Skin Problems

The skin is the body's largest and most visible organ. It reflects a person's general health and performs many important bodily functions. An average-sized person has 20 square feet of skin that serves as the body's front-line defense against injury and bacteria. The skin also regulates body temperature, acts as a sensory and excretory organ, and synthesizes vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet light. A vast network of blood vessels in the skin provides oxygen and nutrients to sensory and motor nerves and also to skin appendages, including glands, nails, and hair.

Not surprisingly, this complex, exposed organ is vulnerable to many diseases. Each year, as many as seven million people seek medical treatment for newly diagnosed skin diseases. And almost everyone will experience some type of skin problem sooner or later. Skin disorders are usually noticeable and often disfiguring, causing both physical and psychological distress.

Some Other Skin Facts

• The American Academy of Dermatology reports that one out of four people seeking medical advice about new skin problems is bedridden.
   
• Teenagers and young adults account for a significant number of dermatology (skin) patients. In highly urban areas, however, a surprisingly large proportion of patients are adults.
   
• Acne is the leading skin disease, occurring in 20 percent of all patients seeking treatment for skin disorders. Contact skin disorders, such as poison ivy and burns or rashes caused by industrial or household chemicals, are the second most common problem.
   
• Other common skin disorders include skin cancer, warts, fungal infections, and psoriasis.
   
• More than three million workdays are lost each year because of skin diseases.
   
• Chronic skin disease accounts for up to 50 percent of workers compensation claims in some states.
   
• Skin disease is the fourth largest cause of disability in the Armed Forces, affecting almost seven percent of military personnel.

The Skin's Architecture

The skin has three major layers -- the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin. Its main function is to produce the keratin that protects the body against harmful environmental substances and controls water loss. Cells in the epidermis also produce melanin, which gives the skin its color.

The next layer of the skin is the dermis. This layer contains a number of important substances such as collagen and reticulin, which prevent the skin from tearing; elastin, which makes the skin resilient; and jellylike substances that make the skin soft and compressible.

The third layer, subcutaneous tissue, is primarily made up of fat, which provides insulation, shock absorption, and calorie reserves. Both the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue contain sensory and motor nerves.

Among the most common causes of skin disorders are infections, overexposure to sunlight, follicle dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance. Parasites, external substances, cell dysfunction, genetic factors, stress, and aging also cause skin problems. Here are the most common skin disorders and their treatments:

• Acne
• Rosacea and Rhinophyma
• Psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Skin Infections
• Skin Cancer