Everything You Need to Know About Common Skin Conditions

    Skin conditions such as acne and eczema present with diverse symptoms and varying degrees of severity. These conditions may be temporary or chronic, ranging from mild discomfort to significant pain. Some can even pose life-threatening risks.

    The causes of skin disorders differ widely—some stem from environmental factors while others have genetic origins. While many are benign, certain conditions may indicate underlying health concerns.

    If you suspect you’re experiencing any common skin issues, consulting a healthcare professional is recommended.

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    List – Permanent disorders – Disorders in children – Symptoms – Causes – Treatment – Prevention – FAQs – Takeaway

    List of skin disorders

    Acne:

    • Commonly appears on face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back
    • Manifests as redness, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and sometimes painful cysts
    • May cause scarring or skin darkening if untreated
    • People of Color may develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

    Cold sore:

    • Painful fluid-filled blisters near mouth/lips (appearance varies by skin tone)
    • Often preceded by tingling or burning sensation
    • May accompany mild flu-like symptoms
    • Can cause PIH in darker skin tones

    Blister:

    • Clear fluid-filled skin lesions
    • Classified as vesicles (<1cm) or bulla (>1cm)
    • Can occur anywhere on body

    Hives:

    • Itchy raised welts triggered by allergens
    • May feel warm/painful to touch
    • Appearance varies by skin tone (red on light skin, may appear differently on dark skin)
    • Various shapes possible (round, ring-shaped, irregular)

    Actinic keratosis:

    • Thick, scaly skin patches (<2cm)
    • Typically appears on sun-exposed areas
    • Usually pink but may blend with darker skin tones

    Rosacea:

    • Chronic inflammatory skin disease with flare-ups
    • Triggers include spicy food, alcohol, sun, stress
    • Four subtypes with varying symptoms
    • Common symptoms: facial flushing, bumps, dryness
    • Darker skin may show brown discoloration or dry/swollen patches

    Carbuncle:

    • Painful inflamed lump under skin
    • May cause fever, fatigue
    • Can ooze or crust
    • May appear violet on dark skin

    Latex allergy:

    • Medical emergency requiring urgent care
    • Rash develops minutes-hours after exposure
    • May cause wheals, crusting with repeated exposure
    • Airborne particles can trigger coughing, sneezing, eye irritation
    • Severe cases may cause breathing difficulty

    Eczema:

    • Discolored patches (pink, red, brown, purple, gray)
    • Often itchy, greasy
    • Appears red on light skin, darker shades on dark skin
    • May cause hair loss in affected areas

    Psoriasis:

    • Scaly, well-defined plaques (silvery on light skin, dark brown/purple on dark skin)
    • Common on scalp, elbows, knees, lower back
    • May or may not itch

    Cellulitis:

    • Medical emergency requiring immediate attention
    • Caused by bacterial/fungal entry through skin breaks
    • Painful, swollen skin that spreads rapidly
    • Red on light skin (less noticeable on dark skin)
    • Skin feels hot/tender
    • Fever/chills/red streaking indicate serious infection

    Measles:

    • Symptoms: fever, sore throat, red eyes, cough
    • Rash spreads face-down 3-5 days after symptoms (harder to see on dark skin)
    • Red spots with blue-white centers in mouth
    • May cause significant PIH in People of Color

    Basal cell carcinoma:

    • Shiny, pearly bump (may appear darker on dark skin)
    • Resembles scar with visible blood vessels
    • May bleed easily or form non-healing wounds

    Squamous cell carcinoma:

    • Common on sun-exposed areas
    • Begins as scaly patch, becomes raised bump (lighter on dark skin)
    • May form bleeding/non-healing growths

    Melanoma:

    • Most serious skin cancer (more common in light skin)
    • Irregular mole with multiple colors (often in less sun-exposed areas in People of Color)
    • Changing mole larger than pencil eraser

    Lupus:

    • Butterfly rash across cheeks/nose (worsens with sun)
    • Various types with different rashes
    • Other symptoms: fatigue, fever, joint pain
    • Higher PIH/scarring risk in People of Color

    Contact dermatitis:

    • Appears hours-days after allergen contact
    • Distinct-border rash at contact site
    • Itchy, scaly (red on light skin, purple/gray/dark brown on dark skin)
    • May form weeping blisters

    Vitiligo:

    • Autoimmune pigment loss
    • Small localized patches that may merge
    • May cause premature hair graying
    • More noticeable on darker skin, potentially causing stigma

    Wart:

    • Caused by HPV virus
    • Appears on skin/mucous membranes
    • Contagious through direct contact

    Chickenpox:

    • Itchy fluid-filled blisters in various stages
    • Accompanied by fever, body aches
    • Contagious until all blisters crust
    • Harder to detect on dark skin

    Seborrheic eczema:

    • Yellow/white flaky patches
    • Red, itchy, greasy areas
    • May cause hypopigmentation in dark skin
    • Can lead to hair loss

    Keratosis pilaris:

    • Common on arms/legs (may appear elsewhere)
    • Usually resolves by age 30
    • Rough red bumps (darker on dark skin, red/purple on light skin)
    • Worsens in dry weather

    Ringworm:

    • Circular scaly rash with raised border
    • Clear center, spreading edges
    • Itchy
    • Red/pink on light skin, brown/gray on dark skin

    Melasma:

    • Dark facial patches (sometimes neck/chest/arms)
    • Common in pregnancy and dark-skinned individuals
    • Only causes discoloration
    • May resolve or become permanent

    Impetigo: