Skin Conditions

Also called: Cutaneous disorders, Dermatologic disorders

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Summary

Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers and protects your body. Your skin

Holds body fluids in, preventing dehydration
Keeps harmful microbes out, preventing infections
Helps you feel things like heat, cold, and pain
Keeps your body temperature even
Makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it

Anything that irritates, clogs, or inflames your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning, and itching. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup, and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause rashes, hives, and other skin conditions. Many skin problems, such as acne, also affect your appearance.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

Skin Condition Finder (Logical Images)
Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Skin, Hair, and Nails (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Rash Evaluation (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Skin Biopsy (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Skin Cancer Screening (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Wood's Lamp Examination (Logical Images)

Prevention and Risk Factors

Adult Health: Good skin care (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
How to Prevent Skin Conditions in Athletes (American Academy of Dermatology)
Keep Your Skin Healthy: Protecting Your Outer Self (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Skin Problems: How to Protect Yourself from Job-Related Skin Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Cryosurgery (Logical Images)
Dermatology Procedures (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Electrodesiccation (Logical Images)
Laser Resurfacing (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
Skin graft - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Treatment Options for Actinic Keratosis (National Cancer Institute)

Living With

Dry Skin Relief (American Academy of Dermatology)

Related Issues

Skin Problems in Construction (Center to Protect Workers' Rights) - PDF

Specifics

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Dermatographia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Dry Skin (Xerosis) (American Academy of Dermatology)
Epidermolysis Bullosa (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Ichthyosis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Lichen Nitidus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Lichen Planus: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
Lichen Striatus (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Morgellons Disease: Managing an Unexplained Skin Condition (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Pachyonychia Congenita (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Pityriasis Rosea: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
What Is Lichen Sclerosus? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Genetics

acral peeling skin syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Adams-Oliver syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
adermatoglyphia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Bart-Pumphrey syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Blau syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Brooke-Spiegler syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Clouston syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Cole disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
dyskeratosis congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
epidermal nevus: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
epidermolysis bullosa simplex: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
epidermolytic hyperkeratosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
familial cylindromatosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
familial pityriasis rubra pilaris: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
focal dermal hypoplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
harlequin ichthyosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
hystrix-like ichthyosis with deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
ichthyosis with confetti: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
incontinentia pigmenti: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
junctional epidermolysis bullosa: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
keratoderma with woolly hair: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
lamellar ichthyosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
laryngo-onycho-cutaneous syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
lipoid proteinosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Majeed syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
mal de Meleda: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
multiple pterygium syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome/dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Netherton syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
nonsyndromic aplasia cutis congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
pachyonychia congenita: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
palmoplantar keratoderma with deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
poikiloderma with neutropenia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Rothmund-Thomson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
scalp-ear-nipple syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
steatocystoma multiplex: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
trichothiodystrophy: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
UV-sensitive syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Vohwinkel syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Images

Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis) (Logical Images)
Capillaritis (Logical Images)
Cutaneous Horn (Logical Images)
Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (Logical Images)
Epidermoid Cyst (Logical Images)
Erythema Nodosum (Logical Images)
Fordyce Spots (Logical Images)
Granuloma Annulare (Logical Images)
Ichthyosis Vulgaris (Logical Images)
Intertrigo (Logical Images)
Keratoacanthoma (Logical Images)
Keratosis Pilaris (Logical Images)
Lichen Planus (Logical Images)
Milia (Logical Images)
Notalgia Paresthetica (Logical Images)
Poikiloderma of Civatte (Logical Images)
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (Logical Images)
Pyogenic Granuloma (Logical Images)
Sebaceous Hyperplasia (Logical Images)
Seborrheic Keratoses (Logical Images)
Skin Tag (Acrochordon) (Logical Images)
Stasis Dermatitis (Logical Images)
Stretch Marks (Striae) (Logical Images)
Syringoma (Logical Images)
Xerosis (Logical Images)

Videos and Tutorials

Components of skin (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

Skin Conditions by the Numbers (American Academy of Dermatology)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Dermatology Terms (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Skin Dictionary (American Academy of Dermatology)

Find an Expert

American Academy of Dermatology
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Healthy Skin Matters (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Splinters and Other Foreign Bodies in the Skin (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
What Are Freckles? (Nemours Foundation)
Your Skin (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Cellulite (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Pityriasis Rosea (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Women

Common Skin Conditions During Pregnancy (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Patient Handouts

Acrodermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cryotherapy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cutaneous skin tags (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Dry skin -- self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Erythema multiforme (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Granuloma annulare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Keratosis pilaris (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lichen planus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Milia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sebaceous cyst (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Seborrheic keratosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Skin lesion removal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Skin lesion removal-aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Stasis dermatitis and ulcers (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish