Understand all about common skin diseases and skin disorders


Skin disorders vary greatly in symptoms and severity. It can be temporary or permanent and it may be painless or painful. Some skin conditions are minor, while others can be life threatening. Some skin disorders have situational causes, while others may be genetic. While most skin disorders are minor, others can indicate a more serious problem.

Call your doctor if you think you may have one of these common skin problems.

Pictures of different skin disorders

There are different types of skin disorders. Below are photos of 25 different cases, followed by a detailed list of each.

List of skin disorders

Acne

  • Acne is most commonly found on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back.
  • Blisters on the skin consist of redness, blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, cysts, and deep, painful nodules.
  • This condition may leave scars or darkening of the skin if it is not treated.
  • People of color can experience dark spots known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

Learn more about acne.

cold sore

  • This condition causes red, fluid-filled, painful blisters near the mouth and lips. Light-skinned people may notice more redness than dark-skinned people.
  • You will often feel a tingling or burning sensation in the affected area before the ulcer appears.
  • Outbreaks may also be associated with mild flu-like symptoms such as hypothermia, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
  • Cold sores usually look the same on any skin color but they can also cause PIH in people with darker skin.

Learn more about cold sores and cold sores on darker skin.

Blister

  • Blisters are characterized by the presence of a clear, watery, fluid-filled area on the skin.
  • They may be smaller than 1 cm (vesicle) or larger than 1 cm (bulla) and may occur alone or in groups.
  • Warts can be found anywhere on the body.

Hives

  1. This causes the raised, itchy welts that occur after exposure to an allergen.
  2. Wounds may be warm and slightly tender to the touch.
  3. Rashes on dark skin can appear raised or inflamed and may be slightly darker or lighter than your normal skin color. On light skin, urticaria usually appears red.
  4. They can be small, round, ring-shaped, or random in shape.

Actinic keratosis

  1. This condition causes a thick, crusty, or scaly patch of skin.
  2. They are usually less than 2 cm long or about the size of a pencil eraser.
  3. It often appears on parts of the body that get a lot of sun exposure, such as the hands, arms, face, scalp, and neck.
  4. The skin patch is usually pink but can have a brown, tan or gray base. This patch may appear the same color as the surrounding skin in people with darker skin.

Rosacea

  1. This chronic skin disease goes through cycles of fading and relapsing.
  2. Relapses may be caused by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
  3. There are four subtypes of rosacea that include a variety of symptoms.
  4. Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised red bumps, dry skin, and skin sensitivity.
  5. Darker-skinned people may notice a brownish discoloration or dry, raised patches of darkened skin.

Carbuncle

  1. This causes a red, painful, and irritated lump to develop under the skin.
  2. It may be accompanied by fever, body aches, and fatigue.
  3. It can also cause peeling or oozing of the skin.
  4. May appear more violet on darker skin.

Latex allergy

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required. Call 911 or your local emergency services.
  • This causes a rash that may occur within minutes to hours after exposure to the latex product. It may be less noticeable on darker skin or appear lighter or darker than surrounding tissue.
  • It also causes warm, itchy crusts at the site of contact, which may take on a dry, scaly appearance with repeated exposure to the latex.
  • Airborne latex particles may cause coughing, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy and watery eyes.
  • A severe allergy to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing.

eczema

  • Eczema is characterized by yellow or white scaly patches that peel off.
  • The affected areas may be itchy, greasy, or greasy.
  • On light skin, eczema can cause a red rash. This rash may appear brown, purple, or gray on darker skin.
  • Hair loss may also occur in the area affected by the rash.

psoriasis

  1. This causes scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches. Dark-skinned people may also experience dark brown or purple spots on the skin.
  2. The patches are most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
  3. This condition may be itchy or asymptomatic.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a medical emergency. A person should call 911 or the local emergency services if they have any symptoms of cellulitis.
  • Cellulitis is caused by bacteria or fungi entering the cellulite through a crack or cut in the skin.
  • It causes painful swelling of the skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly.
  • The skin may appear red on fair skin. However, this may be less noticeable on darker skin tones.
  • The skin may feel hot and tender to the touch.
  • Fever, chills, and red streaking from the rash may be symptoms of a serious infection that requires medical attention.

Measles

  1. Symptoms of measles include fever, sore throat, red or watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose.
  2. It also causes a red rash that spreads from the face to the lower part of the body 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms appear. This rash may be difficult to see on darker skin.
  3. Small red spots with blue and white centers may appear inside the mouth.
  4. Measles may cause more severe PIH in people of color

Basal cell carcinoma

  • This condition is often characterized by raised, firm, and pale areas that may resemble a scar.
  • It can cause dome-like, pink or red, shiny and pearly areas that may have a sunken center, like a crater. For people with darker skin, it may appear darker and less pearly.
  • The blood vessels on the growth may be visible.
  • It may cause easy bleeding or a oozing sore that doesn't seem to heal or heal and then come back.

Squamous cell carcinoma

  1. This condition most often occurs in areas exposed to ultraviolet light, such as the face, ears, and the backs of the hands.
  2. It may feature a red, scaly patch of skin, which develops into a raised bump that continues to grow. The bump may be lighter on darker skin.
  3. It can also cause growths that bleed easily and don't heal, or heal and then reappear.

