Dermatitus care for skin trouble. There are lots of lumps,
bumps and other skin problems.
All of us have some skin problems at one time or another
starting when we are a newborn. As a newborn one could have
lots of minor rashes, blotches, spots, blisters and tiny
bumps. The majority of these are just normal. At about one
month up to forty percent of babies get strawberry marks (birthmarks),
these can look like bright red marks on the surface of the
skin or deep blue or purple marks just under the surface.
These usually grow till about ten months then start
shrinking and disappear by about age five to seven. These
strawberry marks are very rarely a problem to a baby's
health. If a lot of these strawberry marks occur you might
want to consult your pediatrician.
A
birthmark as you get older may refer either to a congenital
mole (nevus) or to hemangioma (a kind of small blood vessel
tumor of the skin). Moles are found in a great variety of
forms and sizes; nearly everyone has one or more of them.
Some are only the size of a pinhead, others are several
inches in diameter. Their color is usually brown or black,
but some are fawn, redish, or bluish-black. Most moles do
not harm unless they are irritated. Danger signs are when
moles increase in size, become darker in color, or become
more irritable. The pigmented mole rather than the hairy one
is the one most likely to cause serious trouble. Hemangioma
are tangles are blood vessels so near the surface that they
show. The main types are the deep-red (port-wine), the
strawberry, and those elevated above the skin. One type
called the spider nevi usually appears on the face below the
eyes and appears as radiating lines of blood vessels from a
central spot.
Warts are found in several
different forms and are probably caused by a filtrable
virus. Thus, many warts may start from a "mother" wart,
usually on the hand. Sometimes they will vanish without
treatment. Warts rarely become malignant, but you should
consult your doctor about their removal. Untreated, two
thirds of warts will disappear on their own after about two
years. If they bleed or are disfiguring, painful or itchy,
you can try getting rid of them with an over the counter
topical medication, or have your doctor or dermatologist
freeze or burn them or prescribe an oral prescription drug.
Freckles usually develop in persons with light complexions.
They may be found on various parts of the body, but are more
common on the face and back of the hand. They usually appear
after the fifth year of life and attain their maximum size
by adolescence. There is no known remedy for removing them
permanently, and serious scarring often results from
attempts to remove them. Some fade as you age, others may be
camouflaged with cosmetics.
Most
adolescents have pimples when they have reached the age of
puberty. Blackheads are plugged up sebum at the pores of the
sebaceous glands. Excessive growth of the horny layers of
the skin at this point may be a primary cause. Their
blackness is due to exposure to air and to dead cells, and
not to dirt. Persons with oily skins have more blackheads
than those with dry ones. The best preventive of blackheads
is adequate sleep and rest, a well-balanced diet, plenty of
fresh air and extreme cleanliness. They may be removed with
a metal extractor after the skin has been carefully washed
with soap and warm water and treated by application of hot
clothes. Care should be taken to sterilize the extractor
before and after use to avoid infection.
The
most common form of acne is pimples, which are small skin
lesions containing pus. The several varietie of acne are all
due to the over production of the oil or sebaceous
secretions associated with the appearance of sex hormones
during the adolescent period. At this time the fat glands
with sebum undergo a rapid development. If they become
clogged and infected pimples will appear. Acne, more common
with boys than girls, usually dsappears by the age of 25,
but in some instances is present for a much longer time.
Diet is often the responsible agent in causing acne. One of
the best measures to control acne is to wash the face gently
at least three times a day with warm water and soap or
detergents, and to avoid all crems or greases on the face.
Impetigo is a skin disorder that is characterized by scaly
sores or blisters which are very itchy. It is caused by
certain bacteria and not by a fungus. sales or crusts sread
rapidly over the scalp, face, neck, and so forth. When the
reddist blister ruptures it dries with a yellow crust. This
skin disorder is very contagious and requires thorough
washing of the skin with soap and water to prevent
spreading. The doctoros usually applies antiseptic ointments
ot treat the infection. A variant form of impetigo is called
barber's itch becaue it is often acquired in barber shops.
Scabies,
is called the "old fashion itch.". It is caused by a small
mite (Acarus) which burrows into the skin to deposit its
eggs. It produces a very severe itching usually between the
fingers and toes, under the arm pits, in the groin, palms of
the hands and soles of the feet. The itching is more intense
at night time. Consult your doctor for medication to control
this pest and also be sure to change your clothing and bed
linen daily to help prevent reinfection.
Hives
are little pinkish or white elevations (wheals) on the skin
surface. They may cover the entire body and sometimes are
found in the mouth. Hives can be a form of allergy, consult
your doctor as he can perform allergy tests to determine the
cause. The skin may be bathed with a solution of bicarbonate
of soda or rubbed with mineral or olive oil or other
soothing application.
Prickly
heat can occur in children and adults who sweat profusely.
It is caused by clogged-up sweat glands resulting from
summer heat, excessive clothing, or other causes. Wearing
light clothing and avoiding soap in cleaning the skin are
helpful. Application of talcum powder or a soda bath are
very soothing to children. In severe cases calamine lotions
are used.
