Skin conditions | Symptoms & Causes | Diagnosis
 


What this section contains?
1. What is Skin conditions?
2. Cause
3. Diagnosis & Tests
4. Prevention & Risk Factors
5. Treatments & Therapies
Skin conditions

What is Skin conditions?

Skin is the largest organ of human body and can be infected with Scabies, Eczema and Fungal infection, besides others.

Scabies-Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, the most common symptoms being intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. The microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs.
Eczema-Eczema refers to a range of skin conditions which includes dryness and recurring skin rashes that are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin oedema (swelling),itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. Scratching open a healing lesion may result in scarring and may enlarge the rash. The most common cause of eczema is atopic dermatitis, sometimes called infantile eczema although, it occurs in infants and older children. The word "atopic" describes conditions that occur when someone is overly sensitive to allergens in their environment such as pollens, molds, dust, animal dander, and certain foods. "Dermatitis" means that the skin is inflamed, or red and sore.

Cause

Bacterial
Bacterial skin infections affected about 155 million people and cellulitis occurred in about 600 million people in 2013. Bacterial skin infections include:

  • Cellulitis, a diffuse inflammation of connective tissue with severe inflammation of dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin
  • Erysipelas, an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread
  • Folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicle
  • Impetigo, a highly contagious ABSSSI common among pre-school children, primarily associated with the pathogens S. aureus and S. pyogenes

Diagnosis & Tests

To diagnose a skin infection, health care providers will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. You may have lab tests, such as a skin culture. This is a test to identify what type of infection you have, using a sample from your skin. Your provider may take the sample by swabbing or scraping your skin, or removing a small piece of skin (biopsy). Sometimes providers use other tests, such as blood tests.

Prevention & Risk Factors

  • Wash your hands! Keep your hands clean, especially before personal grooming. Shower promptly after using public athletic and spa facilities. (Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can be picked up from shared equipment and benches.)
  • Prevent insect bites.
  • Avoid scratching insect bites. Oral antihistamines can help reduce itching.
  • Never share personal items such as razors and towels.
  • Avoid tattooing, shaving, and waxing during travel.
  • If you have a chronic skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, ask your health practitioner about strategies for managing your skin condition while you travel.
  • If you have an abrasion, cut, or scrape, wash it immediately and thoroughly with soap and water and keep it protected with a band-aid. Consider carrying a skin cleanser to keep the injury clean.

Treatments & Therapies

Seek medical attention if you notice signs of a potential skin infection. This includes redness, tenderness, swelling, or pus