4 Skin Conditions You Should Never Ignore

Skin conditions can affect your everyday life, especially when itching becomes unbearable. Some skin conditions require treatment to improve the side effects and reduce the chance of your skin breaking and becoming infected. You should always speak to your doctor if your skin is bothering you. Below we look at four skin conditions you should never ignore.

Eczema 

Eczema is very common, and many people do not know they have eczema until they speak to a doctor. There are a few different types of eczema, and some are worse than others. Atopic eczema is the most common form of this skin condition, and it causes the skin to get cracked, dry, and itchy. This happens more often in children, but you can develop eczema at any age.

Eczema is a long-term skin condition, and there is currently no cure. With treatment, most cases of eczema can improve and get better. If you get eczema in childhood, it may go away once you become an adult. Depending on the severity of your eczema, you may be prescribed moisturising treatments called emollients and steroid cream. Steroids can help if your skin gets worse, and emollients should be used every day, as often as you need.

In bad cases, eczema can cause your skin to become so dry and itchy that it cracks. This can increase your chances of getting an infection, as you have an open wound. You should try to avoid itching your eczema, and your doctor may recommend that you wrap it up if this happens.

Shingles

Shingles is a skin infection that causes a painful rash. It tends to occur more frequently in older people or those who have a weakened immune system. You may be eligible for a shingles vaccination if you are over the age of 70 and live in the UK, as this can reduce the chances of getting shingles. The common symptoms of shingles are a painful or tingling feeling on your skin and feeling generally unwell. You may get a headache too. The rash tends to appear a few days after these tell-tale symptoms.

A shingles rash can form anywhere on your body, including your chest, stomach, face, eyes, and genitals. A shingles rash is blotchy and is only on one side of the body. They can sometimes burst and ooze fluid. It can take around 4 weeks to get better, and some people may benefit from treatment, so you should speak to your doctor if you think you have shingles. You can also take pain relief at home and use a cool compress to help with pain and itching.

Acne

People with acne get spots that are usually filled with a white or yellow liquid called pus. Sometimes the spots are red, and they can be very sore to touch. Acne can affect your daily life and many people with acne struggle with self-confidence issues. Whenever a skin condition is affecting your life, it is best to seek medical advice. Despite what you may have heard, acne is not something that you have caused through skin hygiene or poor diet.

During teenage years, acne is usually caused by a change in hormone levels. It has also been known to run in families, so you may be more likely to get it if your parents had it. Women have more chances of getting acne than men, especially during pregnancy or when you have your period. There are lots of treatment options available from your GP to reduce acne, such as medicated creams or the oral contraceptive pill if your hormones are causing acne. For more severe cases, your GP will refer you to a skin specialist, known as a dermatologist.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a very common skin condition in the UK and usually needs treatment from a doctor. Even those with mild psoriasis can benefit from using a steroid cream to help with lesions, dry skin, and itching. The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, but some triggers could cause your psoriasis to flare up or get worse.

People who smoke every day tend to have harsher symptoms of psoriasis, as smoking is thought to affect both your immune system and your skin. Psoriasis can cause flaky skin and tends to appear mostly on the knees, scalp, elbows, and lower back. If you get it on your scalp, it can look a lot like dandruff. According to the NHS, psoriasis is thought to affect around 2 in every 100 people. As psoriasis is a long-term condition, getting treatment can reduce the risk of flare-ups.

No skin condition should be ignored, as your skin health can have a huge impact on your life, both mentally and physically. If you think you have any of the above skin conditions, you should make an appointment with your GP.

Categories: Health

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].