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PATHOLOGY INDEX |
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PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic but treatable autoimmune skin disease experienced by an estimated 5-6 million Americans and about 80 million people around the world.
While psoriasis is not typically life threatening, it can greatly affect appearance, self-esteem and overall quality of life. Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body, but the locations affected most are often the:
* Elbows and knees
* Arms and Legs
* Nails
* Trunk
* Lower Back
* Scalp
The locations affected less frequently are the:
* Palms of the hands and soles of the feet
* Skin folds of the armpits, breasts, groin and buttocks
* Genitals
Psoriasis can also affect the joints (psoriatic arthritis)
Psoriasis symptoms
Psoriasis of the skin has several common symptoms. It is often itchy and may cause painful drying, cracking, or blistering of the skin. Psoriasis affecting the joints (psoriatic arthritis) can cause pain and make movement more difficult.
Plaque psoriasis
Red, raised areas of skin called plaques characterize plaque psoriasis, the most common form of the disease. Plaque psoriasis can range from mild to severe. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of cases are severe. Other forms of the disease include guttate psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis and pustular psoriasis.
Psoriasis episodes or relapses
For most people, the symptoms of psoriasis come and go. The time between relapses (episodes of psoriasis) varies greatly among patients. Some people relapse within weeks or months, others go years between episodes. Unlike illnesses such as multiple sclerosis disease and rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis is not a degenerative disease, which means the disease does not necessarily progress if not treated. But people who experience frequent relapses tend to have more severe psoriasis, with rapidly spreading plaques covering significant parts of the body.
Causes of psoriasis
The exact causes of psoriasis are complex and not fully understood, but genetic traits leading to abnormalcies in the body’s immune system are believed to be the underlying basis. A specialized type of white blood cell called a T cell plays a key role in the inflammation that eventually leads to psoriasis plaques and related symptoms.
Treatments for psoriasis include the use of skin creams, light therapy, systemic therapies ( in the form of pills or injections), and biological treatments.
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DIAPER RASH
Diaper rash, or diaper dermatitis is a general term describing any of a number of inflammatory skin conditions that can occur in the diaper area. These disorders can be conceptually divided into 3 categories:
1. Rashes that are directly or indirectly caused by the wearing of diapers. This category includes dermatomes, such as irritant contact dermatitis, miliaria, intertrigo, candidal diaper dermatitis and granuloma gluteal infant.
2. Rashes that appear elsewhere but can be exaggerated in the groin area due to the irritating effects of wearing a diaper. This category includes atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
3. Rashes that appear in the diaper area irrespective of diaper use. This category includes rashes associated with bullous impetigo, Langerhans cell histocytosis (Letterer - Siwe disease, a rare and potentially fatal disorder of the reticloendothelial system), acrodermatitis enteropathica (ZINC DEFICIENCY). Congentital syphilis, scabies, and HIV.
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CRADEL CAP (Infantile seborrhea dermatitis)
Cradel cap is a disease of the scalp in babies, cauterized by greasy, yellow, scaly patches on the skin of the scalp. The condition is temporary and harmless. The cause is unknown. It is not due to infection, allergy or inadequate washing. The symptoms are greasy, yellow scaling patches that may, eventually, cause the baby’s scalp to be covered in a thick, scaly layer. This condition is not itchy and the child is not distressed by it.
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LICHEN PLANUS
Lichen Planus of the skin is characterized by reddish-purple, flat topped bumps that may be very itchy. They can be anywhere on the body, but seem to favor the inside of the wrists and ankles. The disease can also occur on the lower back, neck, legs, genitals, and in rare cases, the scalp and nails. Thick patches may occur, especially on the shins. Blisters are rare. While the typical appearance of lichen planus makes the disease somewhat easy to identify, a skin biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
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PRURITIS
Pruritis is an itching sensation that triggers the desire to scratch. It is a distressing symptom that can cause discomfort. Scratching may cause breaks in the skin that may result in infection. Pruritis is a symptom, not a diagnosis or disease. If you feel itching, let your doctor know. The doctor will ask for your medical history and give you a thorough physical examination. This assessment will enable the doctor to discover the problem that is causing the itching and find the best treatment for it.
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ECZEMA
Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups. In the United Kingdom, up to one fifth of all children of school age have eczema, along with about one in twelve of the adult population. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, while in the more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Although it can sometimes look unpleasant eczema is not contagious. With treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to the flare-ups and need extra care.
