Skincare Treated

Cancer and Other Skin Conditions

Skin conditions are another term used to describe a skin disease. As is the case with all diseases, some are more serious than others. But the three types of skin cancers rank among the most ‘serious” kind of skin conditions. Apart from these, what are the other skin conditions that require medical treatment?

Disease of Adolescents

One of these other kinds of skin conditions is acne. This is a disease of adolescents though it persists way into middle age. Acne is caused by excess production of oil in the skin’s sebaceous glands and this rises to the surface through the hair follicle.

Acne manifests itself as bumps or zits on the face. These could turn into cysts or nodules in serious cases.

The Blushing Disease

Rosacea is also among the other skin conditions that cause embarrassment and a great deal of psychological pain. It is also called the “blushing disease”, where the blood vessels just under the skin dilate easily and frequently, lending the face a sudden flushed look.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that is largely a defect of the body’s immune system. When the immune system is triggered, the skin cells multiply at a frantic rate. They then build up on the surface and collect in a patchy scales called plaques. While normally, skin cells grow, die and fall off in about a month, psoriasis patients undergo the entire cycle in under a week!

Among the other skin conditions that are problematic but not life-threatening is eczema. This is a skin condition which is again caused by a malfunction in the immune system.

The Scratch That Itches

Unlike psoriasis, here, there is a breakdown in the skin’s barrier function and the patient becomes sensitive to a host of substances and conditions that do not affect normal skin. This triggers an excessive production of T cells that are normally in the process of fighting infection.

Eczema results in skin that is very itchy, red and scaly. It is also called the “scratch that itches”. This is because the more the individual scratches the skin; the itchier it sets, setting off a vicious cycle.

Cold sores is another common skin disease, that can be classified as “other skin conditions” when compared against the cancers of the skin. This is a disease caused by the herpes simplex virus, which enters the skin through a cut, abrasion or wound.

Herpes Virus

The virus enters the nervous system and permanently resides in the roots of the nerves. When reactivated, it travels down the nerves usually to the original point of entry and causes a sore.

The skin turns red and itchy. Blisters form and erupt, leaving a crust or scab. Cold sores are a contagious disease, especially if the virus spreads when the blisters erupt.

Hence, we have seen that diseases other than skin cancer can result in other skin conditions that need serious medical treatment