Melanoma

  • This is the most serious type of skin cancer, and it is most common in fair-skinned people.
  • It can appear anywhere on the body as a mole with irregularly shaped edges, asymmetrical shapes, and multiple colors. In people of color, skin cancer often appears in areas less exposed to the sun.
  • It may also appear as a mole that has changed color or has become larger over time, which is usually larger than a pencil eraser.

lupus

  1. Symptoms of lupus include fatigue, headache, fever, and joint swelling or pain.
  2. It can cause a scaly, disc-shaped rash that doesn't itch or hurt.
  3. Red, scaly patches or ring shapes are often found on the shoulders, forearms, neck, and upper torso and worsen with sun exposure. People of color have a higher risk of PIHT and abnormal scarring.
  4. It also causes a warm, brown, or red rash that spreads across the cheeks and bridge of the nose like butterfly wings and gets worse in the sun.

Contact dermatitis

  • This condition appears hours to days after contact with the allergen.
  • It causes a rash with visible borders and appears where your skin came into contact with the irritant.
  • The skin may be itchy, scaly, or raw. Light skin can appear red, while darker skin may appear purple, gray, or dark brown.
  • It may also cause blisters to ooze, ooze, or crust over.

Vitiligo

  1. Vitiligo is characterized by a loss of pigment in the skin as a result of the autoimmune destruction of the cells that give the skin its colour.
  2. Focal vitiligo causes loss of skin color in only a few small areas, which may fuse together.
  3. Segmental vitiligo causes pigmentation on one side of the body.
  4. Vitiligo can also cause premature graying of the scalp or facial hair.
  5. People of all skin colors usually develop patches of skin that are much lighter than their normal skin tone. In people with darker skin, it tends to be more noticeable, which can increase the stigma associated with the condition.

wart

  1. Warts are caused by several different types of viruses called the human papilloma virus (HPV).
  2. They may be found on the skin or mucous membranes and may occur alone or in clusters.
  3. Warts are contagious and can be passed on to others. May appear darker on skin toneTrusted Source.

Chickenpox

  • This can cause clusters of fluid-filled, itchy blisters, red or brown, in various stages of healing all over the body.
  • The rash is accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite.
  • Chickenpox remains contagious until all the blisters have crusted over.
  • It can be hard to see chickenpox on darker skin.

Seborrheic eczema

  • This condition is characterized by yellow or white scaly patches that crust over.
  • The affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or greasy.
  • Darker-skinned people may also notice hypopigmentation or a loss of skin color in the affected areas.
  • Hair loss may occur in the area affected by the rash.

Keratosis pilaris

  1. This common skin condition most often appears on the arms and legs but can also occur on the face, buttocks, and trunk.
  2. It often goes away on its own by the age of 30.
  3. It often causes patches of skin that look bumpy, appear slightly red, and feel rough.
  4. Symptoms may worsen in dry weather.
  5. Hair follicles may appear darker than the surrounding skin on darker skin. They usually appear red or purple on light skin.

ringworm

  1. This condition causes a circular, scaly rash with raised edges.
  2. The skin in the middle of the ring may appear clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward.
  3. The skin often feels itchy.
  4. The ring is usually red or pink on light skin and brown or gray on dark skin.

Melasma

  • This common skin condition causes dark spots to appear on the face and rarely on the neck, chest, or arms.
  • Melasma is more common in pregnant women (chloasma) and people with darker skin or who get a lot of sun exposure.
  • It may not cause symptoms other than skin discoloration.
  • It may go away on its own within a year or it may become permanent.

impetigo

  1. This condition is common in infants and children.
  2. It usually causes an irritating rash, which is often present in the area around the mouth, chin, and nose.
  3. It may also cause fluid-filled blisters that burst easily and form a honey-colored crust.
  4. It may be hard to see on darker skin.
Trusted Source: Learn more about herpes.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is one of the most common occupational diseases, often caused by contact with chemicals or other irritating substances.

These substances can trigger a reaction that causes itching and dermatitis. Affected areas may also appear red, purple, gray, or dark brown. Most cases of contact dermatitis are not severe, but they can itch somewhat.

Topical creams and avoidance of irritants are typical treatments.

Keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris is a mild condition that causes small, rough bumps on the skin. These bumps usually form on the upper arms, thighs, or cheeks. They are usually red or white and do not hurt or itch.

Treatment is not necessary, but medicated creams can improve the appearance of the skin.

permanent skin disorders

Some chronic skin diseases appear from birth, while others appear suddenly at a later time.

The cause of these disorders is not always known. Many permanent skin disorders have effective treatments that allow for long periods of recovery. However, it is not curable, and symptoms can reappear at any time.

Examples of chronic skin conditions include:

  1. Rosacea, which is characterized by small, pus-filled bumps on the face
  2. Psoriasis, which causes scaly, dry, itchy patches
  3. Vitiligo, which results in large, irregular patches of light skin

Watch a video: Understanding Common Skin Conditions