What Does a Dermatologist Do?
Dermatologists are physicians that are trained and can diagnose and treat any diseases that pertain to the skin, nail and the hair. They are also capable of treating cosmetic problems that are associated with these parts of the body. Dermatology is the branch of medicine that deals with the skin, nail, hair and the diseases that are associated with these systems of the body. Skin conditions are common, especially in children and teenagers. Although many of these conditions can be treated at home, some require the care of a dermatologist.
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Below are some of the reasons people schedule a visit to the dermatologist;
- Acne
- Skin cancer
- Eczema
- Scar treatment
- Skin damage
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Infection
Common Diseases Treated By Dermatologist
1. Acne
This disease, also known as acne vulgaris, is a chronic disease that affects the skin. This condition occurs when the hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oils from the skin. Patients present with oily skin, blackheads, and scarring. Acne typically affects the part of the skin that has a large number of oil glands, including the face, back, and the chest. Apart from disfiguring the skin, acne can cause the individual to experience low self-esteem. There have been cases of people going into depression mainly because of frustration of dealing with this condition. Studies have shown that genetics is the primary cause of acne in the majority of cases. Other factors have also been identified such as smoking, personal hygiene, hormonal changes and so on. There are treatment options for acne including lifestyle changes, medication and other medical procedures. Some of the medications a dermatologist may administer include salicylic acid, antibiotics, and retinoids. Birth control pills have also been identified to help women who struggle with acne.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Acne?
The signs and symptoms of acne depend entirely on the severity of the condition. Some of them include the following;
- Whiteheads
- Blackheads
- Patients might present with pus-filled lumps, under the surface of the skin.
- Patients might have big, solid and painful lumps under the surface of their skin.
- Patients might also have pimples, which are papules with pus in the tips.
What Are The Causes Of Acne?
Studies have shown that there are four causes of acne. They include the following;
- Bacterial infection
- High level of androgenic hormones
- Excess oil production
- Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells.
What Are the Factors That Could Worsen Acne?
Below are some of the factors that could worsen acne;
- Hormones: Boys and girls tend to have a surge in androgenic hormone levels, especially at puberty. This causes the sebaceous glands to become bigger, and also make more sebum. This also occurs during pregnancy.
- Medications: There are some drugs that worsen acne. Some of these drugs include corticosteroids, testosterone, and lithium.
- Diet: Research has shown that some foods may worsen acne. Examples of these types of foods include bread, chips, and other simple carbohydrates. It has also been noted that chocolate can make acne worse.
- Stress: Stress is one of the most common factors that worsen this skin condition.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Acne?
These are factors that increase the risk of developing acne. Below are some of them;
- Age: Acne can affect anyone, regardless of the age. However, it’s more prevalent in teenagers.
- Stress: Contrary to what a lot of people believe, stress doesn’t cause acne. However, it worsens the condition, when the individual already has it.
- Family history: It has been observed that genetics play an important role in the development of acne. A child would have more chances of developing acne if both parents have acne.
- Hormonal changes: Acne tends to develop when children hit puberty. This can be attributed to the surge in their hormone levels.
How Is Acne Treated?
A lot of people do make use of over-the-counter medications. However, if this doesn’t work, it can be beneficial to contact your dermatologist who can diagnose, and administer the right medications, or even perform a procedure if there is a need for it. Some of the common medications dermatologists prescribe include retinoids, antibiotics, salicylic acid, dapsone and so on. Procedures carried out by dermatologists include lasers and photodynamic therapy, chemical peels, steroid injections, and extraction of whiteheads, blackheads and so on.
2. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in individuals that are affected by the autoimmune disease psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition that increases the life cycle of skin cells. Patients do experience red patches on the skin with a silvery layer that looks like scales on the top. Generally, people are initially affected by psoriasis before they have psoriatic arthritis. However, the inflammation and disease of the joint might begin before they present with skin lesions. The classic characteristics of this disease are the inflammation of the extremities, particularly the fingers and toes. They usually do have a sausage-like appearance. This is often accompanied by defects in the nail, such as pitting and the separation of the nail from the nail bed. Genetics have been implicated as one of the most important factors that lead to the development of Psoriasis. Excess weight also increases the risk of having this disease.
What Are The Causes Of Psoriasis?
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body immune system fails to recognize some normal body tissues and then proceeds to attack them. The immune system perceives some tissues as foreign, so they tend to injure and destroy them. This is what happens in Psoriasis. In this case, the immune cells attack the skin cells and cause various degrees of inflammatory reactions. This usually leads to swelling and pain, causing a lot of discomfort to the individual. The reason for this immune system disorder is not known yet, however, there have been suggestions that this might be as a result of a combination of factors. The factors involved are usually genetics and environmental factors. Researchers have been able to identify some genetic markers that might be associated with this disease. Infections could also be a trigger for the disease. This includes viral and bacterial infections.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis?
Some of the signs and symptoms of psoriasis include the following;
- Swelling of the joints
- The joints become abnormally rigid.
- Thickened, and ridged nails
- Small scaling spots.
- Patients may develop red patches on the skin, which may be covered with thick, silvery plaques.
