Skin Diseases: Types, Causes, and How to Overcome Them

There are various skin diseases with varied causes. There are skin diseases caused by allergic reactions, some are due to fungal to bacterial infections. So even with the symptoms, from mild to severe skin diseases. Therefore, it is important for you to know various skin diseases and how to overcome them, so that you are more aware of these conditions.

Skin is the largest organ in the body. Its function is to protect the body from bacteria, viruses, and sunlight, help regulate body temperature, feel the sensation of touch and pain, and produce vitamin D.

As the outermost part of the body that receives various exposures from the environment, the skin can easily experience disorders or diseases. Skin diseases can appear unexpectedly, and many people assume the cause is always related to poor body hygiene. In fact, there are many factors that can cause skin diseases.

Type-Mkinds of skin diseases

Here are the types of skin diseases based on the cause:

1. Skin disease due to inflammation

Inflammation of the skin is called dermatitis. This condition occurs when the skin comes in contact with an irritating substance or with an allergen (substance or object that causes an allergic reaction).

Symptoms of dermatitis generally include itching, redness, and swelling. Based on the cause, there are several types of dermatitis, namely:

• Irritant contact dermatitis

  Irritant contact dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases. This skin disease is characterized by the appearance of rashes, dry skin, irritation, or even blisters on areas of the skin that come into contact with the irritant. Some examples of irritants are chemicals, clothes bleach, detergents, alcohol, and bath soap.

• Allergic contact dermatitis

  Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis, such as redness and swelling, appear when the skin comes into contact with the allergen. Allergens can be chemicals, cosmetics, nail polish, latex gloves, proteins, or jewelry.

  In normal people, coming into contact with these allergens will not cause an allergic reaction. However, in allergy sufferers, contact with allergens will cause symptoms of dermatitis. Sometimes this condition is referred to as wet eczema.

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

  This long-term (chronic) skin disease, which usually begins in infancy, often recurs suddenly and then subsides.

• Seborrheic dermatitis

  This skin disease usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, back, and chest. Symptoms include red and scaly skin. When it comes to the scalp, seborrheic dermatitis causes stubborn dandruff. In infants, this skin disease is known as cradle cap.

2. Skin diseases due to autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissues. Some skin diseases caused by autoimmune disorders are:

• psoriasis

  Psoriasis is a condition in which skin cells grow too quickly, so that they accumulate and form reddish patches with silvery scales.

• Vitiligo

  Vitiligo occurs when skin cells that produce melanin (a dark pigment) don't function. As a result, the skin loses its color and white patches appear. Vitiligo can affect all skin types, but will be more pronounced in people with dark skin.

• Scleroderma

  In scleroderma, the skin becomes hard and thickens. Scleroderma can only attack the skin, but it can also attack the blood vessels and internal organs.

• Pemphigus

  There are two types of pemphigus, namely pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus. Pemphigus vulgaris is characterized by blisters that break easily but don't itch. While pemphigus foliaceus is characterized by scaly or crusty skin, and small blisters that itch when they burst.

• Discoidlupus erythematosus

  This is a lupus disease that attacks the skin. Symptom discoid lupus erythematosus include a severe rash that tends to get worse with sun exposure. The rash can appear anywhere on the body, but is more common on the scalp, face, neck, hands, and feet.

3. Skin disease due to infection

Skin diseases caused by this infection are generally contagious. and can be caused by:

• Bacterial infection

  Some skin diseases caused by bacterial infections include boils, impetigo, leprosy, folliculitis (infection of the hair glands), and cellulitis.

• viral infection

  Smallpox, shingles or shingles, warts, molluscum contagiosum, and measles is a skin disease caused by a virus.

• fungal infection

  The fungus usually attacks the skin that is often moist. Various skin diseases due to fungal infections are ringworm, tinea cruris (fungal infection in the groin), tinea versicolor, and water fleas (fungal infection of the feet).

• Parasitic infection

  Parasites, such as lice and mites, are a type of parasite that often causes skin disease, namely scabies. In addition to these two types of parasites, worm infections can also cause skin diseases.

In addition to the various skin diseases mentioned above, there is also a deadly skin disease, namely skin cancer. Skin cancer is caused by the growth of malignant cells in the skin. There are several types of skin cancer, namely melanoma, actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Overcoming and Preventing Skin Diseases

Treatment of various skin diseases depends on the type and cause. There are skin diseases that can heal on their own, and there are also those that must be treated medically, ranging from giving ointments to surgery.

The following are some types of medication that are often used to treat skin diseases:

1. Corticosteroids

This drug is used to reduce the body's overactive immune response. Corticosteroid ointment or oral tablets are usually used to treat inflammatory skin diseases, such as dermatitis or autoimmune disorders.

2. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are drugs used to relieve allergic reactions and itching of the skin. This drug can be purchased alone at a pharmacy or through a doctor's prescription.

3. Antibiotics

Antibiotic ointment is given to treat skin diseases caused by bacterial infections. In extensive infections, the doctor will give antibiotics in the form of tablets or capsules that are taken by mouth. Consumption of antibiotics must be based on a doctor's prescription and must be spent.

4. Antiviral drugs

Giving antiviral drugs aims to reduce symptoms and eradicate viruses that cause skin diseases.

5. Antifungal drugs

Antifungal drugs to treat skin diseases caused by fungal infections are mostly in the form of topical medications. However, sometimes doctors will also prescribe antifungal drugs to take.

6. Operation

Surgery can be done to treat skin cancer or other skin diseases, such as warts.

In addition to treatment, prevention also needs to be done, so that skin diseases do not recur and are not transmitted to others. The following are some steps to prevent skin diseases that can be done:

• Keep yourself clean by showering every day. When bathing, it is recommended to use a mild soap.
• Avoid physical contact with people with infectious skin diseases.
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels or clothes, with people with skin diseases.
• Apply skin moisturizer regularly to prevent dryness, itching, or irritation.
• Avoid the habit of scratching the skin and cracking boils or blisters that appear on the skin.
• Avoid ways to treat facial skin, including how to lighten the face, which is not in accordance with skin type.

Various skin diseases require different treatment according to the cause. If you experience skin complaints, don't hesitate to consult a dermatologist for proper examination and treatment.