Skin Diseases

Skin Diseases

White Patch / Vitiligo

Vitiligo, Leukoderma is a skin disease that causes loss of skin pigmentation (melanin) that leads to skin whitening/white patches, Medically it is hypomelanosis, with destruction of melanocytes.

Myths About Vitiligo

MYTH: Only dark-skinned people get vitiligo.
FACT: Vitiligo affects people of all races equally; however, it may be more noticeable in people with dark skin.

MYTH: Vitiligo is related to other skin diseases such as skin cancer, leprosy, and albinism.
FACT: Vitiligo is a completely different condition and is not related to skin cancer, leprosy or albinism.

MYTH: Vitiligo only affects skin that you can see, such as on faces and hands.
FACT: It can occur in any part of the body, but is more noticeable in the uncovered parts such as on face and hands.

MYTH: Vitiligo is made worse by eating certain combinations of foods.
FACT: It is not affected by food choices.

MYTH: Leucoderma is infectious

FACT: It is purely non infectious disease.

MYTH: Vitiligo is always hereditary.
FACT: Only 30% of vitiligo cases show hereditary background. In the majority of patients, there is no family history .Even if one person in a family is affected, in most patients, other members of the family do not get the disease. For this reason, there is no bar for these patients to get married and lead a normal life like any other person.

MYTH: You can predict who will have vitiligo and how extensive the disease will be by looking at them.
FACT: There is no superficial way to predict who will have vitiligo. The diagnosis of vitiligo is made based on a physical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests, sometimes including a biopsy.

MYTH: Vitiligo spreads all over the body
FACT: No, in most cases, leucoderma does not spread all over the body. It is important to note that there are different types of vitiligo which behave differently. It can be localized, segmental, generalized, acrofacial etc.

MYTH: Leucoderma can not be treated and Treatments are not effective.
FACT: There are a number of excellent treatments available and Vitiligo can be treated effectively in most cases.

At our centre , we do treat it with specialized Laser treatment.

Eczema

An itchy inflammation of the skin. Its  signs and symptoms vary widely from person to person and include:

  • Dry skin
  • Itching, which may be severe, especially at night
  • Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp
  • Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
  • Thickened, cracked, scaly skin
  • Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

See a doctor if you or your child:

  • Is so uncomfortable that the condition is affecting sleep and daily activities
  • Has a skin infection — look for red streaks, pus, yellow scabs
  • Continues to experience symptoms despite trying home remedies

Seek immediate medical attention for your child if the rash looks infected and he or she has a fever.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, long-term (chronic) disease with no cure. It tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission.
Triggers include infections, stress and cold.
The most common symptom is a rash on the skin, but sometimes the rash involves the nails or joints.
Treatment aims to remove scales and stop skin cells from growing so quickly.

Lichen Planus

It is is a condition that can cause swelling and irritation in the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. It is an inflammatory condition of the skin and mucous membranes.
Lichen planus occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks cells of the skin or mucous membranes.
On skin, lichen planus appears as purplish, itchy, flat-topped bumps. On mucous membranes, such as in the mouth, it forms lacy, white patches, sometimes with painful sores.

Lichen planus usually goes away on its own. If symptoms are bothersome, you can contact us.

Steroid Abuse

When we face skin irritation or inflammation we all look for quick fix solution that is easily available from chemist shop. But we forget that medicines if not used correctly and under correct supervision can do more harm than benefit. Steroids are one of the examples of the same. These are the medications that are our go to option when we are facing any skin irritation or inflammation that we can apply directly to our skin and get a quick relief. But its abuse is on the rise these days. As a patient we need to understand that steroids are the topical medications that should never be applied without the supervision of the dermatologist.
The potency of these steroids varies from mild to high. These are available under different brand names and different formulations. A few of them are available over the counter also at a lot of pharmacies which is been the reason of its increasing misuse.

Dermatologist is the right person to recommend the correct steroid, it application and safe time period of use. As if not used correctly, it can lead to worsening side effects of steroids on the skin. Here are few of them that you should be aware of :

  1. Skin infection that is persistent can further worsen up
  2. Folliculitis can happen which basically means that hair follicles present in skin layers can get inflamed.
  3. Folliculitis can happen which basically means that hair follicles present in skin layers can get inflamed.    
  4. Topical corticosteroid can cause mild skin allergies on its application which is generally termed as contact dermatitis.
  5. Excess application of steroids can lead to worsening of acne also.
  6. Red and flushed skin is also one of the outcomes of prolonged application of steroids of high potency also. This is termed as flare up of rosacea.   
  7. A few people may also experience changing of skin color due to improper steroid application. Where skin becomes uneven, or dark patches appear on the areas where steroids are been applied. 

Done Is More Likely To Have The Side Effects If :

  1. Using steroids for more than prescribed time period.
  2. Using highly potent steroid than prescribed by dermatologist.
  3. Elderly have been predominantly affected by the side effects of steroids as compared to young due to aged skin.
Preventing Side Effects of Topical Steroids
  1. Always seek expert advice, consult your dermatologist on the appropriate steroid and its strength.
  2. Always get detailed instructions on frequency i.e; how many times it has to be applied in a day and duration i.e; for how long does it has to be applied.
  3. Never start or stop using steroid abruptly if the condition starts improving. Consult your dermatologist.
  4. Always read the labels, look for precautions and side effects of one medicine before applying.
On the whole, it is necessary to pay attention to where and how of the topical steroid i.e; where it is being applied and how frequently it is being applied. Careful application can reduce side effects. Always consult your dermatologist.

Dermatitis

It is a general term for conditions that cause inflammation of the skin.. It can be of various types :
  • Atopic
  • Irritant
  • Contact
  • Allergic
The symptoms depend on the type of dermatitis. You may have one type, or you may have several. Each type may have one or more of the following symptoms :
  • Itching.
  • Red rashes and bumps.
  • Rashes that look and/or feel like a burn.
  • Dry skin.
  • Fluid-filled blisters.
  • Thickening, hardening and swelling skin.
  • Crusting, scaling and creasing skin.
  • Painful ulcers.
  • When scratched, the rashes may ooze fluid or bleed.
To diagnose this condition your healthcare provider will take a close look at your skin. They will look for classic signs of dermatitis such as a rash, redness, scales, dryness and more. They will ask about the symptoms you’re experiencing. It is very important to know the type of Dermatitis for proper treatment.