal
imbalance. Acne is not caused by the foods you eat!
Prevention: For the normal care of
your skin, wash your face with soap and warm water twice a day.
A tan can mask your acne, but the benifits are temporary. If
you are exposed to sun, choose a sunscreen that is oil-free,
such as a gel or a light lotion. Control of acne is an ongoing
process. Treatment is often needed.
Treatment: The treatment your dermatologist
recommends will vary according to your type of acne. You may
be prescribed topical creams, gels or lotions with vitamin A
acid or benzoyl peroxide to help unblock the pores and reduce
bacteria. Antibiotics taken by mouth such as tetracycline, doxycycline,
minocycline, or erythromycin are often prescribed for moderate
or severe cases, especially when there is a lot of acne on the
back or chest.
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| Eczema
/ Atopic Dermatitis |
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Info: The
word eczema describes certain kinds of dermatitis conditions (inflamed
skin). Atopic dermatitis is very common in all parts of the
world. It effects infants to young adults.
It affects about ten percent of infants and three percent of
all people in the United States. About 50 percent of patients
are affected throughout life, although not as severely as during
early childhood. Atopic dermatitis is a very common condition,
but in most cases can cause frustration to both the patient
and the physician.
Symptoms: Early eczema can be red,
blistering, or ozzing. The itchy rash occurs mainly on the face
and scalp, but pathces can appear anywhere. Later on eczema
can be scaly, brownish, or thickened. Almost always, eczema
itches.
Treatment: Proper treatment can help
until time solves the problem. Proper, early, and regular treatment
can bring relief and may also reduce the severity and duration
of the disease. Your dermatologist can prescribe external medications
such as cortisone creams, ointments or lotions, and sometimes
tars. Internal medications such as antihistamines can help deal
with the itch. Oral antibiotics may be prescribed if there is
also a secondary infection. For severe cases, your dermatologist
may recommend ultraviolet light treatments.
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Info: Granuloma
annulare is especially common in children and young adults,
although it may affect people of all ages, and is twice as common
in women as it is in men. No one knows what causes granuloma
annulare. It is believed to be the result of a type of immune
system reaction.
Symptoms: Granuloma annulare is a
raised, bumpy or ring-shaped lesion which may occur singly or
in groups on the skin. It may be pearly white, skin-colored,
red, or purple. It is most often an isolated area, but may appear
as several "bumps" spread all over the body. It's
often seen on the tops of the hands and feet, elbows, and knees.
Granuloma annulare starts as a round, firm, smooth, bump which
becomes a circular ring with a clear center; similiar to the
shape of a doughnut. It usually does not peel or itch and for
that reason, can often go unnoticed.
Treatment: No treatment is needed.
The lesions may go away by themselves in a few months. Some
may take years. Your dermatologist may prescribe a steroid cream
to apply, or inject steroids directly into the spot to help
it disappear faster. Steroids can thin the skin and should be
used accordingly to your dermatologist's directions.
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Causes: Many
men and women use chemical treatments on their hair, including
dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves. These
treatments rarely damage hair if they are done correctly. However,
the hair can become weak and break if any of these chemicals
are used to often.
Symptoms: People who notice their
hair shedding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or
whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a dermatologist.
Treatment: With correct diagnosis,
many people with hair loss can be helped. When confronted with
thinning hair or baldness, men and some women consider hair
transplantation, which is a permanent form of hair replacement.
Anyone who has suffered permanent hair loss may be a candidate
for hair transplantation. Many procedures are available.
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Info:
Hives are very common, 10-20 percent of the population will
have at least one episode in their lifetime. Occasionally, a
person will continue to have hives for many years. Urticaria
is the medical word for hives. They are formed by blood plasma
leaking out of small blood vessels in the skin. This is caused
by the release of a chemical called histamine.
Symptoms: Hives, or "wheals",
are pale red swellings of skin that occur in groups on any part
of the skin.
Risk: When hives form around the eyes,
lips, or genitals, the tissue may swell excessively. Although
frightening, the swelling usually goes away in less that 24
hours. However, if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing
you should go to the emergency room.
Treatment: The best treatment for
hives is to find and remove the cause. This is not an easy task
and often not possible. Antihistamines are usually prescribed
by your dermatologist to provide relief. In severe hives, and
injection of epinephrine (adrenalin) or a cortisone medication
may be needed.
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Info:
Lichen planus is not an infectious skin disease. It is an inflammatory
skin disease that usually affects the skin, the mouth, or sometimes
both. The cause of lichen planus is not known. Other areas of
infection include; ankles, arms, gums, scalp, wrist, lower back,
neck, legs & in rare cases the genitals & finger nails.