What Are The Causes Of Psoriasis?
The main cause of psoriasis isn’t known yet, however, some factors have been identified to be connected to the development of the disease. They include both genetic and environmental factors.
What Are The Triggers Of Psoriasis?
There are some factors that induce the development of psoriasis. Some of the factors include the following;
- Stress
- Smoking
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Deficiency of vitamins, such as Vitamin D.
- Medications: There are some drugs that induce psoriasis. Examples of these include beta blockers, antimalarial drugs, and so on.
What Are the Risk Factors For Psoriasis?
These are conditions or factors that could predispose people, or increase the chances of having this disease. Some of these risk factors are;
- Age: Even though psoriatic arthritis can affect anyone, it’s more predominant among people between the age bracket of thirty to fifty years old.
- Heredity: People who have relatives or siblings that have this disease have a higher risk of being affected by psoriasis
- Obesity: People who are obese or overweight are more prone to developing psoriasis.
- Stress: Stress increases the cortisol level of the body, which also weakens the body immune system. This increases the risk of having psoriasis
When Is It Important To See A Dermatologist?
You should visit your dermatologist if you experience any of the following symptoms;
- If you experience discomfort and pain.
- You’re worried about how you look.
- When you start developing joint problems, such as pain and swelling.
- When you are unable to perform your daily activities.
How Is Psoriasis Treated?
The main goal in the treatment of psoriasis is to reduce inflammation, and also clear the skin. The treatment plans for this disease can be divided into 3 parts. They include topical treatment, light therapy, and systemic medications.
- Topical treatment: Dermatologists administer drugs such as corticosteroids for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis. This helps to reduce inflammation, itching, and so on. However, the prolonged use of corticosteroids might lead to the thinning of the skin. They might also stop working after a while. The best and most effective way of using topical corticosteroids is by using for a short time.
- Vitamin D analogues: Dermatologists do prescribe vitamin D analogues for the treatment of psoriasis. Vitamin D improves the skin cell growth.
- Topical retinoid: This is a vitamin A derivative, that is used to reduce inflammation. Some of the side effects of retinoid include the irritation of the skin, increased sensitivity to light and so on. It’s important to make use of sunscreen when on this medication.
- Light therapy: This makes use of ultraviolet light, which might be natural or artificial, for the treatment of psoriasis
3. Skin Cancer
These are cancers that develop in the skin. They occur as a result of the development of abnormal cells, that can spread to other parts and organs of the body. There are three types of skin cancers. They include;
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous-cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of carcinoma that starts from the basal cells. Basal cell carcinomas are cells that give rise to new skin cells, just as old ones die off. This disease present as a mild transparent bump on the skin. This disease can also occur on areas of the skin, that doesn’t get sufficient exposure to the sun, such as the head and neck. Some of the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma include the following;
- White, waxy scar-like lesion on the skin: These lesions often present without a clear border.
- Flat, scaly, reddish patches
- Pearly white, skin-colored bumps
This disease mostly occurs as a result of a mutation in the DNA. This mutation causes the basal cells, to multiply quickly, and without any form of control. These cells are also immortal, as they don’t die when they’re supposed to.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is also known as epidermoid carcinoma. It develops from the abnormal growth of the squamous cells of the skin It usually develops in the squamous cells of the outer and middle layer of the skin. It is one of the most common causes of skin cancer. It mostly occurs in parts of the skin that has been injured by Ultra-violet rays. Avoiding an exposure to a high dosage of Ultra-violet rays helps to reduce the risk of having squamous cell carcinoma. Areas commonly exposed to the sun include the neck, arms, legs head, hands and so on. This disease is a progressive type of cancer, that grows slowly over time. It also has the ability to spread to other tissues of the body. Common areas affected by the disease include the bones, tissues, and surrounding lymph nodes. There are some factors that increase the chances of developing this disease. Some of the factors include old age, gender, type of skin, exposure to sunlight and so on. This cancer becomes difficult to treat when it starts metastasizing. The prognosis of the disease is always better when diagnosed early. There are some factors that predispose people to develop this disease. Some of these factors include old age, gender, lightness of skin, exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays, heredity, infection and so on.
Melanoma
This is the most severe type of skin cancer. It’s dangerous because it often spreads from its origin to other parts of the body. This is a form of skin cancer that develops when the pigment-producing undergoes mutation, and become cancerous. This disease can develop in any part of the skin. However, it’s more prevalent on the skin.
It’s important to consult your dermatologist if you notice any of the symptoms above.
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References
Black, M. and Marshman, G. (2010). Dermatology and pemphigus vulgaris: Association or coincidence?. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 52(2), pp.e11-e14.
Greenberg, S. (2014). Sustained autoimmune mechanisms in dermatomyositis. The Journal of Pathology, 233(3), pp.215-216.
Lam, C. and Vleugels, R. (2012). Management of cutaneous bruises. Dermatologic Therapy, 25(2), pp.112-134.
Scadden, D. and Srivastava, A. (2012). Advancing Stem Cell Biology toward Stem Cell Therapeutics. Cell Stem Cell, 10(2), pp.149-150.
