7 Common Skin Conditions and How to Treat Them

Clear skin is one of the most desired beauty traits throughout the world. Unfortunately, beautiful skin is not always easy to get. The skin is an extremely sensitive tissue, so a small change in the immune system can completely alter the appearance of your skin. Since there are so many things that can harm the skin, more than 85 million people in the United States are suffering from a skin condition. Here are the best ways to treat the seven most common skin conditions.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that causes dry and itchy patches to grow on the skin. This extremely common condition affects nearly three percent of the entire world's population. The rash can even start to grow down your nails if it is left untreated for a long time. Psoriasis is caused when the body produces skin cells too fast. Treatment is focused on removing the patches and slowing down the production of skin cells. This can be done with a topical cream or ultraviolet light therapy.

Eczema

Eczema is a condition that forms when the skin comes in contact with bacteria, allergen or another irritant. You will develop red bumps and splotches all over the body. These areas will be extremely itchy. Scratching the skin will only increase your troubling symptoms. You will have to apply anti-itch and bacterial skin creams to your skin to help eliminate your eczema. Choosing the right clothing to wear will also help with body eczema. Cotton t-shirts, lightweight fleece fabric, silk or micro-fiber are all safe materials for eczema prone skin. This skin condition is also called acute dermatitis.

Acne

Acne is a condition that causes small red bumps to form. While acne pimples are commonly found on the face, they can develop almost anywhere on the body. Many people believe that acne only develops on dirty skin, but that is not the case. Acne forms when oil and dead cells get trapped inside a hair follicle. Retinoids and antibiotics are the best way to treat acne. You will also want to avoid excessively touching your face because the hands contain a lot of oil.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a long-lasting condition that causes painful lumps to develop underneath the surface of the skin. The lumps usually form on areas of the body where two pieces of skin rub against each other. The lump will start small and progressively get larger over time. You need to seek treatment once the lump becomes painful. There are many options when it comes to hidradenitis suppurativa treatment. Draining or physically removing the lump during a surgical procedure will eliminate any painful symptoms. You can also try creams or ointments to help reduce the pain and work towards clearing it up.

Hives

If you have itchy red welts on your body, then you are dealing with hives. These welts are usually shaped like an oval or a worm. Hives will only form after coming in contact with an allergen. Your hives can be eliminated with prescription medication. The drugs will also help control your itchiness until the hives are gone. Since this condition can come back at any time, you need to avoid anything that may trigger your hives.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a condition that causes the blood vessels on the face to become extremely visible. This will make your face become extremely red. More than 16 million people in the United States have to deal with rosacea every day, so you should not let the condition stop you from living your life. There is no way to completely cure rosacea, but your symptoms can be controlled with the proper treatment. There are several medications that can reduce your skin redness. Light therapy is also an option for most rosacea sufferers.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition that causes your skin to lose its color. Random patches of discoloration will form all over the body. Vitiligo forms when the body stops producing the proper amount of melanin. There are several different treatment options to give you even skin tone. Light therapy, skin grafting and micropigmentation tattooing are the most effective treatment options for vitiligo.