The most common cause of skin cancer is also the most preventable: too much exposure to UV light, either directly from the sun or sources like tanning beds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Treatment usually involves removing the cancerous lesion but may also include more intensive treatments, including radiation, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, depending on whether and how much the skin cancer has spread.
Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis, also known as dandruff, is a common skin condition that usually appears on the scalp, although it can impact other oily areas of the body, like the eyelids or ears, per the AAD. Symptoms can include white or yellowish crusty patches on the skin, inflamed skin, skin flaking, and a swollen or greasy appearance in the affected area. Seborrheic dermatitis is usually treated with medicated creams and shampoos that control inflammation, along with antifungal creams and ointments, as an overgrowth of yeast is thought to be one factor that contributes to the development of the condition.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes deep blushing or flushing, acne-like blemishes, and visible blood vessels in your face. What’s more, 50% to 75% of people with rosacea also experience eye-related symptoms like dry eye, redness, tearing, burning, and blurred vision.13 The condition tends to go through periods of flares, which can last for weeks to months, and then goes away for some time. While rosacea typically has a good prognosis for many people, the condition can still have a heavy impact on a person’s self-esteem, potentially leading to issues like depression and anxiety. Depending on the severity of the rosacea, treatments can include topical medications to reduce flushing, along with oral antibiotics or oral acne drugs, among others.
Allergic contact dermatitis
Usually known as allergic contact dermatitis (a form of eczema), allergic reactions can happen when your skin meets a substance that you’re sensitive to, triggering an immune response that typically leads to a skin rash and itching.14 Common allergens include certain fragrances and preservatives (often found in beauty products and detergents), metals like nickel, and plants like poison ivy. Treatment may involve using anti-inflammatory creams or oral medications to minimize discomfort. Avoiding personal triggers is required for the long-term reduction of flares.
Hives
Hives, medically known as urticaria, are typically short-lived and very common. In fact, hives impact about 20% of people at some point in their life, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). Hives are usually raised, itchy skin bumps or patches that are either reddened or skin-colored, and they can be triggered by a slew of things (typically allergens), such as certain foods, medications, insect stings or bites, latex, pet dander, and pollen. Hives are usually treated with antihistamines and, in more severe cases of anaphylaxis, an epinephrine injection.
Warts
Warts are noncancerous skin growths caused by human papillomaviruses (HPV) that are mainly spread via skin-to-skin contact.15 They present as a rough, skin-colored bump on the skin that can be itchy or sometimes painful (either one on its own or several in a cluster), especially if they develop on the bottom of your feet. Warts usually go away on their own in a few weeks to months, but they are most often treated with at-home wart removal medications (which typically contain salicylic acid) or cryotherapy (a freezing process via liquid nitrogen) at a dermatologist’s office.
Cold sores
Also known as fever blisters or oral herpes, cold sores are caused by a viral infection that causes small, fluid-filled blisters to show up on and around your mouth or lips. Cold sores spread through close physical contact, like kissing, and are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus, most often HSV-1. This is incredibly common—a majority of people in the U.S. are infected with the virus by the age of 20, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. There’s no cure for cold sores, but treatment with prescription antiviral pills and creams can help them heal more quickly and reduce future outbreaks.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection that causes symptoms like inflamed skin, swelling, and pain in the infected area, according to the CDC. If it’s left untreated, it can spread and cause serious health complications, including infections of the blood and heart. Cellulitis is usually treated with oral antibiotics, although more serious infections may be treated with IV antibiotics.
Chicken pox
Chicken pox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes an itchy rash with hundreds of small, fluid-filled blisters, in addition to fever, fatigue, and headaches, per the CDC. An antiviral medication like acyclovir can shorten the course of illness in people who have a higher risk of complications, and there is a vaccine to prevent chicken pox entirely. Chicken pox was once a common childhood illness, but the varicella vaccine has made it rare. Between 1995, when the varicella vaccine became public, and 2005, instances of chicken pox dropped by 90%.16
Shingles
Shingles is another skin infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, according to the CDC. After someone recovers from chicken pox, the virus stays dormant in the body but can potentially reactivate later, causing shingles. The skin condition leads to a painful rash of blisters that develop on one side of the face or body, and may also cause flulike symptoms like fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach. The blisters usually scab over in 7 to 10 days and clear up in two to four weeks.
Malar rash (butterfly rash)
A malar rash, also known as a butterfly rash, can form on the face due to many skin conditions, such as cellulitis and rosacea, but it’s commonly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune condition that causes a wide variety of symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose.17 This inflamed rash is unique due to its shape, as it extends across the bridge of the nose and down both of the cheeks. Nearly half of all people who have lupus go on to develop a malar rash, according to the Johns Hopkins Lupus Center.
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is an often overlooked skin condition that causes deep, painful lumps to form under the skin, usually in areas where skin rubs together, like the armpits, groin, buttocks, and breasts, according to the AAD. If the disease progresses, it can lead to tunneling beneath the skin, as well as permanent scarring. The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa isn’t fully understood, so it’s often misdiagnosed as skin boils, an infection, or a sexually transmitted disease. The condition can be treated with medications, steroid injections, and surgery. It is estimated to impact between 1% and 4% of people in the U.S., mainly those assigned females at birth.18
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition that causes the skin to lose its pigment cells, called melanocytes, per the AAD. This leads to discolored patches in different areas of the body, and even in unexpected places like the hair, eyes, or mouth. Vitiligo impacts people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with deeper skin tones. The condition doesn’t need to be treated as it is not physically harmful, but for those who find the condition mentally distressing, certain medications and light-based therapies may help restore skin tone. Experts don’t understand the exact causes of vitiligo but believe some forms of the condition may behave like an autoimmune disease in nature.
Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause symptoms like a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, per the CDC. The telltale measles skin rash, flat red spots that appear on the face, neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet, develops about three to five days after symptoms begin. Measles can be especially dangerous for babies and young children, with the potential to cause complications like encephalitis, pneumonia, and death in severe cases. There is no specific treatment for measles, but it can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 by the World Health Organization (WHO), but small outbreaks happen in the country each year.
Common treatments for skin diseases and conditions
Treatments for various skin diseases and infections will vary, depending on the condition itself and the severity of its symptoms. Generally, however, these are the most common treatments used to treat various skin conditions:
