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... more
Conditions and Treatments
Eczema
known medically as atopic (a-TOP-ik) dermatitis (DER-muh-TIE-tis), is a long-term skin irritation. It can come and go for months or even years, and often accompanies other allergic problems such as asthma or hay fever. There is no cure for the problem, but the symptoms can be managed... more
Acne
results when small kernels of sebum (oil), skin cells, and bacteria fill up hair follicles, causing blackheads and whiteheads to appear. The sebum ruptures the walls of the follicles, forming pimples and boil-like eruptions in nearby tissue... more
Rosacea
is a chronic skin disorder that produces flushing and dilation of the small blood vessels in the face. Tiny pimples also appear. As the disease progresses, small, thin, red lines (telangiectasia) may appear on the skin's surface. In advanced cases... more
Psoriasis
affects between 1 and 2 percent of the U.S. population, or roughly 5.5 million people. Though the cause is unknown, psoriasis results in an overproduction of skin cells. The surplus skin leads to thickening and scaling... more
Dermatitis
is the general term for any inflammation of the skin. There are many types of dermatitis and many different causes... more
Skin Infections
Athlete's foot may affect as many as 90 percent of Americans. This fungal infection shows up as sores between the toes, or as a blistering rash on the foot... Other fungal infections of the skin include tinea versicolor and dermatophytosis (ringworm)... more
Skin Cancer:
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. Some 900,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The tumors appear as small, fleshy, translucent bumps or nodules on the head, neck, hands, or occasionally, on the trunk of the body. These tumors don't grow quickly and don't metastasize (spread to other organs). If left untreated, however, the tumors begin to bleed, crust over, and then repeat the cycle. If treatment is further delayed, basal cell carcinoma can invade the skin and spread, causing significant damage as it extends.
Squamous cell carcinoma tumors appear as nodules that ulcerate in the center, or as red, scaly patches on the rim of the ear, face, lips, and mouth. The tumors eventually enlarge into sizable masses and can spread via the blood and lymph systems.
A malignant melanoma is the most virulent of all skin cancers. If untreated, it can be fatal; and in the U.S., the increase in new cases tops all other forms of skin cancer... more
Some Other Skin Facts
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The American Academy of Dermatology reports that one out of four people seeking medical advice about new skin problems is bedridden.
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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.
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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.
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Other common skin disorders include skin cancer, warts, fungal infections, and psoriasis.
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More than three million workdays are lost each year because of skin diseases.
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Chronic skin disease accounts for up to 50 percent of workers compensation claims in some states.
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Skin disease is the fourth largest cause of disability in the Armed Forces, affecting almost seven percent of military personnel.
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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:
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