There are many different types of skin disorders. Here is a list of 25 with pictures.
Warning: graphic images ahead.
Acne
- Commonly located on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back
- Breakouts on the skin composed of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or deep, painful cysts and nodules
- May leave scars or darken the skin if untreated
Cold sore
- Red, painful, fluid-filled blister that appears near the mouth and lips
- Affected area will often tingle or burn before the sore is visible
- Outbreaks may also be accompanied by mild, flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes
Read full article on cold sores.
Blister
- Characterized by watery, clear, fluid-filled area on the skin
- May be smaller than 1 cm (vesicle) or larger than 1 cm (bulla) and occur alone or in groups
- Can be found anywhere on the body
Read full article on blisters.
Hives
- Itchy, raised welts that occur after exposure to an allergen
- Red, warm, and mildly painful to the touch
- Can be small, round, and ring-shaped or large and randomly shaped
Actinic keratosis
- Typically less than 2 cm, or about the size of a pencil eraser
- Thick, scaly, or crusty skin patch
- Appears on parts of the body that receive a lot of sun exposure (hands, arms, face, scalp, and neck)
- Usually pink in color but can have a brown, tan, or gray base
Read full article on actinic keratosis.
Rosacea
By M. Sand, D. Sand, C. Thrandorf, V. Paech, P. Altmeyer, F. G. Bechara [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Chronic skin disease that goes through cycles of fading and relapse
- Relapses may be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori
- There are four subtypes of rosacea encompassing a wide variety of symptoms
- Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised, red bumps, facial redness, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity
Carbuncle
- Red, painful, and irritated lump under your skin
- May be accompanied by fever, body aches, and fatigue
- Can cause skin crustiness or oozing
Read full article on carbuncles.
Latex allergy
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
- Rash may occur within minutes to hours after exposure to a latex product
- Warm, itchy, red wheals at the site of contact that may take on a dry, crusted appearance with repeated exposure to latex
- Airborne latex particles may cause cough, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes
- A severe allergy to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing
Read full article on latex allergies.
Eczema
- Yellow or white scaly patches that flake off
- Affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or oily
- Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash
Psoriasis
MediaJet/Wikimedia Commons
- Scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
- Commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
- May be itchy or asymptomatic
Read full article on psoriasis.
Cellulitis
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
- Caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a crack or cut in the skin
- Red, painful, swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly
- Hot and tender to the touch
- Fever, chills, and red streaking from the rash might be a sign of serious infection requiring medical attention
Read full article on cellulitis.
Measles
Content Providers(s): CDC/Dr. Heinz F. Eichenwald [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
- Symptoms include fever, sore throat, red, watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose
- Red rash spreads from the face down the body three to five days after first symptoms appear
- Tiny red spots with blue-white centers appear inside the mouth
Basal cell carcinoma
- Raised, firm, and pale areas that may resemble a scar
- Dome-like, pink or red, shiny, and pearly areas that may have a sunk-in center, like a crater
- Visible blood vessels on the growth
- Easy bleeding or oozing wound that doesn’t seem to heal, or heals and then reappears
Read full article on basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma
- Often occurs in areas exposed to UV radiation, such as the face, ears, and back of the hands
- Scaly, reddish patch of skin progresses to a raised bump that continues to grow
- Growth that bleeds easily and doesn’t heal, or heals and then reappears
Read full article on squamous cell carcinoma.
Melanoma
- The most serious form of skin cancer, more common in fair-skinned people
- Mole anywhere on the body that has irregularly shaped edges, asymmetrical shape, and multiple colors
- Mole that has changed color or gotten bigger over time
- Usually larger than a pencil eraser
Read full article on melanoma.
