GENERAL DERMATOLOGY TREATMENTS – DERMATOLOGY TREATMENT

Eczema

Eczema and dermatitis are two words for the same problem. Often a number of different causes can act together to cause skin disease. Common causes include inherited eczema (associated with asthma and hay fever), eczema due to scratching or stress, or contact with something causing allergy, or contact with something that chemically irritates the skin. Other causes are lack of oil in the skin, varicose veins, standing or sitting for long periods, sensitivity to yeast, bacteria or viruses on the skin.

The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions. These include dryness and recurring skin rashes which are characterized by one or more of these symptoms: redness, skin oedema (swelling), itching and dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding. Children with eczema come to the paediatric dermatology clinic. The doctors and nurses show how to soothe the problem with creams and bandage treatments. Some people require allergy patch testing to find a cause especially if it is mainly on one area of the body. More severe eczema may be treated with ultraviolet phototherapy, or with tablets.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune disease which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the scalp and genitals. The cause of psoriasis is not known, but it is believed to have a genetic component. Factors that may aggravate psoriasis include stress, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. One in fifty people have psoriasis. Sometimes creams will clear the problem but others need courses of treatment with ultraviolet phototherapy. A few people need tablet or injection treatments.

Skin Infections

There are many skin infections; bacteria can cause septic areas, viruses cause warts and other growths and blisters, fungi can cause ringworm. The scabies mite is a common cause of itching. All these problems can be treated although some viral infections can be difficult to clear completely.

Allergies

Allergy causing localised contact eczema / contact dermatitis may need investigation in the patch test clinic. Skin Colour Problems