Skin diseases are peculiar by their nature and may cause a great amount of grief, anguish and even economic loss. There are numerous misconceptions about skin ailments and the social stigma associated with it often proves more damaging to the individual than the disease itself. There is a popular but incorrect maxim that skin patients are never cured and never die. The notion that all such ailments are contagious too, is totally untrue. The success rate of homeopathy in dermatology places it as an excellent therapeutic option, that offers a simple but sure line of treatment . In this post I don't intend to discuss the preventive / treatment aspects of homeopathy, but merely give out a synopsis of the various skin conditions possible.
A
high degree of relative exposure makes the skin one of the most vulnerable
organs of the body. Skin diseases, though not life-threatening, can be
chronically troublesome. They may affect any of the three layers of the skin
i.e. epidermis, dermis and hypodermis along with the sebaceous and sweat glands.
The peculiarity of skin complaints is that its conspicuous nature can easily
lead to psychological stress.
Various
surveys suggest that approximately 50% of observed skin disorders are caused by
infection, 15% by climate, 10 % by allergies and 25% by miscellaneous causes
like Alopecia, Vitiligo etc. Here is an overview of the range of possible skin ailments:-
Acne. It
is a skin condition that causes pimples, white/black heads and red inflamed
patches of skin that usually appears on the face and shoulders, but may also
occur on the trunk, limbs and buttocks.
Dermatitis. It
is a non-contagious itchy inflammation of the skin with redness and oozing. There
are various types of dermatitis, the common ones of which are Atopic, Seboerrehic,
Contact/Allergic Dermititis. It is a chronic condition and symptoms may persist
for a longer time.
Infections. Skin
infections could be caused by a variety of reasons to include Bacterial (impetigo, ecthyma,
erysipelas and cellulitis), Fungal (dermophytosis,
candidiasis and tinea versicolor) or Viral
(Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster, Molluscum contagiosum and warts).
Psoriasis. It
is a chronic non-infectious immune mediated condition. It causes redness and
irritation with thick silvery scales. The commonly affected areas are scalp,
back of elbows, front of knees, legs and lower back.
Rosacea. It
is very common chronic benign acne like skin condition, which is non-infectious
and characteristically seen on face, forehead, chin and lower half of nose
without much itching or irritation.
Hives or Urticaria. They
are pale red raised itchy bumps that can appear anywhere on the body and are caused
by allergic reaction or for unknown reasons (idiopathic). They cause itching
and sometimes even burning and stinging.
Sebacious Cysts. They
are painless epidermal cysts, which appear as small bumps just under the skin
that contain ‘cheesy’ and ‘pasty’ keratin with a foul odour. They are caused as
a result of skin trauma or swollen hair follicles.
Seboerrhic Keratosis. It
is a painless non-cancerous skin growth on the face, chest shoulders or back,
that may be brown, black or pale in colour.
Skin Cancer. This
is caused by direct exposure to UV rays and is of three main types, i.e. basal
cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Dry Skin (leading to ichthyosis). It
shows up as rough red itchy patches on the limbs and abdomen, triggered by
environmental factors like extreme heat or cold.
Corns and Calluses. They
are areas of thickened skin on the feet that develop to protect that area from
irritation due to constant rubbing against a surface. They are not contagious
but may become painful if they get too thick.
Moles. They
are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black. They can change
slowly, become raised or change in colour or may gradually disappear over time.
Lichen Plamus. It
is a disease in which there is an itchy patch on the skin or in the mouth which
leads to rough scaly plaques on the skin. The cause is unknown and likely to be
related to allergic or immune reactions.
Erythrema Nodosum. It
is a type of skin inflammation located in the fatty layer of the skin and
results in reddish painful tender lumps, especially in the shin area. It is a
hypersensitive, immunological response to a variety of different causes.