Skin Disorders

There are so many different kinds of skin disorders that there's an entire medical specialty devoted to them. Dermatologists study for years to become experts in all the things that can go wrong with your skin.

Since many skin problems look alike, the best way to find out what to do for one is to see a health professional. However, this article will give a brief overview of some common skin disorders.

Skin is often called the body's largest organ. It helps protect our muscles and inner organs. It slows down evaporation of water to guard against dehydration. Skin contains the nerves that provide our sense of touch. It also reacts to the body's needs. For example, sweat glands in the skin release water when needed to help keep us cool.

Skin is made of three layers:

• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Subcutaneous Tissue

The epidermis is the top layer. It's very thin, about like a sheet of paper. It's mainly made up of flattened cells that are constantly flaking off and being replaced by new ones. It also contains melanocytes, which are the pigment cells that give skin its color. The epidermis protects the lower layers.

The second layer is the dermis. The dermis contains blood vessels and nerve endings. It also contains sebaceous glands, which make oil to keep the skin soft.

The innermost layer is called subcutaneous tissue. It contains more blood vessels, plus connective tissue, sweat glands and fat cells. The fat acts as a cushion against injury. The subcutaneous tissue also helps insulate the body against heat loss.

Skin is complicated! All the different cells in each layer must work properly to make healthy skin. Many skin disorders happen when one or more elements fail. Often, the cause is genetic, meaning that the person was born with a tendency to develop the disorder. Some skin problems run in families.

Other disorders of the skin are caused by problems or changes elsewhere in the body. For example, the hormonal changes of puberty can lead to acne.

• Psoriasis. Psoriasis is a problem with skin cell turnover. Instead of new cells growing at the same rate as old cells flake off, the cells reproduce too fast and pile up at the skin's surface. Psoriasis usually looks like a silvery, scaly rash with red underneath. An estimated 7 million people in the U.S. have psoriasis. It's usually diagnosed in people between 15 and 35.

• Atopic Dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is a common form of eczema, a sort of over-reaction to skin irritants that causes an itchy rash. As many as 15 million people in the U.S. have eczema. People with atopic dermatitis have dry, itchy skin which may even crack and bleed. Scratching can lead to raw, red patches. Some common sites are the face, the hands, behind the knees, and inside the elbows. It tends to occur in people with allergies or asthma, or with a family history of those problems. It's most common in babies and children.

• Rosacea. Rosacea is a reddening of the skin, usually on the face. It may be accompanied by pimples, bumps, red lines, and skin thickening. The cause is unknown, but it may be related to abnormal blood vessels in the deeper layers of the skin. Rosacea affects about 14 million people. It's most common between in people between the ages of 30 and 60.

• Acne. Acne is common during puberty, when hormonal changes signal the sebaceous gland to make more oil. If they make too much, the oil can mix with skin cells and clog pores, which encourages infection. Pimples are the infected, pus-filled pores. Acne usually gets better with adulthood, but some people have it all their lives. Almost everyone has at least mild acne during their teenage years.

• Connective Tissue Disorders. There are more than 200 different connective tissue disorders. Some involve the connective tissue in the subcutaneous layer of the skin. These disorders are genetic. In epidermolysis bullosa, defects in skin proteins cause the skin layers to separate and form blisters with even slight injuries. The abnormal connective tissue in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome leads to trouble with wound healing and unusually stretchy skin.

• Vitiligo. Vitiligo is a failure of melanocytes in specific areas of the skin. Doctors don't know why this happens, but children of people with vitiligo are more likely to develop it. The affected areas look like white patches and can be quite striking on people with dark skin.

• Icthyosis. People with icthyosis have dry, thick, scaly skin caused by a genetic problem. It is a lifelong problem and often is apparent at birth.

There are many other skin disorders, both common and uncommon. Check these web sites for more information:

• Family Doctor.org. The web site of the American Academy of Family Physicians has an extensive section on skin problems.
• Health Topics at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders. NIAMS has detailed Q&A's and fact sheets.
• Medline Plus from the National Institutes of Health. A Medline Plus search will direct you to many helpful sites.

You can see photos of many common skin disorders here at LoveToKnow Skin Care:

• Pictures of Skin Disorders

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• Metallic Nail Color
• Main Ingredients in Lotion Making
• Acne Myths Quiz
• Nail Care Quiz

• Pictures of Skin Rashes
• Skin Rashes
• Gel Nails Acrylic Nails
• Pictures of Skin Disorders
• Pictures of Simple Nail Art

• Cetaphil Skin Care
• Cause of a Skin Rash
• Category:Skin Conditions
• Skin Diseases
• Slideshow:Photos of Skin Disorders