Skin Conditions

What is Skin?

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis, of an animal. It is the largest organ of the human body made up of multiple layers of epithelial tissues, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments, and internal organs.

Unclean skin favors the development of pathogenic organisms – the dead cells that continually slough off of the epidermis mix with the secretions of the sweat and sebaceous glands and the dust found on the skin to form a filthy layer on its surface. If not washed away, the slurry of sweat and sebaceous secretions mixed with dirt and dead skin is decomposed by bacterial flora, producing a foul smell. Functions of the skin are disturbed when it is excessively dirty; it becomes more easily damaged, the release of antibacterial compounds decreases, and dirty skin is more prone to develop infections.

Because it interfaces with the environment, skin plays a very important role in protecting (the body) against pathogens. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates. Severely damaged skin will try to heal by forming scar tissue. This is often discolored and depigmented.

The Skin is composed of three primary layers:

The epidermis, which provides waterproofing and serves as a barrier to infection. The epidermis contains no blood vessels, and cells in the deepest layers are nourished by diffusion from blood capillaries extending to the upper layers of the dermis. The main type of cells which make up the epidermis are Merkel cells, keratinocytes, with melanocytes and Langerhans cells also present.

The dermis, which serves as a location for the appendages of skin. The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptor/nerve endings that provide the sense of touch and heat. It contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels.

The hypodermis (subcutaneous adipose layer). The hypodermis is not part of the skin, and lies below the dermis. Its purpose is to attach the skin to underlying bone and muscle as well as supplying it with blood vessels and nerves. It consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. The main cell types are fibroblasts, macrophages and adipocytes (the hypodermis contains 50% of body fat).

Dermatosis (plural dermatoses), is defined as "any disease of the skin," and, while thousands of skin disorders have been described, only a small number account for most visits to the doctor.

As skin ages, it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. Intensifying this effect is the decreasing ability of skin to heal itself as a person ages. Skin aging is caused by the fall in elasticity. Aging skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity.

Further Information Regarding Skin Conditions

Darier Disease - Facts and Information
Occasionally, people who have Darier disease also experience a form of neurological disorder, such as epilepsy, depression, or a mild intellectual disability. Learning and behavioral difficulties have also been reported among persons with Darier disease.

Keloids - Facts and Information
A, "Keliod," is a form of enlarged growth or scar at the site of a wound or cut which extends beyond the confines of the original wound. Keloids can differ in their size, location, as well as their shape, and are common on hands, forearms or ear lobes.

Shingles Raises Risk of Stroke
Adults who develop shingles are about 30 percent more likely to have a stroke within a year than adults who don't have shingles. When the shingles infection involves the skin around the eye and the eye itself, the risk of stroke may increase more than four-fold.

LED Light and Green Tea Get Rid of Facial Wrinkles
Scientists in Germany are reporting a major improvement in their potential new treatment for facial wrinkles that could emerge as an alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery. The non-invasive technique combines high-intensity light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a lotion made of green tea extract.

Dry Skin Causes and Treatment
Through the years, people have been searching for the best possible treatments and cure for dry skin. Though the condition is not considered a formal disease type, people feel the need to abruptly get rid and treat the skin condition.

Hyperhidrosis - Excessive Sweating Problem
Hyperhidrosis is a fairly common disorder shared by millions across the world. By definition, Hyperhidrosis is the excessive sweating of the head, face, hands, feet and armpits no matter the temperature or conditions. Over active sweat glands often lead to hyperhidrosis. Excess sweating can sometimes affect the entire body but it usually occurs in the hands, feet, armpits and the groin area.

How To Treat Sweaty Smelly Feet Problems
There are two primary issues known for giving rise to smelly feet (Sweating and shoe leather.) The body needs to sweat, it is a vital function the body can't do without. Although stale sweat might smell unhealthy but if the body did not perspire then that's what we call unhealthy.

Psoriasis Survey Reveals Devastating Impact on Quality of Life
Published in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, SKIN survey contributes to a growing body of data around the world about the debilitating effects of psoriasis.

Researchers Discover why Eczema Often Leads to Asthma
Many young children who get a severe skin rash develop asthma months or years later. Doctors call the progression from eczema, or atopic dermatitis, to breathing problems the atopic march.

Athlete's Foot - Causes Symtoms and Treatment
Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus which grows either on top of or in a layer of skin in a person's foot. Athlete's foot fungi grow best in warm and wet places like the area between your toes. Athlete's foot is a common problem that is experienced by approximately seventy-percent of the population at some point in their lifetime.

Immune Cells in Skin Fight off Infection
Scientists have discovered the local action of immune cells in the skin, which could improve treatment of viral skin infections. This work identifies previously unrecognised first-line defence mechanisms that are particularly important in barrier locations such as the skin and the gut, often used as portals of entry by viruses and bacteria.

Shingles or Herpes Zoster a Painful Skin Disease
Shingles, correctly called as herpes zoster, is a painful skin disease. Shingles creates bands of blisters usually on just one side of the body which are full of liquid, pus, etc. The disease settles over two to three weeks but the pain may remain for a month after that. Those who have had chicken pox in childhood are likely to get shingles as they age.

Fragrance Ingredients in Shampoos and Conditioners Can Cause Eczema
Considerably more people than previously believed are allergic to the most common fragrance ingredient used in shampoos, conditioners and soap. A thesis presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden found that over 5% of those who underwent patch testing were allergic to the air oxidized form of the fragrance ingredient linalool.

Types of Skin Diseases Among Military Personnel
Study evaluates types of skin diseases among military personnel who were evacuated from combat zones. Dermatitis, benign moles, hives and cancerous skin lesions are among the most common diagnoses among military personnel who were evacuated from combat zones for ill-defined dermatologic diseases, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Sarcoidosis Disease Information
Sarcoidosis often affects other parts of the body, such as the skin, eyes and liver. Less frequently, Sarcoidosis affects other parts of the body to include the spleen, nerves, heart, brain, salivary glands, tear glands, joints or bones. On rare occasion, Sarcoidosis may even affect the kidneys, breasts, thyroid gland, or reproductive organs. It nearly always involves more than a single organ, and has both active and non-active phases.

Restore Aging and Sun Damaged Skin
Over time, your skin begins to show the signs of both internal and external influences, with the eventual result of skin that appears damaged or aged. Fine lines, wrinkles, creases, appear and eventually grow larger, as well as pigmentation problems such as age spots or other discolorations of the skin.

Common Skin Problems
Our skin is the largest organ in the body and can reflect our general health. In addition, our skin is probably the most abused organ on the body from environmental factors, stress, dehydration, sun exposure, etc. Our skin needs to be protected and nourished.