Skin Hair & Nail Diseases

Skin diseases A to Z (Information about skin diseases)

COMMON SKIN DISEASES

ACNE (PIMPLES / ZITS):

This is a very common skin disease in adolescence, young girls and boys and even in adults. It is a common mistake to think that it is normal to have acne at puberty and no treatment should be done. In fact, this is a skin disease and wonderful treatments are available that can get rid of the old acne and prevent the new ones from forming. If treated appropriately pimples should leave no mark on the face. When not treated in time they can leave ugly and permanent marks. The treatment usually consists of some medicine to apply on the face couple of times a day and sometimes oral medications may be needed. It is a common mistake to apply steroid creams like “Dermovate” for pimples which, in fact, can worsen the pimples and damage the skin. Acne in most cases is neither caused by any food nor is the lack of water responsible for it. But in general, eating healthy food, avoiding fast food and drinking enough water is good for the body anyway. . Many commercial creams and lotions, to treat acne and make the skin fair, contain steroids that can permanently damage the skin and should not be used without the doctor’s advice. You should consult a qualified skin specialist for the treatment. With the latest treatments available, there is no reason to be walking around with pimples. To learn more about acne Click Here

DANDRUFF (SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS):

Dandruff is a skin disease caused by mold / fungus and the overproduction of the body oil by the skin oil glands. Simply dry skin does not cause dandruff, so not washing the head is not the solution. Similarly putting the oil in the hair may mask the condition temporarily but is not the cure. Regular showers and the use of a good antidandruff shampoo may be your first step towards the treatment. If not improved a skin specialist can be consulted. With proper treatment this condition can be treated effectively.

WARTS:

These small growths are caused by a germ (virus) and can be transmitted from one person to another. Also, scratching a wart and
then putting the same finger on another part of the body can transfer the disease to that body part as well. These warts can be easily treated by burning with extreme heat or cold using special devices in your skin specialist’s clinic. Self medication by burning them with acids or picking at them can leave unsightly marks and even spread the disease.

HEAD LICE:

Head lice can cause severe itching in the head and is an extremely common problem in school going children. If commonly available remedies like combing hair with a very fine comb after shampooing with anti-lice shampoo do not work, a dermatologist may be consulted.

SLIGHTLY WHITE SPOTS ON THE FACE (PITYRIASIS ALBA):

These light colored spots are NOT caused by Calcium deficiency. It is a form of eczema and can be easily treated by your skin specialist. Avoiding the sun following the treatment may help lighten the surrounding skin thereby making the spots less visible during the recovery period. It usually takes a few months to regain the color in these spots after the treatment.

VITILIGO (LEUKODERMA):

These markedly white spots are not caused by drinking milk with fish. Sour food or Vitamin-C does not cause leukoderma. These are the common myths spread by non qualified medical practitioners. In fact every human being has an immune system (body defense system) to fight off infections caused by germs. Sometimes this defense system starts working against the cells which produce the skin color. These cells are called melanocytes (pronounced as MAY-LANO-SITE). In the beginning of the disease, the defense system just paralyzes the melanocytes and they stop making the color. At this stage they can be salvaged with the proper treatment. If not treated early, the defense system can permanently damage these cells, making the treatment difficult. The treatment usually consists of medicated creams, treatment with ultraviolet light in your dermatologist’s clinic, and sometimes oral medications with ultraviolet light. If no improvement occurs, a latest treatment called ‘Melanocyte Transplant’ is now available in Pakistan. In this treatment the color producing cells are transferred from the normal skin to the white spots, where they start producing the skin color.

UNEVEN TONE & DARK SKIN:

This can be easily prevented by avoiding harsh sun and staying in the shade. Different sun blocks with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 35 or more and UVA + UVB protection, along with physical protection with clothing, hats and umbrellas can prevent uneven skin tone. Remember, the intense and prolonged sun exposure can darken the skin and make the skin older looking sooner. Normal exposure to the sun is necessary for Vitamin-D production in the body. So try to avoid the direct sun between 10 am and 4 pm when the harmful rays of the sun are at their peak.