Our skin is our largest and one of our most complex organs. Unlike other organs, our skin not only serves a biological purpose, but also determines how we look and how others perceive us.
Our skin is susceptible to a range of different problems and conditions. These can range from mild annoyances to incredibly serious and life threatening. We’ve put together a list of some of the most common skin conditions for you to check out.
Acne
Acne is perhaps the most well known skin conditions, and it is certainly one of the most common. Acne can cause our skin to develop spots, or be excessively red or overly oily. While it is not a serious condition, it can be painful, uncomfortable, and affect sufferer’s confidence and self-esteem. Acne can be caused by hormonal changes, which means it is commonly seen in teenagers and young adults.
Acne can usually be treated at home by following good hygiene practices. In cases of severe acne, you may need to seek professional help from a private dermatologist London. There you will be able to access expert advice and guidance to help get rid of your acne.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that is thought to be linked to the function of the immune system. Psoriasis causes an over production of skin cells, with skin cells regenerating every few days rather than every few weeks. This causes the skin to become patchy and flaky, which can look anything from pink to grey to brown, depending on the colour of the skin. Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are treamtments available to help manage the symptoms. These can include things like topical corticosteroids or even phototherapy treatment.
Shingles
Shingles is an infection that is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. You cannot get shingles if you have never had chickenpox, as the virus will not be present in your body. Shingles causes a painful rash. The rash can appear anywhere, but is often seen on the torso, and takes on a distinctive stripe formation made up of painful blisters. Shingles normally isn’t serious, but it can be painful and uncomfortable. It some cases, shingles can lead to postherpetic neuralgia, which can causes pain to remain even after recovering from shingles. Shingles cannot be cured, but there are antiviral medicines that can help aid in recovery. Additionally, there is a vaccine available for shingles, which can help reduce the severity of symptoms should the condition develop.
Conclusion
There is a wide range of different conditions and diseases that can develop on the skin. Many of these are harmless or merely annoying, but some can be serious and have long-lasting consequences. Knowing the signs and symptoms of the most common conditions can help you learn what is happening with your skin, and can give you an idea of when you need to see a doctor or a dermatologist London.
