Lice seem like such a dirty little secret and come across as a problem that only people who are unclean have. Nothing could be further from the truth as lice can infest anyone from any ethnic or socioeconomic group. Lice are little insects with no wings which can easily hop from one human host to another through shared hair brushes, clothing and plain old body contact. There are three basic types of lice and they come in different sizes from barely discernible to the naked eye up to around 1/8 of an inch which is huge in lice terms.
Contrary to popular belief, ringworm is not an actual worm but a fungal infection that affects men and women as well as all ages in the spectrum from babies to seniors. The scientific name for this fungal skin infection is tinea corporis, which is ringworm on the face and body. Ringworm on the scalp is called tinea capitis. This fungal infection prefers warm conditions and its microorganisms like to dine on that insoluble protein that makes up nails, skin and hair called keratin, which resides in the epidermis, the top layer of skin.
What Ringworm Looks Like
It's a condition that plagues many athletes and other people who sweat a lot. Old, young, short, tall … anyone of any shape, size, color or gender can get it. The condition is called jock itch and it can be the bane of your existence. It is a fungal infection of the skin that affects your genital area as well as your buttocks and inner thighs. Also called tinea cruris, this fungal infection occurs in the moist, warm part of the body and produces a red, itchy rash in small ringed shapes.
To understand atopic dermatitis, you have to understand where the term atopic comes from. Atopic is derived from the word "atopy" which describes a group who have a history, either themselves or in the family, of asthma, eczema, hay fever, and dry skin. Taking all of these factors into account, atopic dermatitis is a form of eczema that is a chronic condition which produces a symmetrical occurrence of itchy rashes. These rashes can become irritated and red with inflammation, cracking, oozing, scaling and crusting.
Just the Basics of Atopic Dermatitis
Do you have itchy feet, especially between the toes? You just might have athlete's foot, a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, a common fungus that also is a contributor to other common skin infections like jock itch and ringworm. Athlete's foot thrives in such moist, public conditions like locker rooms, public showers and gyms.
Athlete's foot is most noticed on the soles of the feet as well as in between the toes. The skin may look a bit cracked with a dry, almost powdery appearance. It can spread to the sides of your feet as well as to the toenails. Most over the counter remedies like foot sprays and ointments do work but for the more stubborn infections, a prescription from the doctor may be in order.
With a name like folliculitis, it sounds like something really serious, doesn't it? The reality is that while not life threatening, if can make you a bit uncomfortable for a while. Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicle which appears as little pimples filled with pus. Sometimes known as a razor bumps or hot tub rash, folliculitis has a number of different causes and all of them result in itchiness and on occasion, some pain.
While flu is the illness that has been a widespread killer for centuries, Black Death also known as the plague has also tortured many souls as well. Its reach extends for centuries with a major epidemic in the 6th century in the Byzantine Empire and again in 14th century Europe. Flash forward to today and a few hundred cases each year worldwide can be attributed to the plague with the death toll at 15-20%.
While not a life threatening condition, psoriasis is chronic and can affect your quality of life. It is a skin disease which disturbs the phases of skin cell development and shedding. What happens is that new skin cells take several weeks to move from the deepest skin layer when skin cell production begins to the outside layer where they die and fall off. With psoriasis, the phases of skin cell development take mere days instead of weeks resulting in an accumulation of skin cells. This accumulation is in the form of thick scales and patches of dry, red skin.
Every person on the planet has likely had some type of rash or skin condition at one time or another. If you rarely have any problems then consider yourself lucky. However, others may have one problem after another. If you are unsure of what type of rash you do have when you get one, the following primer could have you looking in the right direction when it comes to identification and treatment.
One of the many childhood illnesses that pops up commonly is Fifth's Disease or erythema infectiousum. The nickname is called the slapped cheeks disease due to the distinct red rash that appears on the facial cheeks which looks similar to what a slap would look like. Caused by the human parvovirus B19, some children will get mild symptoms while others may not show signs of the disease at all. The reason for the name "Fifth's Disease" is that this particular parvovirus is the fifth in line of a group of childhood diseases which cause rashes as well. The others are Duke's Disease, measles, scarlet fever and rubella.
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a recurring skin infection and irritation which is heralded by the appearance of not only blackheads but also sensitive, red lesions or bumps. These bumps resemble boils in that they swell up, rupture and then drain pus, often for days. Because this is a chronic condition, scarring will likely results after just a few occurrences at the infected site.
MRSA is also known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus but some people called it simply staph. This type of staph infection developed in hospitals as a secondary infection which was resistant to the commonly used broad spectrum of antibiotics. This MRSA was the first appearance of bacteria that seemed to resist all but the most powerful forms of antibiotic treatment. This strain of staph is potentially fatal, especially in people who already have a weakened immune system.
Have you ever heard of a disease called paronychia? This disease is a red, irritating condition which borders around your toenails or fingernails. This condition can be both acute, meaning not serious, or chronic, meaning recurring. Paronychia is classified as one of the two depending on how long it lasts as well as how often.
