10 Common Skin Problems and how to treat them: Skin Infections

10 common skin conditions and problems: Pictures and treatments

Skin diseases are all too common, and even if you do not suffer from any, they are just always waiting to occur. A dry patch, a rash, a bump, red and swollen areas – the sight of one or more can be perplexing and disturbing to say the least.

Some of the skin conditions might be a warning sign of some type, and even minor forms of skin disorders can lead to permanent scarring unless promptly attended to. It can be very difficult to understand which skin problem you are suffering from. Here are 10 common skin problems and the solutions for the same.

1. Acne (Acne vulgaris)

It happens to be one of the commonest and most effective dermatological issues that most people go through at some level when they are adolescents. But this problem may persist even in adulthood, and can be manifested through more than only a few pimples. In the U.S, this is the commonest skin disease and can cause anxiety in all teens.

The condition arises when the area between the oil glands and pores get blocked. Based on how severe the problem is, the disease may affect the back, shoulders, neck and face. It is easy to spot the symptoms, which include blackheads and whiteheads. Most of the acute cases lead to sores deep beneath the skin surface, a problem known as ‘Cystic acne’.

The treatment should be conducted by a dermatologist, given that acne – when left uncontrolled – may often result in dark facial spots and permanent scars. For more severe or moderate acne, one can have options like:

• Differin topical cream (Adapalene) – It can be found as an over-the-counter cream even in the absence of a prescription.
• Oral isotretinoin – These include Claravis, Amnesteem and other generic and brands. The drugs might be in use, but pregnant women should not use them.
• Tretinoin topical – These comprise of Altreno, Avita, Retin-A and other generics and brands. These may also be availed in the form of lotions, gels and creams. Like Oral isotretinoin, it should not be used by females in pregnancy.
• Altreno, Avita and other generics and brands – These can also be availed as lotions, gels and creams.
• Sarecycline (Seysara) tablets – These were approved by the FDA in October 2018 for treating acne vulgaris that ranges between moderate and severe.
• Our Pick: The Keeva Organics Acne Treatment Cream is an anti-acne facial cream that is worth trying out.

2. Atopic dermatitis (Eczema)

Eczema can show up across the body and lead to itchy, dry skin with red patches that look like rashes. The condition is also referred to as Atopic dermatitis, and it may affect adults as well as kids. This is generally a chronic condition, although the flare-ups and symptoms tend to come and go. There are also small bumps that tend to secrete fluid. This condition may accompany asthma or hay fevers. If you have any of those conditions, inform that to your dermatologist. Atopic dermatitis happens to be one of the commonest types of eczema that affects children.

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Studies show that up to 15% of people suffer from atopic dermatitis in some degree in childhood, with most patients developing symptoms prior to 5 years of age. It can affect about 15 million individuals in the U.S. This is the commonest type of eczema and is regarded as a form of atopic or allergic response.

It is not known why atopic dermatitis occurs, although researchers indicate that it might be due to immune system issues, the environment or simply genetics. This type of eczema may arise on the face (particularly in infants) and other areas such as skin folds, creases, feet and hands. Other than itchy, scaly and dry skin, there can be continuous scratching – leading to thickening of the affected skin region. Although eczema is common in those with allergies, it is not caused due to allergies. Often, topical steroids are used for the reduction of symptoms.

The Dupixent(dupilumab) injection of Regeneron was cleared by the FDA in March 2017 for the treatment of adults having eczema ranging between moderate and severe who have failed or cannot use topical therapy. 

Dupixent has been used in clinical trials in more than 2,100 adults suffering from moderate – severe atopic dermatitis. It leads to 85 – 100% clear skin when compared with placebo. The itching sensations reduce after just 16 weeks of therapy. One can use Dupixent with / without topical corticosteroids. Seborrheic dermatitis and Contact dermatitis are other types of eczema. 

Our Pick: The Atopic Dermatitis Antifungal Skin Cream can be very assistive in treating this condition.

3. Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Shingles virus (herpes zoster) leads to a blistered, red rash that can wrap around the torso or arise in any spot on the body. Headache, fatigue and fever might also occur. It often leads to pain before the occurrence of a rash, and the aches might be quite intense. The extent of pain may be reduced by immediate treatment with the help of antiviral medications at the onset of rash.

In the U.S, there is approval for 2 types of preventive shingles.

1. Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) – It can be found as a subcutaneous injection and can prevent shingles. It is suggested to be used in those aged 60 years or over.
2. Shingrix (herpes zoster subunit vaccine) – It has been approved for preventing herpes zoster (shingles) in grown-ups who are 50 years in age or higher. This is a recombinant and inactivated subunit vaccine that is intramuscularly administered in 2 doses. The 2^nd dose is administered 2 – 6 months following the first one. Doctors now chose the vaccine Shingrix over Zostavax as it is over 90% in effectiveness.

Shingles results from the same varicella-zoster virus that leads to chickenpox. Those who had chickenpox are susceptible to shingles, given that the chickenpox virus stays inactive or dormant for years in the nervous system.

