Common Skin Disorders

Just an hour in front of a television screen, or a walk through the drug stores should be enough to let you know how a healthy skin is viewed in terms of self-image as well as the society's idea of beauty. Unfortunately, a perfect skin is just a dream to most people. American Academy of Dermatology estimates that about 85% of Americans will experience acne at some point in their lives. 40-50 million individuals have it at any given moment in time, and Americans are spending over 2 billion dollars to treat and prevent skin diseases.

Well, that's shocking stats you may have not known until you read this post. So we are putting together a list of various other common skin disorders, which are both temporary and permanent.

Skin cancer

This is a medical condition that affects the skin and involves uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells on the skin. If left untreated, these cells will spread to other vital organs and tissues of the body to cause more harm. They can affect the lymph nodes and the bones as well. In the U.S, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, affecting one in every 5 Americans during their lifetime.

Lupus

Lupus is a skin condition that affects nearly 1.5 million Americans, and that's according to Lupus Foundation of America. Usually, the immune system is meant to protect the body by fighting any viruses or bacteria that may invade it. However, in the case of a skin disease like Lupus, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks vital tissues and organs in the body hence damaging them. This condition can also affect organs such as the kidney as well as the nervous system and blood vessels.

There are different types of lupus that affect human beings today. The most common type of lupus is the Systematic Lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE which affects the internal organs of the body. On the other hand, Cutaneous Lupus erythematosus affects the skin only.

Rubeola (measles)

This is an infection that is caused by a virus that grows in the cell linings of the throat and even lungs. It's very contagious as it spreads through air whenever an infected person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms may include fever, a running nose and coughs. Rashes form the most common symptoms of measles. If this skin condition is not treated, it can lead to a host of other health complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, as well as the inflammation of the brain(encephalitis).

Acne

Your skin has little holes called pores. Pores get clogged by bacteria, oil and dead skin cells. If this occurs, you'll develop a pimple or a zit. Now, if your skin frequently experiences breakouts as a results of clogged pores, you may be having acne. Acne is characterized by the presence of blackheads, whiteheads and cysts. If left untreated, scaring may develop.

In as much as acne is not a life-threatening condition, it can turn out to be painful both physically and emotionally. Acne that affects the face may bring down your self-esteem and even cause stress if not handled properly. However, with the right topical cream and oral antibiotics, the condition can be treated.

Hemangioma

This is skin condition characterized by growth of non-cancerous cells as a result of abnormality in the collection of blood cells. Hemangiomas cells are often found on the surface of the skin and sometimes in the internal organs, especially in the liver. Since this condition is congenital, most individuals develop them while in the womb. Skin Hemangiomas manifest as small scratches on the skin of a baby and advances as the child ages. The good news is that these cells disappear when the child reaches 10 years of age.

Hemangiomas cells are usually small. However, in some cases, these cells may grow larger and develop lesions that require removal. Unfortunately, there are no known remedies to prevent the growth of those cells.

Cold sores

These are red blisters with fluid inside that appear on the face or near the mouth. In rare occasions do they grow inside the mouth, the nose or fingers. Unfortunately, there's no known cure for cold sores, and such infections are bound to recur without warning. This skin condition is contagious as well, and may persist for weeks.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects 16 million Americans (according to National Rosacea Society). Unfortunately, the cause of Rosacea is still unknown and there's no cure for it.

There are 4 subtypes of Rosacea, and each subtype manifest with unique symptoms. Rosacea trademarks are small in size, red in color and mostly filled with pus. This skin condition affects the skin around your nose, cheeks and forehead area. Then there's an aspect of flare-ups to occur in cycles. Victims experience symptoms for weeks or months at a time, then the symptoms go away and return again.

Seborrheic Eczema

It's a very common type of skin disease. Also known as Seborrheic dermatitis, this skin conditions affects infants too. In this case, it is known as cradle cap.

Doctors think that this skin condition is caused by over-production of oil on the skin. The second cause is a yeast called malassezia, a natural occurring yeast that is found in the skin's oil. Malassezia is believed to act as an irritant to those suffering from the condition.

Even though there are no cures, individuals can learn how to develop triggers and eliminate them by adopting healthy skin care routine that helps manage the condition.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which an individual loses the skin's pigment. Melanin causes skin color and is produced by substances called melanocytes.

People who have been affected by vitiligo normally lose pigment and develop white patches with irregular boarders. This loss of melanin can occur in small patches, and may cover up to 50% of the body's surface. Normally, the patches develop in areas exposed to the sun such as your hands, fingers, face and feet. Sometimes the genitalia can also be affected.

This skin condition can be treated, but not cured because there's no known cure for it. This condition is not contagious and doesn't cause pain at all. It's not medically dangerous, so one can live with it. Vitiligo also affects people of all races. However, the loss of melanin is noticeable in people with darker skin tones.

There are many skin disorders that affect both men and women alike. By no means does this list provide a comprehensive outline of all the skin diseases that affect human beings.