Skin disorders
Skin disorders are conditions affecting the skin’s structure or function, causing symptoms like rashes, bumps, redness, and scaling.
Common types include eczema, acne, psoriasis, and infections, which are often caused by genetics, immune system issues, infections, environmental triggers. Treatments range from topical areas to systemic medications.
According to modern medicine, (dermatology ) skin disorder, diseases, or conditions that affect the skin, hair, nails, and associated glands.
They may be caused by infection, inflammation, allergy, autoimmunity, genetic defects, hormonal imbalance, environmental exposure, or cancerous change.
Common types of skin diseases:
- Acne
- Alopecia areata
- Atopic dermatitis(Eczema)
- Psoriasis
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Rosacea
- Skin cancer
- Vitiligo
Rare types of skin diseases: Actinic prurigo, Argyria, Chromhidrosis, Epidermolysis bullosa, Harlequin ichthyosis, Lamellar ichthyosis, Necrobiosis lipoidica.
Common Cause of Skin Diseases:
- Bacteria trapped in skin pores or hair follicles
- Conditions that affect thyroid, kidneys, or immune system
- Contact with environmental triggers such as allergens or another person’s skin
- Genetics
- Fungus or parasites living on skins
- Medications such as the ones that treat IBD (Inflammatory bowel diseases)
- Viruses
- Diabetes
- Sun
Common symptoms of skin disorders.-
- Skin disorders can present with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Itching(pruritus)
- Redness(erythema)
- Rash or skin eruptions
- Dryness or roughness (xerosis)
- Scaling/ flaking
- Burning sensation
- Pain or tenderness
- Swelling or edema
- Discoloration or pigment changes
- Skin elevations or depressions
- Oozing or discharge
- Crusting or scabbing
- Ulceration or erosions
- Blisters
- Thickening of skin (lichenification)
- Hair changes
- Nail changes
Common diagnostic techniques: visual examination, dermatoscopy, skin biopsy, culture, patch test, Wood’s lamp test.
Risk factors
Risk factors are conditions or habits that increase the chance of developing skin diseases, such as
- Poor personal hygiene
- Excess sweating
- Humid environment
- Allergen or irritant exposure
- Family history or genetic predisposition
- Weak immunity or immunocompromised state
- Malnutrition or poor diet
- Hormonal imbalance
- Stress or psychological factors
- Sun exposure or UV radiation
- Age
- Obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Occupational exposure
- Use of tight or unclean clothing
- Use of shared personal items
- Smoking and alcohol
- Drugs or medications
- Existing systemic diseases
Complications if untreated
- Secondary infection
- Spread of disease
- Chronicity or recurrent diseases
- Severe itching or scratching cycle
- Skin thickening or lichenification
- Pigmentary changes
- Scarring, ulceration or skin breakdown
- Hair loss or nail damage
- Pain and functional discomfort
- Allergy worsening or severe inflammatory reaction
- Psychological and emotional impact
- Sleep disturbance
- Delayed healing
- Systemic infection or severe cases
- Malignant change in some chronic lesions.
Ayurvedic perspective
In Ayurveda, skin disorders are mainly described under the broad concept of kushtha(skin diseases) and rakta dushti( vitiation of blood)
Treatment principles(chikitsa siddhanta)
- Shodhana (Purification)
- vamana- kapha disorders
- virechana -pitta and rakta disorders
- raktamokshana-blood vitiation
- Shamana (Pacification)
Internal medicines – Neem (nimba), Manjishta, Khadira, GandhakaRasayana, Maha manjishtaadi kashayam
- Bahya chikitsa (External) – Lepa (paste), Taila application, Parisheka, Takra Dhara (for pitta conditions)
- Ahara (diet) –
- Prefer tikta Rasa (bitter), Kashaya Rasa (Astringent)
- Avoid curd, fish plus milk combination, spicy, oily foods.
