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Skin Disease Treatment
By General Medicine doctor, specializing in Dermatology
Having itchy, very dry skin, peeling skin, or a rash on your body or face may indicate that you have a skin disease. Buying your own topical medication may only provide temporary relief. However, medication prescribed by a pharmacist may not be the right one for your condition. Consulting a specialist to get the right treatment is what we recommend.
Symptoms that tell you it's time to come see a dermatologist
If you have any of the following symptoms below, you need to come see a dermatologist immediately to get the right diagnosis and treatment:
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Often have rashes
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Blisters
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Itchy skin
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Peeling skin
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Dry and tight skin
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Dry and itchy skin
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Very dry skin that starts to crack and bleed
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Dry skin resembling like fish scales
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Burning pain in the skin
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Sore and itchy skin
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Peeling or itchy scalp
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Rashes that has clear circle and scale
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Scaly skin
Skin diseases and symtoms
Psoriasis
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a long-lasting disease in which the immune system becomes overactive, causing skin cells to multiply too quickly.
Causes of Psoriasis
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Genetics - One third of patients with Psoriasis has previous record of Psoriasis in their family.
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Weather - Hot and cold weather or staying in the sun without protection.
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Environments - Direct contact to chemicals or irritants without protection, or being bitten by insects.
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Virus infected - Those who are infected with Rhinoviruses, HIV, HPV, or HCV have higher risk of getting Psorasis.
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Bacterial infected - Those who are infected with Streptococcus in respiratory system, resulting in sore throat and Tonsillitis.
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Changes in hormones level - Pregnant woman and ladies during their PMS or taking birth control pills
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Obesity
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Skin injury - Skin frictions or scar from operation
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Some medicine - Such as Beta-blockers and Lithium
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Poor sleep quality
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Stress
Symptoms of Psoriasis
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Patches of thick, red skin with silvery-white scales that itch or burn
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Dry, cracked skin that itches or bleeds.
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Thick, ridged, pitted nails.
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Painful skin and even fever
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Peeling scalp
Is Psoriasis contagious?
No, Psoriasis is not a contagious disease.
Can Psoriasis be treated?
There's currently no permanent treatment for psoriasis. However, the symptoms can get better with topical medicine, oral medicine, and injectable medicine under the provision of a dermatology specialist. In addition, the patients need to avoid all causes that might lead to the recurrent of psoriasis.
Herpes Zoster or Shingles
What is Herpes Zoster or Shingles?
Herpes zoster or Shingles is caused by the virus that is hidden in the body of those who used to have chickenpox and will recurrent when the body immunity is low. This is mostly found in elders and those who have weak immunity system. Those who are suspicious of having shingles must be treated with antiviral medicine within 48-72 hours of having a symptom.
Causes of Shingles
Shingles is caused by Varicella virus, which is hidden in the nervous system of those who have had chickenpox before. It can last years without showing any sign, and recurrent when the body immunity is weak.
Shingles Symptoms
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Tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin
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Headache or feeling generally unwell
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Painful rashes on chest, tummy, face, eyes and/or genitals.
Who have high risk of having Shingles?
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Those who have had chickenpox
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50 years or older
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HIV infected patients
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Patients who are taking immune suppressing drugs
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Cancer patients
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Patients during chemotherapy treatment
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Patients with contiguous disease, especially SLE
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Those who had an organ transplant
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Bedridden patients
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High stress people
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Not sleeping well
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Seriously injured patients
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Who have been using steriod for a long time
Is Shingles contagious?
Yes, shingles is contagious. It is recommended to avoid direct contact with shingles infected patients.
Can Shingles be treated?
Shingles can be cured, but treatment must be most effective within 48-72 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Is it true that you'll die if Shingles rashes goes around you?
No. Most shingles patients who died usually have very weak immune system with other complications, making the body becomes very weak and resulting in dead. The complications usually occur in patients over 50 years old.
Is there anyway to prevent Shingles?