The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that person has. Atopic eczema is though to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. It is proposed that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopy there is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin. Associated atopic conditions include asthma and hay fever. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by blood circulatory problems in the legs. The cause of certain types of eczema remain to be explained, though links with environmental factors and stress are being explored.
There are several different types of eczema, many of which look similar but have very different causes and treatments. The first step in effective treatment of eczema is a correct diagnosis. It is very important to see a general practitioner in the first instance, who may make a referral to a specialist dermatologist for further diagnosis and treatment.
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ATOPIC DERMATITIS
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, itchy, skin condition that is very common in children but may occur at any age. It is also know as eczema and atopic eczema. It is the most common form of dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis usually occurs in people who have an ‘atopic tendency’. This means they develop any or all of three closely linked conditions; atopic dermatitis, asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Often these conditions run within families with a parent, child or sibling also affected. A family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever is particularly useful in diagnosing atopic dermatitis in infants. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious ! It arises because of a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. These include skin irritants, the weather, temperature and non-specific triggers.
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SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder that can easily be treated. This condition is a red, scaly, itchy rash most commonly seen on the scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids, skin behind the ears, and middle of the chest. Other areas, such as the naval (belly button), buttocks, skin folds under the arms, axillary regions, breasts, and groin, may also be involved.
Are dandruff, seborrhea and seborrhea dermatitis the same ?
Dandruff appears as scaling on the scalp without redness. Seborrhea is excessive oiliness of the skin, especially of the scalp and face, without redness and scaling. Patients with seborrhea may later develop seborrhea dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis has both redness and scaling.
Who gets seborrhea dermatitis ?
This condition is most common in three age groups - infancy when it’s called ‘cradle cap’ , middle age, and the elderly. Cradle cap usually clears without treatment by age 8 to 12 months. In some infants, seborrhea dermatitis may develop only in the diaper area where it could be confused with other forms of diaper rash. When seborrheic dermatitis develops at other ages it can come and go. Seborrheic dermatitis may be seasonally aggravated particularly in northern climates; it is common in people with oily skin or hair, and may be seen with acne or psoriasis. A yeast-like organism may be involved in causing seborrhea dermatitis.
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CONTACT DERMATITIS
Contact dermatitis is a skin reaction that occurs after you have been exposed to a substance that either irritates your skin or triggers an allergic response. If your skin condition is caused by contact with an irritating or harsh substance, you have primary irritant contact dermatitis. If your skin condition is an allergic reaction to a substance, you have allergic contact dermatitis. The symptoms and treatment of both types of contact dermatitis are similar.
Fluid-filled bumps or blisters, tenderness and redness of the skin often occur with contact dermatitis. You may also notice oozing cracks or fissures in the reddened, irritated skin areas. Usually, these symptoms will occur only in the areas that actually came into contact with the irritant or allergen. The affected areas will probably itch or burn.
This condition is not contagious. If you and a friend handle a primary irritant, you will both get a reaction and if a friend wears something that you are sensitive to and the two of you are in close contact, you may also develop a skin reaction. However, in neither case did you
“get” the condition from your friend.
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PRURITIS
Pruritis is an itching sensation that triggers the desire to scratch. It is a distressing symptom that can cause discomfort. Scratching may cause breaks in the skin that may result in infection. Pruritis is a symptom, not a diagnosis or disease. If you feel itching, let your doctor know. The doctor will ask for your medical history and give you a thorough physical examination. This assessment will enable the doctor to discover the problem that is causing the itching and find the best treatment for it.
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ERYTHEMA SOLARE
Sunburn is an acute cutaneous inflammatory reaction that follows excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation.
Pathophysiology: Exposure to solar radiation has the beneficial effects of stimulating the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D and providing radiant warmth. Unfortunately, when the skin is subjected to excessive radiation in the ultraviolet range (wavelength <400 mn) deleterious effects may occur. The most common is acute sunburn solar erythematic.
In rare cases, sunburn may be so severe and diffuse that it results in second-degree burns, dehydration, secondary infection, shock, or even death.
Morbidity and mortality associated with long-term sun exposure is related primarily to the development of cutaneous neoplasms, including basal cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
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FUNGUS
Skin fungus infections are hard to recognize. The itching, flaking, redness, and thickened skin of fungal infections can look just like other types of dermatitis or skin allergies. In fact, eczematous skin often becomes infected with fungi, so both are present simultaneously. Doctors use microscopes to help diagnose skin fungus infections, so there’s no way you can really be sure at home.
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It is not intended as medical advice and Euromed Pharmaceuticals srl claims no liability for any information that might be inaccurate. Please consult your physician for further information.
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