About Skin Disorders of the Face

Angry red skin. Painful, sometimes burning itchiness. Inflamed blemishes. Scaly patches. These are just a few of the symptoms that people with skin disorders of the face - such as acne vulgaris, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea - suffer with regularly. These conditions affect people of all ages, and most disorders will not go away without treatment; some can become so severe as to cause excruciating discomfort. Beyond the discomfort, the appearance of these skin disorders - especially in extreme conditions- can cause acute embarrassment for the sufferer.

Types

Acne vulgaris, or acne, can appear anywhere on the body, but mostly on the face, neck, back and chest. Acne can range from a mild case, with just a few blemishes, to severe cases, with hundreds of blemishes, as well as large painful cysts.

Eczema - also known as contact dermatitis - manifests as an itchy spot on the skin. If left untreated, it can produce an inflamed redness, a bumpy rash and sometimes small blemishes.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that looks like thick itchy patches of skin that range in color from white, silvery or red. It can also produce flaking skin.

Rosacea is an inflammatory condition that causes several different kinds of rashes, mostly red, appearing around the center of the face. It is sometimes known as acne rosacea, although it has no relation to acne.

Geography

People who live in in areas with higher levels of pollution have an increased risk for eczema. Also, extreme temperatures can aggravate the disorder. Some people who suffer from eczema will have flare-ups when the weather is dry and humid, causing severe itchiness, while others will have increased problems when the winter weather dries out the skin, reducing its moisture.

Rosacea is also aggravated by extremes in temperature. Staying out of the sun and using a sunscreen will help.

Features

Acne is caused when the skin's pores are clogged from oil, dirt and dead skin cells, causing whiteheads, blackheads or the red - and sometimes inflamed - blemishes. It is generally worse in adolescent years, when oil production in the skin is greater. Contrary to popular thought from previous generations, acne is not caused by what you eat.

The cause of eczema is not completely known, but several factors, such as allergies to perfume, dye, soap and other chemicals found in skin-care products, as well as stress and genetics, can trigger eczema flare-ups.

Psoriasis is caused from an immune-system response in which overactive T cells cause an increased production of healthy skin cells and T cells. The healthy cells move to the outer layer faster than normal and cannot be sloughed off quickly enough. This causes the buildup of thick scaly patches on the body.

It is unknown what causes rosacea, although hormones, infections, genetics, and environmental conditions are thought to be involved. Sun exposure can worsen the condition.

Prevention/Solution

When treating skin conditions, good hygiene is very important. Use the mildest product available. Exederm products were awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association and are made without dyes, fragrances, soaps, or other known irritants. The Association also publishes a list of ingredients to avoid (in all products used on the skin) on the Eczema and Sensitive Skin Education website.

As uncomfortable as the itchy rash can be, try to avoid scratching the skin or opening blemishes. Keeping the skin clean and moisturized helps alleviate the discomfort and prevents scarring or spreading the condition. Gold Bond Medicated Cream helps soothe itchy skin on the body. Shower filters reduce the amount of harsh chemicals on the skin. Use perfume/dye-free laundry detergents and dryer sheets when washing clothing, bed and bath linens.

If any of these conditions appear around the eye, seek medical help.

Warning

Most skin disorders of the face appear similar, sometimes causing a delay in diagnosis or inaccurate home treatments. Eczema can produce acne-like blemishes, and psoriasis and eczema can have flaking skin. Rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can cause red patches on the skin. Seek medical advice if the home treatment is not alleviating the problem.

Resources

• Eczema and Sensitive Skin Education
• Exederm