skin rashes Archives - Healthhype

Human Skin Anatomy – Structure of Epidermis and Dermis Layers

Dr. Chris — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:17:16 +0000

The human skin and its related structures are known as the integumentary system. It is the largest organ in the body measuring 2 square meters in the average adult. Being the outermost structure, it is often the focus of much attention with a poor understanding of its anatomy and physiology. It can be considered as the most resilient organ in the human body as it is bombarded on a daily basis with a number of insults yet is able to withstand these attacks and continue functioning throughout life. Layers of the Human Skin The skin is composed of two layers, the outer epidermis and deeper dermis. There are two other layers worth noting, namely the basement membrane between the epidermis and dermis, and the hypodermis / subcutis beneath the dermis. These layers are often considered as part of the epidermis and dermis. Picture from Wikimedia Commons The Epidermis The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin about 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters thick. It is made up of four types of cells : the keratinocytes which make up 90% of the epidermis, the Langerhans cells, melanocytes and Merkel cells which constitute the remaining 10% of the epidermis. The keratinocytes, apart from [...]

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Psoriasis Skin Disease Explained, Pictures and Different Types

Dr. Chris — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:33:39 +0000

What is psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic disorder marked by inflammation that can affect various systems throughout the body. It mainly manifests on the skin but often affects the joints as well. Although psoriasis is non-contagious, it tends to run in families thereby indicating a strong genetic component. The key features of psoriasis are associated with overgrowth of skin in the without rapid shedding leading to a buildup of skin cells. While various treatments have proven effective in the long term management and treatment of acute flare ups, psoriasis is incurable. It can cause significant physical scarring and has a major psychological impact on sufferers affecting normal functioning to varying degrees. How does psoriasis develop? Based on the disease mechanism, psoriasis appears to be an autoimmune disease. It shares similar traits with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and a combination of skin and joint inflammation is therefore referred to as psoriatic arthritis. Immune activity The disease process (pathophysiology) of psoriasis is not well understood. It is believed that several factors play a role in the development of the condition. Psoriasis appears to be largely an immune mediated disorder meaning that it is the body’s own immune system that “attacks” the skin. [...]

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Drug Reaction Skin Rash and Medication Causing Skin Eruptions

Dr. Chris — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:12:17 +0000

Skin Rashes and Adverse Drug Reactions Skin rashes are one of the common drug-induced reactions which usually becomes evident within days or weeks of starting a medication. It is an adverse reaction to the presence of the chemicals in the drug. It can either be allergic or non-allergic. This meas that the drug triggers the immune system which then causes skin irritation (allergic) among other symptoms. At other times the skin rash is occurring through other mechanisms without eliciting abnormal immune activity (non-allergic). There are various types of skin rashes that may arise with using different medication. It is however not always possible to ascribe a certain skin rash with a specific drug. Instead an adverse drug reaction is considered as a possible cause of the skin rash when it starts shortly after commencing a certain medication or there is a history of adverse drug reactions to a specific medication or class of drugs. Reasons for Drug Reaction Skin Rashes The reasons why skin rashes may occur with using certain drugs can be discussed under drug allergies or non-allergic drug reactions. It may not always be possible to immediately identify the reason of a skin rash as a result of [...]

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Diarrhea With Skin Rash, Itch, Tingling, Jaundice or Swelling

Jan Modric — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:25:44 +0000

ACUTE Diarrhea and Skin Symptoms Acute, sudden onset diarrhea occurring together with skin symptoms, like itch, tingling, swelling or rash may be caused by: Childhood viral infections, like measles, scarlatina, rubella, chicken pox, infectious mononucleosis Food allergies may cause itchy skin and urticaria (a patchy, pinkish, slightly raised bumpy or patchy rash, known as hives) – due to histamine released in the skin. Ciguatera fish poisoning after eating big tropical fish, like barracuda (Picture 1), amberjack, grouper, snapper, sturgeon, king mackerel or moray eel that have accumulated ciguatoxin from reef algae, mainly present in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Hawaii, Indonesia, Micronesia or Australia (1). Symptoms – diarrhea, dizziness, lips or skin tingling and reversal of hot and cold sensation – may start from few minutes to 30 hours after fish intake, may last from several days to years (ciguatoxin is dissolved in body fats and then slowly released) and cease on their own through the time. There is no known diagnostic test and treatment for ciguatera poisoning; prevention is by avoiding eating big tropical fish. Scombroid fish poisoning is due to histamine build-up in big fish like tuna, mackerel, albacore, bonito, skip jack, mahi-mahi that were not properly preserved after being caught. Histamine may cause flushing, difficult breathing, [...]

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Folliculitis Pictures

Jan Modric — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:29:07 +0000

What is Folliculitis? Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles, the tiny tunnels in the skin from which hair grows. It occurs when the hair follicles become irritated and an infection then sets in. This may be seen with damage to the follicle as a result of shaving, friction with clothing, scratching, or an obstruction of a pore. An infected hair follicle appears as a red bump or white pustule which may crust over at a later stage (Picture 1). Infectious folliculitis which arises with a Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) infection is discussed in detail within this article. Read about other types of folliculitis. Folliculitis Pictures Picture of staphylococcal folliculitis on the thigh with red bumps and pus-filled white centers. (Source: Samuel Freire da Silva, M.D., atlasdermatologico.com.br) Picture of staphylococcal folliculitis on the chest. (Source: Dermnet) Folliculitis and Acne Folliculitis and acne are two different skin conditions although gram-negative folliculitis may be seen in certain cases of severe acne. Acne primarily involves the oil-producing glands (sebaceous glands) of the skin which are clogged with excess oil (sebum) and shed skin cells. It may lead to localized inflammatio which may then develop into folliculitis (Picture 5). Due to the similarity of the lesions, [...]

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Staph Skin Infections Pictures

Jan Modric — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:15:08 +0000

Staph Skin Infection Pictures Staph (pronounced staf) skin infection may appear as : a red bump or pus-filled blister (folliculitis) a boil (furuncle) infected cystic acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonidal cyst a vesicle which may burst and crust over (impetigo) an erythema (cellulitis) a skin scalding (staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome) an infected wound or burn Drainage of pus from lesions is common. What Causes Staph Skin Infections? Staph infections are mainly caused by bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and rarely by S. epidermidis, or S. saprophyticus. In staph carriers, S. aureus lives in the nose and on the skin, less commonly in the mouth, mammary glands, urinary, intestinal and upper respiratory tract (1). Staphylococcal infections usually remain localized at the site of entry. What is Staphylococcus aureus? Who Is at Risk for Staph Infections? People at greatest risk of contracting a staph infection are : Staph carriers (many individuals who carry S. aureus in the nose, throat or skin; 20-30% of people are colonized persistently, especially health care workers, patients with diabetes and those on dialysis) Newborn infants Breastfeeding women Obese persons People living in crowded communities or hot climates Those with skin injuries or surgical wounds Persons with piercings and fresh tattoos Persons with skin diseases, like atopic dermatitis or seborrhea Persons [...]

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