Symptoms: The first symptoms of lichen
planus can be characterized by reddish-purple, flat-topped bumps
that may be very itchy.
Treatment: There is no known cure
for lichen planus but treatment is often effective. The two
most common treatments include the use of topical corticosteriod
creams and antihistamine drugs taken by mouth. Both work to
help itching. More severe cases may require stronger medications
such as cortisone taken internally or a specific form of ultraviolet
light treatment called PUVA.
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Info:
Perioral dermatitis is a common skin problem that mostly affects
young women. Occasionally men or children are affected.
Symptoms: Perioral refers to the area
around the mouth, and dermatitis indicated redness of the skin.
In addition to redness, there are usually small red bumps or
even pus bumps and mild peeling. Sometimes the bumps are the
most obvious feature, and the disease can look a lot like acne.
Causes: The cause of perioral dermatitis
is unknown. Some dermatologists believe it is a form of rosacea
or sunlight-worsened seborrheic dermatitis. Strong corticosteroid
creams applied to the face can cause perioral dermatitis. Some
types of makeup, moisturizers, and dental products may be partially
responsible.
Treatment: An oral antibiotic, like
tetracycline, is the most common treatment for perioral dermatitis.
Treatment may be needed for several months to prevent recurrence.
For milder cases or pregnant women, topical antibiotic creams
may be used. Occasionally, your dermatologist may recommend
a specific corticosteroid cream, just for a short time to help
your appearance while the antibiotics are working.
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Info:
Pityriasis rosea (pit'' i ri'ah sis ro' ze ah) is a rash that
can occur at any age but is common in people between the ages
of 10 and 35 years. The rash can last from several weeks to
several months.
Symptoms: The condition often begins
as a large single pink patch on the chest or back. Within a
week or two more pink patches occur on the body and on the arms
and legs. Patches may also appear on the neck and, rarely, the
face. The patches are oval and often form a pattern over the
back resembling the outline of an evergreen tree with drooping
branches. About half the patients will have some itching that
can be severe, especially when the patient becomes overheated.
Risk: Sometimes the disease can cause
a more severe skin reaction. Physical activity, like jogging
or running, or bathing in hot water may cause the rash to temporarily
worsen or reappear. Pityriasis rosea does not seem to spread
from person to person.
Cause: The cause is unknown. It is
not caused by a fungus or bacteria. It also is not due to any
type of allergy. This condition is not a sign of any internal
disease. Some dermatologists suggest that a virus causes this
rash.
Treatment: May include external and
internal medications for itching. Soothing medicated lotions
and lubricants may be prescribed. Ultraviolet light treatments
given under the supervision of a dermatologist may be helpful.
Occasionally anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids
may be necessary to promote healing. Patients should be reassured
that this disease is not a dangerous skin condition. This is
a common skin disorder and is usually mild. Even the most severe
cases respond quickly to proper treatment.
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Info:
Pruritus is the medical word for itch. When severe, it can lead
to loss of sleep, anxiety, and depression. Pruritus can be a
symptom of certain skin diseases, and sometimes a manifestation
of an internal process. In other patients where there is no
evidence of skin or internal disease, pruritus may be due to
faulty processing of the itch sensation within the nervous system.
Symptoms: There are many skin diseases
that may have itching associated with a rash as a prominent
symptom. Examples would be hives, chicken pox, and eczema. Dry
skin, for example, is very common in the elderly, and can really
itch with no visual signs of a rash. Pruritus is usually secondary
to subtle dry skin, but may be a manifestation of an internal
condition.
Treatment: The doctor will first try
to determine the cause of the itch. This will require an examination
of the skin and possibly a blood test or biopsy. Patients may
require medication to be taken orally, or occasionally may receive
ultraviolet light treatments to relieve the itch. Hot bathing
or showering should be avoided. Soaps often dry out the skin,
so use mild soaps. Using topical drying agents such as calamine,
may be helpful. Although pruritus is an often disrupting and
disabling symptom it generally responds well to treatment.
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Info:
Psoriasis is a persistent skin disorder in which there are red,
thickened areas with silvery scales, most often on the scalp,
elbows, knees, legs, arms, genitals, nails, palms and lower
back. Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed from
one person to another, but it is most likely to occur in members
of the same family. The cause is unknown.
Symptoms: Normally, the skin replaces
itself in about 30 days, but in psoriasis, the process speeds
up and replaces the skin in three to four days, and the signs
of psoriasis develop. People often notice new spots 10 to 14
days after the skin is cut, scratched, rubbed, or severly sunburned.
