It’s believed that as many as one in three of us are battling a skin condition at any given time. Such conditions can cause our skin to change appearance while often causing pain or irritation. This post delves into 7 of the most common skin issues experienced worldwide - and how to treat and manage each one..AcneAcne is the most common skin condition. It occurs when hair follicles get blocked with oil and dead skin, causing blackheads and spots (or even painful redness and cysts in severe cases). The most common cause of acne is hormonal changes, which can trigger the skin to become oilier. Teenagers are most likely to get acne, but you can get it at any age.You may be able to calm acne simply by washing regularly with soap and hot water. However, most aggressive forms of acne require some form of skin product or medication to treat. You can use natural products such as tea tree oil or a honey mask, or you can try over-the-counter chemical products like benzoyl peroxide. If skin has become infected, prescription antibiotics may be required..EczemaEczema is pretty much the opposite of acne. Instead of skin being too oily, it becomes too dry. Flare-ups can be painful and itchy. Eczema can be a genetic condition, however flare-ups can often be linked to specific triggers: cold dry weather, using certain soaps or detergents, stress and food allergies are all common examples.Along with trying to avoid triggers, it’s possible to take medication to help treat atopic dermatitis (the most common type of eczema). This could include taking corticosteroids or antihistamines. Moisturizing daily is recommended if you are susceptible to eczema..PsoriasisPsoriasis is an auto-immune condition that causes skin cells to fight one another. The skin tries to heal against itself and rapidly starts building new skin cells, resulting in hard scaly patches called plaques. It’s unknown as to why some people are prone to psoriasis, however there are often triggers such as stress or taking certain medications.The most effective treatments for psoriasis can be obtained by seeing a doctor - they will usually be able to prescribe creams or injections to help stop skin cells multiplying. Try to avoid picking at plaques to prevent skin infections. VitiligoVitiligo is characterized by areas of skin without any pigment. Like psoriasis, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease - in this case, pigment producing cells are wrongly attacked and destroyed, causing white patches on the body that are more vulnerable to sunburn. There is no true cure for vitiligo, although certain topical creams may help in the early stages. Those who want to mask their vitiligo commonly use make-up, however in recent years more people are learning to embrace their vitiligo..CellulitisCellulitis is the most common type of skin infection. It is caused by bacteria, and can result in red and crusty skin. Insect bites, cuts and surgery scars can develop into cellulitis.If ignored, cellulitis can spread to other parts of the body and become dangerous. It is important to see a doctor so that you can be prescribed antibiotics to help clear it up. Keeping wounds clean could help prevent cellulitis taking hold. Using products like mosquito spray when in areas with lots of mosquitoes may also help reduce the risk of developing cellulitis by reducing the risk of insect bites..ShinglesAnother type of skin infection to be wary of is shingles. This is caused by a virus, which results in painful red blotches across the skin. Shingles may initially present itself as chickenpox, however this is not always the case. It is a contagious condition that is typically passed through contact with people who have shingles or chickenpox.A shingles vaccine can protect you against shingles. If you are already suffering from shingles, you will need to speak to a doctor who can recommend antiviral drugs..Skin cancerSkin cancer causes small tumors called melanomas to grow on the skin. These look like misshapen moles that are often crusty or weeping. Too much sunlight exposure is the most common cause of skin cancer, but not the only cause - skin cancer may develop as a result of smoking, or even simply as a symptom of aging. To stop the cancer from spreading, skin cancer needs to be treated fast. This may involve an operation to remove the cancer. To reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, always take care in the sun (cover up or wear sunscreen) and quit smoking.
It’s believed that as many as one in three of us are battling a skin condition at any given time. Such conditions can cause our skin to change appearance while often causing pain or irritation. This post delves into 7 of the most common skin issues experienced worldwide - and how to treat and manage each one..AcneAcne is the most common skin condition. It occurs when hair follicles get blocked with oil and dead skin, causing blackheads and spots (or even painful redness and cysts in severe cases). The most common cause of acne is hormonal changes, which can trigger the skin to become oilier. Teenagers are most likely to get acne, but you can get it at any age.You may be able to calm acne simply by washing regularly with soap and hot water. However, most aggressive forms of acne require some form of skin product or medication to treat. You can use natural products such as tea tree oil or a honey mask, or you can try over-the-counter chemical products like benzoyl peroxide. If skin has become infected, prescription antibiotics may be required..EczemaEczema is pretty much the opposite of acne. Instead of skin being too oily, it becomes too dry. Flare-ups can be painful and itchy. Eczema can be a genetic condition, however flare-ups can often be linked to specific triggers: cold dry weather, using certain soaps or detergents, stress and food allergies are all common examples.Along with trying to avoid triggers, it’s possible to take medication to help treat atopic dermatitis (the most common type of eczema). This could include taking corticosteroids or antihistamines. Moisturizing daily is recommended if you are susceptible to eczema..PsoriasisPsoriasis is an auto-immune condition that causes skin cells to fight one another. The skin tries to heal against itself and rapidly starts building new skin cells, resulting in hard scaly patches called plaques. It’s unknown as to why some people are prone to psoriasis, however there are often triggers such as stress or taking certain medications.The most effective treatments for psoriasis can be obtained by seeing a doctor - they will usually be able to prescribe creams or injections to help stop skin cells multiplying. Try to avoid picking at plaques to prevent skin infections. VitiligoVitiligo is characterized by areas of skin without any pigment. Like psoriasis, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease - in this case, pigment producing cells are wrongly attacked and destroyed, causing white patches on the body that are more vulnerable to sunburn. There is no true cure for vitiligo, although certain topical creams may help in the early stages. Those who want to mask their vitiligo commonly use make-up, however in recent years more people are learning to embrace their vitiligo..CellulitisCellulitis is the most common type of skin infection. It is caused by bacteria, and can result in red and crusty skin. Insect bites, cuts and surgery scars can develop into cellulitis.If ignored, cellulitis can spread to other parts of the body and become dangerous. It is important to see a doctor so that you can be prescribed antibiotics to help clear it up. Keeping wounds clean could help prevent cellulitis taking hold. Using products like mosquito spray when in areas with lots of mosquitoes may also help reduce the risk of developing cellulitis by reducing the risk of insect bites..ShinglesAnother type of skin infection to be wary of is shingles. This is caused by a virus, which results in painful red blotches across the skin. Shingles may initially present itself as chickenpox, however this is not always the case. It is a contagious condition that is typically passed through contact with people who have shingles or chickenpox.A shingles vaccine can protect you against shingles. If you are already suffering from shingles, you will need to speak to a doctor who can recommend antiviral drugs..Skin cancerSkin cancer causes small tumors called melanomas to grow on the skin. These look like misshapen moles that are often crusty or weeping. Too much sunlight exposure is the most common cause of skin cancer, but not the only cause - skin cancer may develop as a result of smoking, or even simply as a symptom of aging. To stop the cancer from spreading, skin cancer needs to be treated fast. This may involve an operation to remove the cancer. To reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, always take care in the sun (cover up or wear sunscreen) and quit smoking.