Those with a poor immune system or in the senior age group are at utmost risk. While shingles may be painful, use of oral valacyclovir (Valtrex) and other antiviral medications in the early stages may reduce the symptoms.

Our Pick: The Shingles Treatment Cream – 3X Triple Action Formula 100 might be worth trying out!

4. Hives (Urticaria)

These are the welts that are quite familiar, and are marked by itching, red and elevated rashes arising on the skin. Hives are commonly caused by stings, bug bites, food and medication. Hives are the result of histamines or the chemicals that the body manufactures as an immune system response to various substances. These also result most commonly from infections, pet allergens, pollen and more.

Hives generally disappear in 2 – 4 hours, although these may persist in a few people for many years or months. The condition is referred to as chronic urticaria.

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While these generally last for anywhere between a few hours and a few days, you can find these going away automatically. If it affects children, until the problem subsides you may ensure the comfort of your kids by letting them have a cool bath. Apply the lotion calamine onto the hives and dress them in clothes that fit loose. When there is severe discomfort, an antihistamine might be prescribed by a physician for reducing the inflammation as much as possible.

The best way to prevent hives is to avoid the trigger, regardless of what it might be. If that is found to be impossible, the use of OTC antihistamines such as fexofenadine (Allegra) or loratadine (Claritin) may be done to control itchiness.

At present, omalizumab (Xolair injection) is a drug used for the treatment of allergic asthma. In 2014, it was approved for curing chronic urticaria in people who do not respond to antihistamines.

If hives cover a wide area of the body, leads to impaired breathing or causes swelling of the face or throat, one should seek treatment urgently. They can call 911 if a large part of the body is covered by hives.

Our Pick: It can be worth going for Hyland’s Hives Tabs, 100 Ct for quick treatment of the condition.

5. Sunburn

Sunburn is another dermatological problem that is not often considered a problem. It arises when the skin is exposed to too much of UV (ultraviolet) light from sunlamps or sun. The skin gets painful, red, hot to touch and can also peel away. It is tough to know how long it is safe to spend under the sun, although even with protection from sunscreen. Repeated cases of sunburns, particularly as a kid, may also increase skin cancer risks in future.

Severe cases of sunburn can be extremely damaging and can also require medical attention. Bad sunburn cases are marked by blisters and inflammation, and headache or fever can also arise along with these symptoms.

While dealing with cases of sunburn, prevention happens to be the best approach. Ensure that you always make use of a robust sunscreen. It is essential, given that frequent sunburns might lead to greater risks of skin cancer. Sunscreen generally has to be applied again and again every couple of hours, although you might have to get out of it soon.

You need to put aloe onto your burns, although if you sense that you require more intensive care you should go to the clinic of a dermatologist. It is more convenient to prevent a case of sunburn than to try and treat one.

The first and foremost step in curing a sunburn is to look for shade, get in if needed and cool down the skin. Use a mild soap when you take a shower or cool bath.

In a few cases, lidocaine or some other OTC topical product might be required. Ibuprofen or any other NSAID can be assistive with any swelling or discomfort. In case you have severe blisters, chills or fever that cover a large part of the body, visit a physician. Avoid popping or scratching any blisters, as it might result in an infection.

Our Pick: The Truderma SPF-50 Sunscreen Gel (12345) can help keep the skin protected from the UV rays of the sun.

6. Contact Dermatitis

A few dermatological issues are caused actually due to external elements coming in contact with the skin. Such elements might be cosmetics, soaps or other products that are put on the skin or even laundry detergents. Many such products have chemicals that may lead to contact dermatitis.

At times, when some types of chemicals in lotions and cosmetic products are exposed to sunlight, a skin reaction is caused. Some types of jewelry may also pose problems in case you suffer from an allergic reaction to the same. Contact dermatitis symptoms include problems like:

• Blisters
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Itchiness in the skin area that comes in contact with a foreign substance

Most people suffer from contact dermatitis, when they touch anything that can evolve into a serious skin response.

A type of eczema, Contact dermatitis can be caused due to irritants like soaps or bleach, latex gloves, jewelry and plants such as oak, sumac or poison ivy. If you wish to prevent this condition avoid touching the object if you can.

If the problem gets severe, it is necessary to go to a doctor’s clinic. If the physician suspects you to be having contact dermatitis, and due to an unknown cause, he / she might recommend Patch Testing. In this type of testing, doctors apply allergic substances to the skin. They look for a response in the course of a few days. Colloidal oatmeal baths, topical or oral steroids, antihistamines etc are often useful for the control of the symptoms.

Our Pick: Use Exederm Flare Control Cream for Eczema & Dermatitis for the treatment of the condition.

7. Diaper Rash

This is a common skin disease in kids who are too young and wear diapers. A soiled or wet diaper that is left in place for far too long may result in rashes and red bumps in the diaper region, skin folds, genitals and buttocks. Stool and urine may break the skin down. The chemicals present in a disposable diaper may dissolve and lead to skin irritation. Bacteria or Candida (yeast) may also benefit from broke, swollen skin, which can cause the rash to be complicated.

