Your skin is your body's largest organ, so it's important to take good care of it. It protects you from heat, cold, germs and dangerous substances.
Dermatologists can help you diagnose and treat problems with your skin, hair and nails. They can also detect symptoms that may be a sign of health problems inside your body, like organ disease or failure.
Dry Skin
Dry skin can be caused by many things, including aging, medications, certain medical conditions, and even a reaction to skincare products. But one of the most common causes is harsh soaps, shampoos, and detergents that can strip away your skin's natural oils and moisture.
Often, the dry skin will come and go, but if it's severe or itchy, it's time to see a doctor. According to Harvard Health, dry skin can also be a sign of something more serious, such as psoriasis, eczema, and other conditions that affect the underlying skin tissues.
Other things that can contribute to dry skin include low temperatures, dehydration from drinking too much water or not enough, and using products with harsh chemicals or fragrances. If your skin seems to get worse in the winter, consider getting a humidifier to keep the air moisturized.
Your dermatologist can help diagnose dry skin and prescribe a treatment. She may ask about your family history and medical conditions to help determine the cause of your dry skin.
The most common cause of dry skin is aging. After age 40, your skin produces less oil and becomes drier.
Another common cause of dry skin is a health condition like diabetes, thyroid disease, or psoriasis. In some people, dry skin can be a side effect of prescription drugs such as statins and diuretics.
Finally, if you use skincare products that contain harsh ingredients like retinoids or alcohol, these can also cause your skin to become dry. These chemicals can dry out your skin and make it more sensitive to other things that aren't intended to dry it out, such as irritants or cold weather.
To prevent dry skin, limit your bathing to a few times a day and avoid harsh soaps and detergents. Try a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free cleanser that's formulated to be gentle on the skin. For extra protection, use a moisturizing cream after each shower or bath. And try to avoid scrubbing your skin, which can remove the oil from the surface and further dry it out.
Irritated Skin
Itchy skin is a common problem that can be caused by a variety of factors. It can be mild or severe and can impact your quality of life.
You can use itchy skin care products to help control itchiness and prevent a skin rash from getting worse. Moisturize your skin at least 2 times a day and more often if you have dry skin. Choose a cream or ointment that contains ceramides, which are natural substances that help protect your skin from irritation and dryness.
Avoid harsh soaps and shower gels, as they can irritate your skin and make it itch more. Wash your skin gently and try not to rub it as this can aggravate the itch.
Use an anti-itch product containing menthol to relieve the itchiness and stop the rash from getting worse. You can also put cool water on your rash to reduce itching.
If your rash isn't getting better, seek medical attention. A doctor may take a skin biopsy, blood, urine or stool samples or order some radiology tests to find the cause of your itchiness.
Contact dermatitis: This condition occurs when your body reacts to a substance that you have an allergic reaction to, like fragrances or preservatives in cosmetics, nickel (in costume jewelry), and poison ivy. You should be able to get relief from this rash within a few days or weeks, but it can be uncomfortable.
Eczema: This chronic skin disease can be treated with moisturizers and creams that contain ceramides, which are natural substances in the skin that prevent it from becoming dry or flaky. These are available at drugstores and can help soothe rashes.
Heat rash: This rash is more common in infants and young children because perspiration pores become blocked, causing it to ooze and itch. The rash appears as red, itchy bumps on the neck, elbows, armpits, and thighs.
Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that is more common during hot, humid weather. It causes a rash with fluid-filled blisters covered by crusted yellow scabs. A doctor will treat the rash with antibiotics.
Skin Folds
Skin folds are areas of the body where skin is folded together. They are a natural feature of the human and animal body. Associated skin care for skin folds includes moisture control, ensuring the skin fold is not overly tight or covered with clothing, avoiding aggressive rubbing to avoid irritation and drying out the fold by patting it dry rather than using a hair dryer.
Obesity is a major cause of skin fold problems, as adipose tissue and other extra skin layers trap heat and moisture, causing excessive sweating. This condition also leads to skin problems, including dermatitis and dryness.
One of the most common skin disorders in obese people is intertriginous dermatitis, or ITD. This condition is caused by microorganisms that grow in the warm, moist and dark environment of skin folds. It may develop in the groin, armpits, under breasts and in other folds of the body.
This condition usually is mild to moderately red, with scaly patches of skin, crusting and maceration that can be painful. It can be treated with zinc oxide-based barrier creams or absorbent dressings to reduce moisture.
In patients with intertriginous dermatitis, it is important to keep the area clean and dry to prevent the growth of bacteria. This requires the patient to wear loose, comfortable clothing; use pH-balanced liquid soaps and disposable wipes; and pat skin dry without aggressive rubbing or friction.
Another common inflammatory skin disorder in patients with obesity is a condition called skin fold pyoderma, which occurs when adjacent skin folds rub against each other. This causes an infection that is usually mild to moderately painful. The condition is more common in Shar Peis and flat faced breeds, but can be seen in other dogs with loose facial folds or vulvar folds that are not properly cared for.
In patients with intertriginous pyoderma, skin fold calipers can be used to measure the thickness of the skin fold. This method is a more accurate and reproducible way to measure the skin fold thickness than simple estimation. The caliper works by applying a preset amount of compression as it pinches the skin, so the result is more consistent with each measurement.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of abnormal growth that forms on the top layers of your skin, often when your skin gets damaged by the sun. It develops in many parts of your body, including the face, ears, neck, arms, chest and back, and also in areas that are not typically exposed to the sun (such as between your toes, under your fingernails or on your palms).
There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Each type develops in different cells.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and develops in a person's outermost layer of skin, called the epidermis. It usually appears as a red firm bump, scaly patch or a sore that heals and then reopens. The early diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma can prevent it from spreading.
Squamous cell carcinoma is less common than basal cell carcinoma, but it can be just as dangerous if left untreated. It can cause permanent disfigurement and damage to the organs of the body.
Melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, which give your skin its color. It usually develops in areas of your skin that get a lot of sun exposure, including the head, face and neck. It is rarer than squamous cell carcinoma, and it tends to spread quickly throughout the body.
People of all races and ethnicities are at risk for developing skin cancer. However, light-skinned people have a higher risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, squamous carcinoma and melanoma than darker-skinned people.
Associated skin care includes checking your skin for suspicious changes in size, shape or color of skin spots or moles and avoiding sunburn as much as possible. You should also be aware of any precancerous skin conditions, such as actinic keratosis, which are rough, scaly patches on the skin that can change into squamous cell carcinoma in a small number of people.
The best way to lower your risk of getting skin cancer is to avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun and to use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. You should also regularly check your skin for signs of skin cancer, such as new spots or freckles that look different than before or change in color or thickness over a period of weeks to months.