Lupus
By Doktorinternet (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Symptoms include fatigue, headaches, fever, and swollen or painful joints
- Scaly, disc-shaped rash that doesn’t itch or hurt
- Scaly red patches or ring shapes most commonly located on the shoulders, forearms, neck, and upper torso that worsen with exposure to sunlight
- Warm, red rash that spreads across the cheeks and bridge of the nose like butterfly wings and worsens in the sun
Contact dermatitis
- Appears hours to days after contact with an allergen
- Rash has visible borders and appears where your skin touched the irritating substance
- Skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
- Blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty
Read full article on contact dermatitis.
Vitiligo
- Loss of pigment in the skin due to autoimmune destruction of the cells that give skin its color
- Focal pattern: loss of skin color in only a few small areas that may merge together
- Segmental pattern: depigmentation on one side of the body
- Premature graying of scalp and/or facial hair
Read full article on vitiligo.
Wart
Dermnet
- Caused by many different types of a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
- May be found on the skin or mucous membranes
- May occur singly or in groups
- Contagious and may be passed to others
Chickenpox
- Clusters of itchy, red, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body
- Rash is accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite
- Remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over
Read full article on chickenpox.
Seborrheic eczema
- Yellow or white scaly patches that flake off
- Affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or oily
- Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash
Read full article on seborrheic eczema.
Keratosis pilaris
- Common skin condition most often seen on the arms and legs, but might also occur on the face, buttocks, and trunk
- Often clears up on its own by age 30
- Patches of skin that appear bumpy, slightly red, and feel rough
- May get worse in dry weather
Read full article on keratosis pilaris.
Ringworm
James Heilman/Wikimedia Commons
- Circular-shaped scaly rashes with raised border
- Skin in the middle of the ring appears clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward
- Itchy
Read full article on ringworm.
Melasma
- Common skin condition that causes dark patches to appear on the face and, rarely, the neck, chest, or arms
- More common in pregnant women (chloasma) and individuals with darker skin color and heavy sun exposure
- No other symptoms beyond skin discoloration
- May go away on its own within a year or may become permanent
Impetigo
- Common in babies and children
- Rash is often located in the area around the mouth, chin, and nose
- Irritating rash and fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust
Read full article on impetigo.
Temporary skin disorders
Many temporary skin conditions exist, including contact dermatitis and keratosis pilaris.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is one of the most common occupational illnesses. The condition is often the result of contact with chemicals or other irritating materials. These substances can trigger a reaction that causes the skin to become itchy, red, and inflamed. Most cases of contact dermatitis aren’t severe, but they can be rather itchy. Topical creams and avoiding the irritant are typical treatments.
Keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is a minor condition that causes small, rough bumps on the skin. These bumps usually form on the upper arms, thighs, or cheeks. They’re typically red or white and don’t hurt or itch. Treatment isn’t necessary, but medicated creams can improve skin appearance.
Permanent skin disorders
Some chronic skin conditions are present from birth, while others appear suddenly later in life.
The cause of these disorders isn’t always known. Many permanent skin disorders have effective treatments that enable extended periods of remission. However, they’re incurable, and symptoms can reappear at any time. Examples of chronic skin conditions include:
- rosacea, which is characterized by small, red, pus-filled bumps on the face
- psoriasis, which causes scaly, itchy, and dry patches
- vitiligo, which results in large, irregular patches of skin
Skin disorders in children
Skin disorders are common in children. Children can experience many of the same skin conditions as adults. Infants and toddlers are also at risk for diaper-related skin problems. Since children have more frequent exposure to other children and germs, they may also develop skin disorders that rarely occur in adults. Many childhood skin problems disappear with age, but children can also inherit permanent skin disorders. In most cases, doctors can treat childhood skin disorders with topical creams, medicated lotions, or condition-specific drugs.
Common childhood skin disorders include:
- eczema
- diaper rash
- seborrheic dermatitis
- chickenpox
- measles
- warts
- acne
- fifth disease
- hives
- ringworm
- rashes from bacterial or fungal infections
- rashes from allergic reactions
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Source: Healthline
General Health Magazine 