A common skin condition among teenagers, is a result of hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells, causing whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Effective acne treatments are available and the sooner the patient starts the process, the more effective the condition heals over time.

This condition is caused by a bubble of fluid that develops beneath a thin layer of dead skin composed of a mixture of water and proteins that oozes from the injured tissue. 

Blisters are commonly seen as a response to a specific injury such as a burn or skin irritation, usually affecting the topmost layers of the skin. Some blistering disorders can also affect the immune system of the body.

The common cause for leg ulcers is poor blood circulation among other contributing factors such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol etc. These types of ulcers can affect both men and women of any age. Symptoms may include unhealed, open wounds or sores in the affected area, pus and pain, leg swelling, enlarged veins and general heaviness in the legs.

Atopic dermatitis or commonly known as eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become red and itchy. Common among children but it can appear for anyone at any age. Other symptoms may include dry skin, red to brownish grey patches especially found around the knees, elbows, hands, upper chest, wrists, face, scalp and feet, small, raised bumps in the affected area, thickened scaly skin and swollen, sensitive skin due to constant scratching.

This is a serious form of skin cancer that affects the melanocytes – the cells responsible for producing melanin which gives colour to the skin. This can form in the eyes, rarely inside the body such as in the nose or throat. Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body but mostly likely to appear in areas that have had the maximum exposure to the sun – face, legs, arms and back. This condition can be treated if its detected early and the first sign of melanoma is a change in an existing mole or the development of an unusual looking growth on the skin.

Moles are a common type of skin growth or pigmented lesion, often appearing as small, dark spots on the skin caused by a clear of pigmented cells. Most people have between 10 to 40 moles and most fade over time. This generally appears during childhood and adolescence. Moles appear in varied forms ranging from different colours – brown, tan, black, red, blue or pink, different textures to different shapes and sizes some having hair on them. Other types of lesions include age spots, birthmarks and freckles.

This is a long-term chronic disease that has no cure. Psoriasis causes red itchy, scaly patches most commonly around the knees, elbows and scalp. Other symptoms may include red patches of skin that appears scaly, small scaling spots that is commonly seen in children, dry, cracked skin that may itch or bleed, itching, burning, soreness, swollen and stiff joints. 

Treatments are available to manage this condition and one can modify their lifestyle habits to help live with Psoriasis.

Scleroderma is a culmination of rare diseases that cause hardening and tightening of the skin and its connective tissues. It affects women more than men between the ages of 30 and 50. While there is no cure, treatments are available to alleviate the symptoms.

An abnormal growth of skin cells, most often due to the skin’s exposure to the sun, causes skin cancer. This can also appear in other ares of the body that aren’t generally exposed to sunlight. Limiting exposure to the sun’s rays is the best prevention method and if affected, an early detection provides the best chance for eliminating this form of cancer with treatment.