Flare-ups sometimes occur in the winter, as a result of dry
skin and lack of sunlight. Psoriasis comes in many forms. Each
differs in severity, duration, location, shape, and pattern
of the scales. The most common form, called plaque psoriasis,
begins with little red bumps. Gradually these become larger,
and scales form.
Treatment: The goal is to reduce inflammation
and to control shedding of the skin. Moisturizing creams and
lotions loosen scales and help control itching. Your doctor
may prescribe medications to apply on the skin containing cortisone
compounds, synthetic vitamin D analogues, retinoids (vitamin
A derivative), tar, or anthralin. Other types of treatment include
coal tar, Goeckerman treatment, light therapy, ultraviolet light
B (UVB), PUVA, methotrexate, cyclosporine.
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Info:
Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is very common among skin diseases, in
that it causes redness and swelling on the face. Often referred
to as "adult acne", rosacea may begin as a tendency
to flush or blush easily, and progress to persistent redness
in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks,
forehead, chin and nose. It also involves the ears, chest and
back. Rosacea usually develops over a long period of time.It
may first seem like a tendency to blush, a ruddy complextion,
or an extreme sensitivity to cosmetics. An occasional embarrassment
or a tense moment may also trigger flushing.
Symptoms: Pimples of rosacea appear
on the face as small, red bumps, some of which may contain pus.
These may be accompanied by the development of many tiny blood
vessels on the surface of the skin and persistent redness of
the face.
Risk: Those most likely to develop
resacea are fair-skinned adults, especially women, between the
ages of 30 and 50, although it may affect men or women of any
age and even children. Some cases of this disorder have been
associated with menopause.
Treatment: Identifying the disease
is the first step to controlling it. Self-diagnosis and treatment
are not recommended, as some over-the-counter skin applications
may make the problem worse. Our dermatologists often recommend
a combination of treatments tailored to the individual patient.
Together, these treatments can stop the progress of rosacea
and sometimes reverse it. Gels and creams may be prescribed,
improvements can be seen in the first three to four weeks of
use. Oral antibiotics tend to produce faster results than topical
medications. Cortisone creams may reduce the redness of resacea,
but they should not be used for longer than two weeks. The persistent
redness may be treated with a small electric needle or by laser
surgery.
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Info:
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder that can be
easily treated.
Symptoms: This condition is a red,
scaly, itchy rash most commonly seen on the scalp, sides of
the nose, eyebrows, eyelids, skin behind the ears, and middle
of the chest. Other areas, such as the navel (belly button),
buttocks, skin folds under the arms, auxillary regions, breasts,
and groin, may also be involved.
Prevention: There is no way to prevent
or cure seborrheic dermatitis. However, it can be controlled
with treatment.
Treatment: Gentle shampooing with
a mild shampoo is helpful for infants with cradle cap. Mild
corticosteroid creams and lotions, or anti-fungal topicals such
as ciclopirox or ketoconazole, may be also applied to the affected
areas of skin. Adult patients may need to use a medicated shampoo
and a stronger corticosteroid preparation. Non-prescription
shampoos containing tar, zinc, pyrithione,
selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, and/or
salicylic acid may be recommended by a dermatologist,
or a prescription shampoo, cream gen, or foam may be given.
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Info:
Vitiligo is a skin condition of white patches resulting from
loss of pigment. Any part of the body may be affected. Usually
both sides of the body are similarly affected by a few too many
milky-white patches. Common areas of involvement are: face,
lips, hands, arms, legs, genital areas.
Symptoms: Melanin, the pigment that
determines color of skin, hair, and eyes, is produced in cells
called melanocytes. If these cells die or cannot form melanin,
the skin becomes lighter or completely white.
Risks: Vitiligo affects one or two
of every 100 people. About half of the people who develop it
do so before the age of 20; about one fifth have a family member
with this condition. Most people with vitiligo are in good general
health.
Treatment: Sometimes the best treatment
for vitiligo is no treatment at all. In fair-skinned individuals,
avoiding tanning or normal skin can make areas of vitiligo almost
unnoticeable. Repigmentation therapy is also an option. Topical
corticosteroids containing compounds can be effective in returning
pigment to small areas of vitiligo. PUVA is a form of repigmentation
therapy where a type of medication known as psoralen is given.
Special medical equiptment is needed for this treatment. Grafting
or skin transferring from normal to white areas is a treatment
available only in certain areas of the country and is useful
for only a small group of vitiligo patients.
 For some
patients with severe involvement, the most practical treatment
for vitiligo is to remove remaining pigment from normal skin
and make the whole body an even white color. This therapy takes
about 1 year to complete. The pigment removal is permanent.
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