The condition is also referred to by other names, such as:

• Ammonia dermatitis
• Napkin dermatitis and
• Diaper dermatitis, also referred to simply as skin inflammation

Contact irritation appears to be the most acute factor among all the diaper dermatitis cases that are published. These rashes could arise as early as within the 1^st week of the birth of a child. Those in the 9 – 12 months age group are at the greatest risk. Around 40% kids in this age group are impacted by this skin problem.

It is important to change diapers as required, for the prevention of diaper rash, and keep the region as dry as possible. The bottom of the baby should be exposed to fresh air when required. An ointment such as Desitin (zinc oxide topical) may be used to create a protective barrier over the bottom. Consult a pediatrician in case the rashes are still found to persist after 2 -3 days.

Our Pick: Use Equate Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Relief, 16 oz to alleviate diaper rashes in the children in your family.

8. Rosacea

This condition is marked by chronic inflammation of the face, along with pimples, prominent blood vessels and redness. It is commonest in females more than 30 years of age, although Rosacea can also affect men. The condition can be caused due to environmental issues, vein problems and / or immune system issues.

Depending on the type of symptoms exhibited by patients, several effective treatment options may be used. Doctors might use metronidazole cream, Oral doxycycline or various other antibiotics

Finacea or Azelaic acid gel, a type of saturated dicarboxylic acid present in nature, might be used to treat inflamed pimples. An acne medicine known as Isotretinoin might be prescribed by physicians for the treatment of more severe cases.

If patients exhibit redness, it can be reduced with the aid of:

• Beta blockers, which can help in lessening flushing
• Estrogen (in the smallest quantity)
• Laser and
• Surgical methods

In January 2017, the FDA approved the use of the cream Rhofade (oxymetazoline) for curing Rosacea. It is a vasoconstrictor agent that can be implemented for topical use. It has to be applied once every day over the face in order to shrink the blood capillaries and reduce facial redness in grown-ups suffering from Rosacea. Soolantra (ivermectin) and Mirvaso (brimonidine) are the two other items that are prescribed.

Our Pick: Choose the Rosacea Redness Relief Treatment Cream for immediate relief from the condition.

9. Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis)

It happens to be an unfortunate truth that the feet of every person are susceptible to fungal infections. There can be redness, severe itching and cracked skin between the toes and on the feet due to Athlete’s Foot. Dermatophytes, a kind of fungi, which can be found commonly in moist, warm regions such as locker rooms, shower stalls and pool decks, is responsible for this condition.

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The condition can be prevented by keeping the feet dry and clean, changing wet shoes and socks and wearing sandals in shower areas or public pool.

In case fungus creeps beneath the nails of the toe, and manifest as a brown, yellow or white colored substance with a crumbling texture in the nail, immediately visit a podiatrist – given that the condition might need more intensive treatment.

Fortunately, there are many topical, over-the-counter antifungal treatments that can be used to treat this condition. These include:

• Micatin (miconazole)
• Lamisil AT (terbinafine)
• Lotrimin AF (clotrimazole)

The infection can clear in a few weeks of time. Check with your physician in case the symptoms show no sign of improving. You might require a product that is of prescription strength.

Our Pick: The Tinactin Athlete’s Foot Cream, Tolnaftate 1%, Antifungal Cream can be used to alleviate the itchiness of skin.

10. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

In the United States, it happens to be the commonest form of skin cancer. This type of carcinoma grows in the skin’s upper basal cells. It spreads rarely and can be cured. Your body might be prone to this disease in case you are a person who spends long hours under the skin or often tans your skin by the beach.

The growths arise commonly on the neck, nose, ears and head. These can appear as an open sore, or scaly, red and shiny.

If you want to avoid this condition, avoid long hours of exposure to the sun, wear protective clothing, use sunscreen and visit a dermatologist every year to have full body skin evaluation. Know how to carry out self-checks of skin as well. If you have a strong family or personal history of skin cancers, you might need to go to dermatologist clinics more often. In case you find any skin abnormalities, immediately visit your doctor.

The treatment options for this condition might involve the use of:

• Radiation, to treat bigger ones
• Skin medications, for smaller regions
• Surgery
• Creams, such as Fluorouracil (Carac) and Imiquimod (Aldara)

Oral formualtions such as Vismodegib (Erivedge) and Sonidegib (Odomzo) can be used to cure BCC that has advanced locally and has recurred after radiation therapy or surgery. These can also be used for patients who are unable to undergo radiation therapy or surgery for some reason.

Our Pick: The Basal Cell Carcinoma (Skin Diseases Book 39) eBook is a book that lets you know about the condition in detail, and helps you to understand how to get relief from the condition.

Conclusion

Skin problems can be disfiguring and debilitating at most or at least, unpleasant to look at. At times, these can be suggestive of some acute underlying problems. It is thus important that you seek immediate treatment for the skin condition that you are suffering from.