Yes. Currently, there is shingles vaccine available that can reduce the risk and severity of shingles. Therefore, it is recommended that those aged 50 years and over, both who have and have never had chickenpox, those with low immune system and those at high risk to receive the shingles vaccination.
Eczema or Dermatisis
What is Eczema or Dermatisis?
Eczema or Dermatitis is a skin condition causing inflammation, redness, and itching, often due to allergies or irritants. It can occur anywhere in the body including scalp.
Types of Dermatisis
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Contact Dermatitis - Caused by immunity system reaction, resulting in an allergy, or by irritation from direct contact with irritants
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Dyshidrotic Eczema - Causing clear blisters on palms and soles
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Hand Eczema - Caused by direct contact with irritants, resulting in itchy rash on hands.
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Nummular Eczema - Round or oval shaped; mostly found on legs
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Stasis Dermatitis - Mostly found together with varicose veins, causing swelling, redness, itching.
Symptoms of Dermatisis
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Dry skin
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Rashes
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Red and swollen skin
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Itchy
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Clear blisters
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Dandruff and bumps near hair roots
Is Dermatisis contagious?
No, dermatitis is not a contagious disease.
Can Dermatitis be cured?
Dermatitis cannot be permanently cured, but it can be treated with topical medicine when giving correctly.
Atopic Dermatitis
What is Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic Dermatitis is a chronical skin inflammation that usually occur with other symptoms, such as allergies, asthma, conjunctivitis. or rhinitis.
Causes of Atopic Dermatitis
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Genetics
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Weather - Especially in dry and cold weather
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Irritants - such as dish washer liquid and detergent
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Dust miles
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Taking warm shower
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Stress
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Sweat
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Some food allergy
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Insects
Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis
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Very itchy
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A red or brown swollen rash, especially in the folds
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Dry skin
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Thick raised rash
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Clear blisters
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Flaky skin
Is Atopic Dermatitis contagious?
No, atopic dermatitis is not a contagious disease.
Can Atopic Dermatitis be cured?
Atopic dermatitis can be cured by topical and oral medicine, depending on the severity of each patient. However, it is best to avoid all the factors that might cause the recurrent of the disease.
Elderly Skin Disease
As you get older, there'll be changes in our body, such as less production of oil and thinning skin, which increase the chances of getting various skin diseases.
Changes you'll face as you age
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Melasma and freckles
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Seborrheic keratosis
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Dry and easily irritated skin
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Thinner skin - increasing risk of scars and bruises
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Thicker and darker nails, but easily broken
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Takes longer for scars to be cured
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Weaker immune system
Skin diseases or skin symptoms that are usually found in elders
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Wrinkles - from the loss of collagen and elastin, facial movements, frequent strong touch on face, and directly contacting sun without protection.
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Itchy rashes from dry skin - as the body produces less oil, making skin becomes dry and easily irritated
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Itchy rashes from allergies - Mostly found in those with congenital diseases, such as allergies, asthma, and various causes
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Dark spots - from the aggregation of abnormal pigment, resulting in light-brown till dark-brown spots with the size smaller than 5 millimeters on sun exposed areas, such as face, neck, hands, and arms
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Closed comedones - from direct exposed to sun without protection; often appear around eyes and cheeks
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Seborrheic keratosis - raised, oval or round spot on the skin that may bleed or be itchy on face, neck, chest, and back
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Scars and infections - As skin becomes thinner, it is easier to get scars and harder to heal. Theses scars are also risky of being infected as the body's immune system becomes weaker.
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Skin cancer - mainly from genetics and direct expose to sun without protection
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Psorasis - From the recurrent of Varicella virus which is hidden in those who had Chickenpox or those who have unconsciously infected by the virus during weak immunity period
Can elderly skin diseasea be cured?
The best methods to cure elderly skin disease are to apply adequate amount of skin moisturizer, apply sunscreen everyday, avoid getting scars, and avoid all factors that might cause allergy. However, if you have chronic skin disease or if you have suspicious symptoms of shingles, it is advised to seek consultant from a dermatology specitalist as soon as possible.