3 Skin Conditions Treated By A General Dermatologist
Skin conditions can put a damper on your life. Not only can they affect the overall health of your body, they can put a serious hold on your self-esteem and social life. Luckily, there are various ways that you can treat the numerous skin conditions that may affect you. One of the best ways to go about combating skin conditions is to make a visit to a general dermatologist. They can generally help you with any number of skin problems that might ail you. There are a number of common skin conditions that can be treated by a dermatologist.
Eczema
Eczema is a type of dermatitis, which literally means "inflamed skin". The severity of eczema ranges from small red patches of skin in a localized area of your body to dry, flaky patches of skin that are quite large and may cover a large amount of your skin.
There are a number of ways that a general dermatologist can serve to treat your eczema problem. After examining your skin, a dermatologist can easily determine what the best course of action is towards resolving your issue. For some problems relating to eczema, the answer is simple hydration of the skin, which can usually be achieved simply by consuming water. More severe forms of eczema might require a topical ointment be applied to the areas of the skin in question.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects many people throughout the world. Psoriasis is the name for a disease that refers to the overactive growth of skin. While most people grow new skin in weeks, people with psoriasis grow new skin within days, which can actually cause a "layering" effect.
This means new skin will continuously grow on top of old skin without waiting for the other layers to die. Psoriasis is a genetic disorder, which means that it is not contagious and cannot be passed along due to contact. Most psoriasis is treated by removing the excess skin and then the patient is placed on a pharmaceutical regimen that will work towards treating the issue.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis is a serious dermatological issue and should be treated as soon as one begins exhibiting signs of it. One can come into contact with actinic keratosis by prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays or by spending too much time in a tanning bed. Essentially, actinic keratosis manifests itself as small, rough, dry, scaly patches that are localized on portions of the skin. They look a bit similar to eczema, although actinic keratosis has a redder tinge. Actinic keratosis can be precancerous and can be a definitive sign that you are currently suffering from skin cancer, and, as such, the problem should be addressed by a dermatologist as soon as possible.
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