When you have acute paronychia, it can be quite painful as it develops over a one to two day period. Typically a trauma to the nail can trigger paronychia as well as simple nail biting, hangnails, and ingrown nails. Sometimes, bacterial infections can also cause this skin disease that affects the nail area. Staph bacteria are the common culprits in these cases, although other bacteria are sometimes found as well.
A yeast infection is no laughing matter because at the least, it is uncomfortable and at the most, can be quite a serious cause for concern. Candida is the name of one of the most widely contracted form of yeast infections. The ironic thing is that Candida lives normally within the human body in the vagina, mouth and digestion system. However, under particular conditions, Candida can spread to other areas of the body and create an infection.
If you are physically fit and have membership to a fitness center or use a public facility like a swimming pool or sauna, chances are that you have had at least one case of athlete's foot. You would know athlete's foot if you had it. It is a fungal infection that just loves warm, humid environments. Trapped, warm moisture are the favorite breeding grounds for this fungus that greatly irritates the feet.
One of the most common forms of eczema is also called atopic dermatitis, which signals the fact that it is some type of skin disorder, sometimes a type of allergic reaction. Eczema is a chronic skin condition which often accompanies other conditions like hay fever or asthma and is marked by extremely itchy skin, that when you scratch it, it becomes red and swollen.
Acne is just like the pimple on the rear end of humanity – a pain in the backside and a nuisance to boot. Acne can be troubling to the wearer and they never seem to truly go away. Some pimples will slowly fade away only to be replaced by several more in a new location. It's a never-ending cycle for some people.
There are quite a few causes of acne and hormones are the biggest culprit which is why teenagers are the primary acne targets with women who are pregnant or PMS-ing bringing up the rear. People in every age range and sex can get them however. For some people, a few here and there are the norm while others will have them for years and bear the scars to prove it.
Dermatitis is a general term that applies to quite a few skin conditions. In uncomplicated terms, dermatitis is a simple swelling and irritation of the skin. Dermatitis is sometimes confused with other skin conditions like eczema or even skin cancers or psoriasis. Just because a skin condition causes a rash, not all rashes are dermatitis as there could be a variety of factors which cause it.
Types and Appearance of Dermatitis
One of the best ways to prevent skin infection is by learning how to clean wounds properly. When dirt or other contaminants are not properly rinsed away, this courts infection within the skin that could escalate into something more serious. First aid basics for wounds are your best defense. For instance, if you puncture, scrape or cut yourself, the best course of action is to first run cool water over the wound to flush any dirt or contaminants out. Do not soak the area but rather hold it under running water or pour water over it.
People who love the outdoors are most vulnerable to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a bacterial infection which can pass to humans via a tick bite through the skin. This potentially fatal illness was named after the Rocky Mountains where the disease was first traced, although it can be found all over the country. What happens is this: an infected tick climbs tall grass, waiting for an unsuspecting victim to pounce on and then once it has you, it latches onto your skin and slurps up some blood. Its bodily fluids are what carry the bacteria which can pass into your bloodstream.
Children always seem to have a rash, scrape or some type of skin irritation and one of the most common (and contagious) is impetigo. It is a skin infection that children primarily get which pops up on the face, around the mouth and nose. Bacteria are the primary culprit and typically enter through a cut or bite but impetigo has been known to occur on unblemished skin as well.
Who knew that soaking in a hot tub to ease those aching muscles in your body could cause a skin infection? The same thing could occur in a whirlpool, a therapy pool or even water slides that kids play on. This skin infection that occurs in these scenarios is called hot tub folliculitis. Folliculitis occurs when the hair follicle becomes inflamed due to an infection, injury or irritation by chemicals. In the case of the hot tub folliculitis, prolonged exposure to water that may have been contaminated is the typical cause.
Bed sores are a common skin infection which occurs with people who are unable to move around and reposition their bodies to more comfortable or beneficial position. People who are wheelchair bound or bedridden are highly susceptible to bed sores, also known as pressure sores due to the pressure exerted on the skin against protruding bony projections of the body. Many bedridden seniors often will form a bedsore right around the base of their tailbone, a bony area that presses into the bed. If left untreated, bed sores can be potentially life threatening.
Typical Causes of Bed Sores
After the age of 55, it seems that all sorts of biological changes are occurring and one of them, shingles, can be quite painful. Shingles is a viral infection caused by varicella zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox. A painful rash of blisters which extends from the middle of the back and wraps around to the side of the chest to the sternum presents itself, although these blisters can also manifest themselves on other body parts as well.
Sometimes, you can be so careful around your pets or other dogs and cats and you still get bitten. Unfortunately, dog and cat bites have the potential to create a major skin infection that could require hospitalization if not taken care of properly. There are quite a few things that could go wrong, especially if the animal has rabies or some other disease and/or if you have a health condition that could be compromised by an animal bite.
Steps to Take when Bitten By a Dog or Cat
