The rash: Definition:
A typical rash is a change in the skin which affects its appearance or
texture.A rash may be localized to one part of the body, or affect all
the skin.
Symptoms:
Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy,
dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful.
The causes, and therefore treatments for, rashes vary widely.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis must take into account such things as the appearance of the
rash, other symptoms, what the patient may have been exposed to,
occupation, and occurrence in family members.
The presence of a rash may aid diagnosis of the patient's condition. Not
only the appearance and sensation of the rash but also the distribution
(which parts of the body are affected and where it arose and spread to)
and evolution of the rash may be important as certain patterns of rashes
and their associated signs and symptoms are diagnostic of certain
diseases. For example, the rash in
measles is an erythematous,
maculopapular rash that begins a few days after the fever starts; it
classically starts at the head and spreads downwards.
Causes:
Common causes of rashes include: ► Exposure
to sun (sunburn) or heat ► Anxiety ► Skin contact with an irritant ► Reaction to vaccination ► Cancer or other disease ► Autoimmune disorders such as
psoriasis ► Skin diseases such as eczema or acne ► Lead poisoning ► Pregnancy ► Infection, e.g., by the viruses that cause
chickenpox, smallpox, cold sores and
measles ► Allergies, for example to foods, dyes, medicines, insect stings; such
rashes are often called hives. Some people are sensitive to metals such
as zinc or nickel ► Irritation such as caused by abrasives impregnated in clothing rubbing
the skin. The cloth itself may be abrasive enough for some people.
Psoriasis: Definition:
Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, non-contagious immune-mediated disease
of the skin that appears in many different forms and can affect any part
of the body, including the nails, elbows, knees, back, buttocks and
scalp.
Symptoms: ► Normally the cells of the outer layer of the skin are constantly shed
and replaced
by new cells, which are produced by the basal layers.
In psoriasis patients there is acceleration of the production of new
skin cells.
These cells accumulate, manifesting as thick, lumpy, and reddish flaky
patches on the surface of the skin. ► Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can
affect any area including the scalp and genitals. ► Psoriasis is not contagious. ► The disorder is a chronic recurring condition which varies in severity
from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails and
toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy). ► Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as
psoriatic
arthritis. Ten to fifteen percent of people with psoriasis have
psoriatic arthritis.
Severity:
Psoriasis is usually graded as mild (affecting less than 3% of the
body), moderate (affecting 3-10% of the body) or severe.
Several scales
exist for measuring the severity of psoriasis. The degree of severity is
generally based on the following factors: ► The proportion of body surface area affected ► Response to previous therapies ► Disease activity (degree of plaque redness, thickness and scaling) ► The impact of the disease on the person.
Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis including stress
and excessive alcohol consumption. Individuals with psoriasis may suffer
from depression and loss of self-esteem. As such, quality of life is an
important factor in evaluating the severity of the disease. There are
many treatments available but because of its chronic recurrent nature
psoriasis is a challenge to treat. Treatment: ► Topical e.g.
Sorana ointment for mild to moderate psoriasis. ► Phototherapy (usually ultraviolet) for moderate to severe psoriasis.
► Systemic (taken orally or by injection or infusion) for moderate,
severe or disabling psoriasis. ► Overproduction of a cellular messenger called TNF (tumor necrosis
factor) is believed to play a role in psoriasis. New systemic treatments
can neutralize the excess TNF in the body to improve psoriasis symptoms.
Dandruff: Definition:
Dandruff (also called scurf and historically termed Pityriasis capitis)
is due to the excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. As
it is normal for skin cells to die and flake off, a small amount of
flaking is normal and in fact quite common. Some people, however, either
chronically or as a result of certain triggers, experience an unusually
large amount of flaking, which can also be accompanied by redness and
irritation. Most cases of dandruff can be easily treated with
specialized shampoos. Simple dandruff does not cause hair loss.
Causes:
As the epidermal layer continually replaces itself, cells are pushed
outward where they eventually die and flake off. In most people, these
flakes of skin are too small to be visible. However, certain conditions
cause cell turnover to be unusually rapid, especially in the scalp.
For people with dandruff, skin cells may mature and be shed in 2 - 7
days, as opposed to around a month in people without dandruff. The
result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which
appear as white or grayish patches on the scalp and clothes.
Dandruff has been shown to be the result of three required factors: ► Skin oil commonly referred to as sebum or sebaceous secretions. ► The metabolic by-products of skin micro-organisms (most specifically
Malassezia yeasts). ► An individual susceptibility.
There is no convincing evidence that food (such as sugar or yeast),
excessive perspiration, or climate have any role in the pathogenesis of
dandruff.
Treatment:
Dandruff is a global phenomenon and many people find that dandruff can
cause social or self-esteem problems. Treatment can be important for
purely social reasons. ► Severe forms of flaking if accompanied by flaking or scaling on other
parts of the body, might best be treated by a dermatologist. ► Head & Shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient
Zinc pyrithione. ►Ketoderm cream also indicated for use in Seborrhoeic dermatitis, a skin
condition often associated with the yeast P.ovale. ► Selsun Blue anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredient Selenium
sulfide. ► The antifungal properties of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Oil) have been
reported as useful in the treatment of dandruff. ► Washing hair with rubbing alcohol gets rid of the dandruff and leaves
hair feeling soft and clean. ► Tar containing shampoos are also used for treatment of dandruff. ► Apple Cider Vinegar helps destroy the bacteria that causes Dandruff
thus, eliminating your dandruff.
Misconceptions:
•Dandruff is sometimes confused with dried shampoo. This usually occurs
when hair isn't rinsed properly.
•Dandruff is not an organism like lice; it is just dead skin that
accumulates in the scalp.
•Dandruff is unlikely to be the cause of hair loss.
Definition:
Definition:
